A new mum and dad have decided to settle on a traditional name for their daughter, but it has divided their family – with some even claiming the moniker is ‘dated and ugly’
Getting a second opinion on your baby’s name can be risky.
If you’re not set on a particular name for your baby, you might be tempted to float some suggestions to your family and friends to see what they think. This can help new parents spot any unfortunate mishaps with the name, such as undesirable nicknames or issues with the spelling.
However, it can also backfire – as you may find the people you ask aren’t fond of the name you’ve picked out. Not everyone has the same taste in baby names, and you could leave the conversation feeling hurt, especially if your loved ones don’t break the news of their disapproval gently.
That’s the situation some parents-to-be have found themselves in after their family ended up split down the middle over their daughter’s name. In a post on Reddit shared by the baby’s aunt, she said her brother and his wife have chosen to call their child – who is due in two months – Miranda.
Despite the name being considered a classic and even being mentioned in the popular Shakespeare play, The Tempest, half of the family thinks the name is “ugly”. Others have said the name is almost too classic, branding it “dated”.
The baby’s aunt wrote: “My Brother and sister-in-law are considering this name for their daughter, due in two months. The extended families are extremely divided on the name.
“I like it. I don’t think it’s particularly classic or trendy or tragically dated and ugly (which are basically the three camps the rest of the family are falling into), but I think it’s cute, resilient, and holds the possibility of different potential nicknames as little Miranda finds herself.”
The aunt also said that, ultimately, it should be up to the parents to decide what name to give their daughter, regardless of what their family thinks. Commenters largely shared this opinion, although many also stated they thought Miranda was a “fine” name.
One person said: “It’s a fine name, very established. I feel bad for the parents having to contend with the extended family.” Another added: “I like it – maybe a little unexpected, but a solid name.”
A third also wrote: “Miranda is a refreshing change from all the currently popular names! I know a Miranda – she also goes by Mandy. It’s a great name! Why on Earth does it matter what extended families think?! Does everyone in the extended family get a vote? Such a weird thing for relatives to sit around and discuss with a perfectly normal name.”
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