45 Baby Names Grandparents Hate

Many grandparents play an important role in raising their grandchildren. Even so, it’s not uncommon for parents and grandparents to disagree on everything from baby sleep and food choices to screen time and parenting. Another possible topic of debate? Baby’s name.

Parents and grandparents often disagree on the perfect name for a newborn, according to various online surveys. Some grandparents might even say hatred Names for their grandchildren, or names they want to try and influence their parents to choose.

Whether you suspect your parents or in-laws are unhappy with your child’s name, or you’re just curious about the names your grandparents hated, read on for more insights. We also provide tips on what to do if you encounter a baby name dispute.

Do grandparents really hate their grandchild’s name?

This can be blamed on a generation gap, cultural differences or misunderstandings, but many parents have personal anecdotes about their grandparents’ disagreements over baby names. Research also supports this phenomenon.

A MedicareAdvantage survey found that at least one-third of participating grandparents disagreed with the name of at least one grandchild.

Meanwhile, Mom.com noted that one in five grandparents surveyed hated their grandchild’s name. What’s more, 6 percent of parents had an argument with a future grandparent over their child’s name choice; in 4 percent of those cases, the fight ended the relationship.

Boy names that grandparents don’t like

We scoured various online forums and polls (including MedicareAdvantage and Mumsnet surveys) to compile a list of boys’ names that grandparents generally hate.

Interestingly, many of the most annoying nicknames are also the most popular boy names for kids today. Others are unique names that stand out from the crowd, which may be the reason grandparents disapprove.

Girls’ names that grandparents don’t like

Just like we did with boys’ names, we looked back at various polls and forums to see which girls’ names were the most hated by grandparents. You’ll see some popular girls’ names mixed in with unique names, but what they all have in common is that they’ve caused quite a bit of controversy across generations.

Why do grandparents hate baby names?

In releasing the survey results, Munset noted that grandparents had the most objections to baby names: they thought it was too weird (28% of survey respondents). Here are some other reasons why grandparents might hate their grandchild’s name:

• The name sounds old-fashioned or unconventional
• This name may embarrass the child
• This is not a grandparent’s recommendation or first choice
• This is not a surname
• The name is shared by someone they don’t like
• Seems difficult to spell or pronounce

What to do when grandparents hate your child’s name

As you prepare to become a new parent, you may want people to have input on everything from your birth plan to the color of your nursery. But if parents or in-laws express distaste for their future baby’s name, it might be a step too far. How should you handle this situation?

Here are some tips to help you tactfully explain your name choice when it comes up.

• Even if you disagree with your grandparents, you can validate their concerns by acknowledging their perspective.
• If they point out that the name might be misunderstood, pronounced incorrectly, or used to tease your child, take note. They may have a point!
• Share the meaning of the name and why it is special to you.
• Let the grandparents know (politely) that you’re sticking with the name you chose and hope they end up liking it too.
• Don’t feel like you have to justify your baby name choice to anyone.
• Realize that if you change your baby’s name to appease your parents or in-laws, you may end up regretting your decision, or worse, resenting them.
• Find something you both agree on—like wanting a healthy child or how much the little one will be loved—instead of obsessing over the name you chose.