Baby name vs My parents?

Question

I'm currently 19 weeks preg and I've always wanted a little girl called Rheia [Ray-Ah] Dawn, but my family seem to think it's a stupid name and my Grandmother has said, half-jokingly, that she's going to call her something else. My dad just laughs everytime I mention it and my Mum keeps suggesting names like Beth and Eve (I have friends who have girl's named most of the names she says, and I don't wanna have a kid with a realyl common name).

Rheia is the mother of Zeus and the other Greek Gods, but I just thought it was a pretty name that's neither girlie or tom-boyish, and Dawn after my best friend who died when I was little. They don't disagree with the Dawn part, they think that using my friend's name is very touching, but they really hate the Rheia part.

Do you think I should stick to my guns or change my naming choice because of my family?

Answer 1

Rheia Dawn is an absolutely beautiful name - use it.

After all, this is your baby not theirs. I think your little girl will grow up to love having that name, it's so different and unusual... Who wants to be called something boring like Beth or Eve? I mean come on - there are millions of them out there already.

Just stand firm and let your family know that you would appreciate if they kept their opinions on the matter to themselves. If they threaten to call your baby by another name, and laugh at it - then tell them that they are being incredibly selfish and cruel. You really don't have to put up with it. This should be a happy time for you - don't let anybody ruin it. :-)

Answer 2

I think you've chosen a very beautiful name with much meaning behind it.
The only thing is, your family will probably come up with their own nicknames for her since they don't like it and that will make you upset. Its your baby, they should call her what you name her. Obviously though, they have no respect for your decision.
What you should do, starting now, is use her name when you talk about her with your family in normal conversation. No referring to her as "the baby" or the "little one". If you absolutely love this name, then use it and start calling her this. By the time she's born, your family will already have gotten use to you calling her this and they will appreciate this name too.
I named my son Alexander and we call him Xander. My dad disagreed with this nickname choice to begin with and insisted on calling him Alex or Alexander! By the time Xander was a few months old, my dad finally come around and now he brags about his name.
My grandmother, however, still calls him Alexander. We only see her once a year since she lives far away. Its very unlikely to see a grandma agree to any names that aren't traditional.

Good luck to you!

Answer 3

Absolutely! Its not like a pet that you can change its name at any time! This child is a piece of you and the name should be meaningful for you. Not the grandparents. When you are all alone and talking to the baby, call her Rheia Dawn...you will know if it is the right name or not.

Answer 4

Actually, the mother of Zeus was Rhea, prn REE-ah. I like Rhea Dawn, it's uncommon yet not madeup or totally bizarre. Your family is being a little rude, in my opinion, but I'm guessing that they will be nicer once you actually give your baby this name. They may not like it now, and that's fine, but they will love their newest granddaughter and I'm almost certain the name will grow on them.

Seriously, just point them to this board and let them see some of the names other people are considering (I said SOME, don't everyone hate me!). I think they'll be grateful you chose a name with meaning and thought behind it :)

Answer 5

Stick to your guns - you will have carried the child for 9 months and if you like the name I'm sure this will help you bond with your baby better than if you are forced to name your baby something else because of family pressure. At the end of the day it's your child and I'm sure your family will get used to it - even if they say they won't. Good luck xx

Answer 6

Stick to your guns, I went through the same thing with my daughter. I told my mother in law when she said she would not call her by her name, "ok then she wont call you grandma" she changed her mind. And once my daughter was born and her personality started to show she looked at me and said "you know she really does fit her name, doesn't she". So go with what you really want and let everyone get over it, if its not the name it will be something else, everyone gives you their opinion from here on out whether you have asked or not it goes hand in hand with having a baby, so stand up for yourself now, and it will make things easier on you in the long run. Congrats by the way!

Answer 7

It's YOUR baby! You should name her whatever you feel and tell them to get over it. I caved on my son's name because everyone moaned and groaned over the name I wanted to name him and they said they would never call him by that name and they'd just name him something else when they talked to him so I felt bad for what my son would have to go through because of them and I changed to a name they wanted. It was a horrible mistake.....everytime I look at him I still see my little Duncan, but now he's got the same generic name as half the other boys in the world.

Answer 8

Rheia Dawn is a gorgeous name! If your mother doesn't want to call her Rheia, then you should tell her that when she's old enough to speak that she doesn't want to call her grandma. She's your daughter, the life YOU, not your mother or father or any one else who has a problem with the name, created. Tell your mother her name is Rheia Dawn and that's final! If she doesn't like it then she doesn't have to see your beautiful baby.

Answer 9

First you need to consider your child. Will she be teased? I don't think the name is too off the wall and really don't see a problem with it. But you need to put your intials together and make sure it doesn't spell something bad or stand for something bad. As for your family, it is none of their business what you name your child. Consider the child first and then yourself. If the name still flies with you, then use it. Tell your family you don't know what name you are going to use and then after the child is born tell them the name. We did that with our second child because people kept giving their unwanted opinions on our second child.

Answer 10

I think you should stick to your guns,after all its your baby and in years to come your family would have forgotten about it,and there will be no regret,on the other hand if you change the name because of your family you may regret it and hold a grudge,be strong and do what you feel is right.