Should I name the baby what I want or what my family wants?

[cheryl000]

As some of you know I am pregnant. My baby isn't due for a LONG time Nov. 18th but I'm in a dilemma about picking out a name. I love my Grandmother's name, which was Arrebell. If my child is a girl I would love to name her a variation of that like Arabell or Arabella. The only problem is that my aunts had asked me the first time I was pregnant what I was going to name my son if he was a girl and I told them after Grandma. They threw a fit and said that she wouldn't have liked that because she hated her name. I did notice that no one else in the family has been named after her, but it might be because it is a little bit old fashioned of a name. I never met my Grandmother, but I know that she was a strong woman and somehow I think she might feel honored that her name is being carried on. I think my daughter would be honored to be named after her. But I have a feeling my Aunts would get mad if I named her this. What do you guys think? What would you do?

[chloeandj]

I love the name and your variations of it. Very pretty. No one liked the names we picked for our children. We did it anyway. How would your aunts know what grandma would have wanted anyway? Where she is now, I'm sure the thought of it would honor her very much. JMO

[Kelz]

Name the baby whatever you want. After all it is YOUR child

[xtine]

Believe me, i'm going through this right now too..

it's not easy when family is involved in naming your child.. but you have to remember it's your child! i say name him/her whatever you want.. like Kelz said, he/she is your kid not theirs! (they did name you whatever they wanted im guessing!)..

hows your pregnancy by the way? how far along are you? i just turned 7 months this tuesday it goes by so fast.. have any belly pics!! do share!

[lil_twinkle_mum]

I like the name - if it were me i would just announce it and let them lump it!

[rnnw62]

I named my youngest daughter after my grandma who was at
the time dying of cancer. My grandma's name was Alice and I
named my daughter Alyssa. In todays world coming up with a
name that you and your significant other agree on is tricky
enough with out bringing extended family into the mix of things.
I say name the baby what you want and if you feel the pressure
is too great then how about using grandma's name as the middle
name? Surely, no one could be resentful about that.

[Jaspermom]

And I have suffered much all the while I grew up. My name is Gladys Antoinette. Sigh... So I was "glad bags", "glad wrap", "glad a$$", "happy butt", "happy hiney", all the FUNNY things kids can do to torment another!!

I often told my mother she should have had my first name be Antoinette, and then I could have been Toni, and there would have been something else the kids could have chosen to tease me about, lol!

I cannot see where Arabella will be turned into taunting. I would name her what you want to!

[yorkiepip]

I was named after my nan.
I have always hated my name Margaret-Anne.
I am called Anne by everyone who knows me but all my passport,bank detail etc is Margaret-Anne, even when i got married they had to say Margaret-Anne, so their was another day ruined over my name.
Growing up with an old fashioned name is hard and it really made me miserable and i would never name any of mine after anyone and after all they are a person in their own right.
But if you really like the name then hey why not people will get used to it.
My hubby named both my kids and i didnt like his choice (but couldnt think of any myself ) but now i love my kids names as it suits them and they like their names which of course helps too.
The only thing i would say is give her a middle name so if she hates it she's got something else to use

[Sophie'smom]

I really like the name. It doesn't sound old fashion at all to me. I would have loved to have had that name instead of Tanya. Can you imagine all the Tanya Tucker jokes I got in school? LOL!

[adunn]

The only opinion that matters is yours and your partners! If you live your life worried about what other people think, life will be pretty long and boring. It is a beautiful name, and all of the older names are coming back really strong. I think originality is on the rise, thank goodness. Whatever you decide just make sure it was YOUR decision. I wish you all the luck and good health for you and your baby!!! Congrats!

[StewiesMom]

I personally think that the name Arrebell is awesome. If anything, it sounds new and fresh. I am sick of hearing all of the "new" cute names like Kailey or Hailey or anything else that sounds like it. I think it would be awesome to have a name grounded in historical context like that!!

P.S. Everyone HATES the names that I have picked out, too. I'm not budging. Good thing I'm not pregnant

[gutu28]

I LOOOOVE that name!! She could always shorten it to Bell or Bella..I think it's beautiful.

As for your aunts..are they going through 9 months of pregnancy and the birth? They'll get over it..

[Ponyup]

My philosophy is it's coming out of my body I'm naming it. I'm the one that got sick, got fat, got uncomfortable, & went through considerable pain to bring it into this world I can name it what I want. I even told my husband this. He tried to through a fit & I just told him that if he figured out a way to have a child he could name that one. I haven't had children yet, but you & your husband are the only two people who's opinions matter. Did you tell them what to name their kids? I wanted to name my first daughter Samantha Irene (Irene was my grandma's name) however, with my married last name her initials would spell SIN & I'm not sure that's a good omen.

I personally think Arabella is a beautiful variation & your grandmother would be honored to be remembered whether she hated her name during life or not.

[sondra2004]

I guess your aunts feel that your grandma hated her name and not to uses it .Give your baby grandmas name as middle name.Maybe on his side grandma name as first name.But it is your baby so what makes you happy use it!

[lisatodd]

this is your child and you name her what ever you want!!!!!!! i love the name