Baby name for a girl - Xochitl?

[Anonymous]

It's a fine name. Not as common as some, obviously, but I think a lot of people with Hispanic heritage and/or people who have lived in Texas or the southwest likely would know someone with that name or at least be familiar with it.

Our DS has a somewhat uncommon name. I was initially uncertain about it, but it has really grown on me over time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hard pass. Not a marketable name. Would actually impede a person's progress in the real world. No one would want to look like an ass by not being able to pronounce the name so even the best credentials wouldn't get her call backs for jobs.

+1. Sorry, but this. It's a battle she would fight her entire life.

OP, if you decide to do this, can you give her an English middle name so that she has that option?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At some point, DCUM is going to realize that the US is made up of lots of people who can pronounce names other than Charlotte and Matthew.

Right? All these people who believe nobody will be able to pronounce Xochitl right the first time sound incredibly ignorant.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really feel like a lot of posters are overlooking the fact that the child's father and his family will all know how to pronounce the name because it will not be unfamiliar to them. Yes, she will have to explain it to the non-Mexican half of her family and to other people who are unfamiliar with the name.

But this would also be true if they gave her a name that was unfamiliar in Mexico! She will have to explain that name to her Mexican family and they might struggle to pronounce it. It's just weird to me that so many people are objecting on the grounds that people outside of Mexico will struggle with it, when it is reasonable to believe that the child will have a strong connection to Mexico throughout her life.

It's one thing to say "Maybe look for a Mexican name that will be easier for more Americans to spell and pronounce." I disagree with this position (people figure stuff out, it's not that hard) but at least it's not xenophobic. The baby's Mexican family should also be factored into the naming decision, and choosing a name that will connect her to them (especially her father) is really significant. They should not be secondary to her presumably white heritage.

+1

Spot on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really feel like a lot of posters are overlooking the fact that the child's father and his family will all know how to pronounce the name because it will not be unfamiliar to them. Yes, she will have to explain it to the non-Mexican half of her family and to other people who are unfamiliar with the name.

But this would also be true if they gave her a name that was unfamiliar in Mexico! She will have to explain that name to her Mexican family and they might struggle to pronounce it. It's just weird to me that so many people are objecting on the grounds that people outside of Mexico will struggle with it, when it is reasonable to believe that the child will have a strong connection to Mexico throughout her life.

It's one thing to say "Maybe look for a Mexican name that will be easier for more Americans to spell and pronounce." I disagree with this position (people figure stuff out, it's not that hard) but at least it's not xenophobic. The baby's Mexican family should also be factored into the naming decision, and choosing a name that will connect her to them (especially her father) is really significant. They should not be secondary to her presumably white heritage.

+1

Spot on.

Well, not really. Presumably, they do not live in Mexico. And trust me, she will be interacting with people other than DH's family over the course of her life.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It is so beautiful! Don’t ask on here, DCUM is full of WASP wannabes and only like names like William and Charlotte. Xochitl Gomez is the actor in the Babysitters Club who plays Dawn and she’s adorable!

+1.

Obviously she’ll have to explain to most people how to pronounce it but don’t let the naysayers here convince you it isn’t a beautiful name

It's unreal some of the really prejudiced things people are saying. Super common name in Mexico.
I would agree it's hard to pronounce, though. Maybe Marisol?

It's definitely not "super common" in Mexico!

[Anonymous]

I have a name with an unclear pronunciation and it has been nothing but a PIA my whole life. I gave my kids literary names that everybody knows

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I really feel like a lot of posters are overlooking the fact that the child's father and his family will all know how to pronounce the name because it will not be unfamiliar to them. Yes, she will have to explain it to the non-Mexican half of her family and to other people who are unfamiliar with the name.

But this would also be true if they gave her a name that was unfamiliar in Mexico! She will have to explain that name to her Mexican family and they might struggle to pronounce it. It's just weird to me that so many people are objecting on the grounds that people outside of Mexico will struggle with it, when it is reasonable to believe that the child will have a strong connection to Mexico throughout her life.

It's one thing to say "Maybe look for a Mexican name that will be easier for more Americans to spell and pronounce." I disagree with this position (people figure stuff out, it's not that hard) but at least it's not xenophobic. The baby's Mexican family should also be factored into the naming decision, and choosing a name that will connect her to them (especially her father) is really significant. They should not be secondary to her presumably white heritage.

+1

Spot on.

Well, not really. Presumably, they do not live in Mexico. And trust me, she will be interacting with people other than DH's family over the course of her life.

Around the 500,000th time carefully spelling the name out over the phone and the person getting it wrong a half a dozen times the charm will wear off

[Anonymous]

She will spend her whole life telling people how to spell it and pronounce it. I’ve had to do this for my last name my whole life and it’s a major pain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You could spell it more phonetically:

Zochel
Sochal
Zochil
Tzochil

Do you understand that this is an indigenous name in OP’s DH’s culture and you are mocking it?

Thats not mocking it. Its making it easier for people to pronounce it.

[Anonymous]

I love the name and am really taken aback by such a whitelash response. My family is Mexican and I know only 1 Xochitl so would agree that not very common. I do have some friends in Mx who’ve given traditional Nahuatl names to kids but have done it as middle name (eg Aurora Xochitl) so might be something to consider if first name too difficult. Either way, it’s your call so don’t ask the masses here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the name and am really taken aback by such a whitelash response. My family is Mexican and I know only 1 Xochitl so would agree that not very common. I do have some friends in Mx who’ve given traditional Nahuatl names to kids but have done it as middle name (eg Aurora Xochitl) so might be something to consider if first name too difficult. Either way, it’s your call so don’t ask the masses here

She already did, presumably because she's unsure. I think she's gotten some good advice.

Middle name, OK, PP. But don't go this route as a first name.

[Anonymous]

I had a coworker with this name, it's very pretty IMO and it would be a connection to your daughter's heritage. Likely will lead to a lot of questions "how do you say this?" when people see it written down but it's not like it's hard to pronounce. My last name is like that- people look at it with the spelling and get confused but it is easy to actually say.

[Anonymous]

Seven pages of (presumably) UMC white people horrified by a name they have to be told how to pronounce. I can't be the only one reminded of this sketch, right?

[Anonymous]

That's hilarious! Stupid white people think the world should accomodate them. Not that they should accomodate the world.