Parents and friends hate baby name

[Anonymous]

We've narrowed our girl names down to Miriam or Mariam and Elizabeth. My husband is very picky and basically only likes super classic biblical names (his entire list of boy names was Andrew and Daniel). Not my favorite style but I like them well enough. Mariam is our favorite but when we mentioned it to our parents and a few friends, everyone overtly hated it. I was shocked. My (racist) mom called it an ugly Jewish name and flipped out. My MIL didn't say anything but it was really obvious she didn't like it. My friends said it was horrible. I know I shouldn't have shared the name if I couldn't handle negative comments but they kept asking and I was just so excited about it. I really didn't expect it to be so controversial. How can I move past everyone's disapproval? With my mom particularly, I'm worried she'll be awful about it even after the baby is born. And that everyone will secretly hate it.

[Anonymous]

One of my childhood friend's mom was a Miriam. She went by Mim. She was the nicest woman ever, smart and classy. She was well liked by all.

[Anonymous]

Ignore. It's a perfectly fine name, and nice in being less common but not completely out there.
They'll come around, or they are jerks.

[Anonymous]

I think mariam is a beautiful name because I knew a woman with that name who who was gorgeous, inside and out. It sounds like your mom would not like any name unless she picked it out herself, and maybe not even then.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't worry about everyone hating it once the baby is born. There are lots of names I thought were awful until I met someone with those names, and then my opinion of the name changed to match my fondness for the person. Doubly so for babies and children.

I don't know what to advise about your mom, except to say that she'll probably be a pill about something. Might as well just go with the name you love!

[Anonymous]

Never share the name. Call her Mimi. It’s cute n

[Anonymous]

This is why we don’t reveal the name until birth. Everyone has an opinion. It’s hard enough to agree with the husband on names let alone extended family and friends. I think Miriam and Elizabeth are both lovely btw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why we don’t reveal the name until birth. Everyone has an opinion. It’s hard enough to agree with the husband on names let alone extended family and friends. I think Miriam and Elizabeth are both lovely btw.

Agree with all of this. Do not share names until the baby is born!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One of my childhood friend's mom was a Miriam. She went by Mim. She was the nicest woman ever, smart and classy. She was well liked by all.

I love Miriam.

[Anonymous]

I would go ahead and name your child what you want. You are the ones that will parent the child and you will be with the child for much more time than all of the friends and family put together. You should not have to live with a name that wasn't your first choice (especially if you both agree on it) to appease family and friends. They can deal with it easier since they will see and call the child far less than you will.

As a overture, maybe give the child a nickname that they can use that will make it easier on them, like Miriam nn Miri or Mariam nn Mari.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't worry about everyone hating it once the baby is born. There are lots of names I thought were awful until I met someone with those names, and then my opinion of the name changed to match my fondness for the person. Doubly so for babies and children.

I don't know what to advise about your mom, except to say that she'll probably be a pill about something. Might as well just go with the name you love!

PP, and meant add, Miriam/Mariam is a great name! My mother's college roommate was Miriam, and I grew up hearing her referenced with a lot of warmth and happiness.

[Anonymous]

I like Miriam a lot and I have an Elizabeth. I really like them both.

Also, Miriam is the Jewish version of Mary and Mariam is the Muslim version. I have no issues with those names but would just assume you weren’t Christian.

[Anonymous]

And now you’ve learned your lesson: NEVET reveal your name choices until the baby is here. People have no problem sharing their dislike. In fact, the closer the person is to you, the more you shouldn’t share. But when the baby arrives, they keep their negative thoughts to themselves. “Pierpont is beautiful. What a lovely name!”

Mariam really is a beautiful name. Ignore the haters. Your parents had their chance to pick baby names. They need to be quiet.

[Anonymous]

I'm more of a European classicist, so I prefer Elizabeth, but the others are fine. Your family is extremely rude. Tell them off!

[Anonymous]

They are ridiculous. They are all fine, normal names. I’d just go forth with whatever you like.