Not that I'm an expert...

[isoldereverie.livejournal.com]

How would you go about gently suggesting that a name is....not good? So many of the women in my life are pregnant! Several friends, my niece, my friend's sister, my husband's best friend's wife...and here are some of the names they have picked out. 

Girls: Shai, Chesni, Kelci, Brinli, Kinli 
Boys: Zane or Xane, Zadin

So, what's up with names ending in "i?" These girls don't even know each other, they live on opposite sides of the country and come from different socio-economic backgrounds. I don't even know how to pronounce Shai. I say it like "shy" but it could be "shay." I personally think a name that ends in 'i" looks unfinished in a way. Maybe because in English there aren't many words that just end in "i." The "-ie" ending is more common~maybe my eye is just more used to that. 

For the boys, Zane and Zadin? Both make me wince.  I don't know what I will say if they go with the spelling of Xane. 

So, have any of you actually said anything about a friend's name choice? Did they listen or get really mad/defensive? What do you think of these names? Fine as they are, better if spelled differently, or should be scrapped and try again? I'm really torn because some of those choices are my niece's favs and some are my best friend's!!! I REALLY want to say something, but I don't want to make them upset.

Comments

[solagirl.livejournal.com]

Shai, Chesni, Kelci, Brinli, Kinli - these are all terrible. Esp. Kinli and Chesni. Cheesy? Kenny Cesney? (sp?)

I like Zane a lot.

I agree with a lot of thesplitlark's comments. You cannot tell them those names are terrible. You could suggest the resume test. There is a great website where you can plug in the name and it gives you all these sentences and situations with your chosen name. That might be really helpful for them. Can any baby_name-ers remember the name of that site?

If they really love those names - c'est la vie. It is not your baby.

[isoldereverie.livejournal.com]

Yes, the girl that is naming her daughter Chesni is a huge Kenny Chesney fan. Yes, he inspired the name choice. She is already set on that name and is very defensive when anyone mentions maybe considering another name. Her husband no longer has suggestion privileges. She is an acquaintance of mine, not a family member or close friend so... ::sigh::

[solagirl.livejournal.com]

"Her husband no longer has suggestion privileges."

This REALLY bothers me. Is it not his child too? I mean, his names could hardly be worse than Chesni...

[isoldereverie.livejournal.com]

Yeah...the whole situation is sketchy. He's very squeamish and mentioned that he might not want to be in the delivery room. So she's running home to mama to give birth. He's in the military and *can't* LEAVE base to be at the hospital when HIS CHILD is born, which is in another state. So, yeah,lots of issues going on there.

[pixietangerine.livejournal.com]

i agree with the other posters.
and i just wanted to tell you i sympathize with you. one of my friends is naming her daughter grayci. why??? i feel so sorry for her, especially because her twin sister is getting the awesome name of scarlett. :(

[mrs-slats.livejournal.com]

LOL Grayci is the name of my parent's cat. They liked "gracie" and the cat is gray.

[isoldereverie.livejournal.com]

Oh no! For real?! That is painful to look at.

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

I'd probably say something like "How'd you come up with that?" and if they said something like "We wanted something unique and special" I'd come back with, "oh yeah. One of my favorite unique names is Genevieve...people will always know how to spell that" or something.

[so-there.livejournal.com]

I'd probably be asking what those are short for, and when they say nothing, that's the whole name, I'd look dumbfounded and ask what they'll call themselves when they grow up.

[isoldereverie.livejournal.com]

lol I might use this! ;)

[mrs-slats.livejournal.com]

Wow... and the most out-there name I've seen so far amongst the people I know is 'Ezekiel' and I rather like that name! I am really really not fond of creative spellings and names that sound like nicknames. Those names would drive me nuts. I'd probably be pretty blunt: *Laughs* then.... "Oh, I thought you were kidding... sorry."

[isoldereverie.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha! :)

[krysteener.livejournal.com]

I agree with the first couple comments. My aunt is pregnant right now and she keeps asking me about names.
With the ones I don't like, I say go "ehhhh" and do the hand wiggle thing like "more or less". And I'm a bit over enthusiastic about the ones that I do like.
So it's either "omg I love it!!" or "ehhhh" and she kind of gets the picture without me having to say that I don't want my cousin named Rihanna or some shit.

[cube1of6.livejournal.com]

ha! i do have a cousin named reanna. :\

[doodlbug.livejournal.com]

You know with correct spelling, some of those names aren't *so* bad.

Shay, Kelsey, Brinley...etc.

Maybe suggest that to her, "You know she's never gonna have it spelled the right way. If you like the sound maybe you could do these..."

[decembermama.livejournal.com]

I don't think its your right to say you dont like the name and she shouldnt name the baby that, if they like it then thats their opinion. You could gently say I personally find that name (insert whatever here) but I would say its up to them and unless they're asking then its not your place to tell them that.
♥

[decembermama.livejournal.com]

Although I do agree with you about the names, but to each their own. I hope that didn't sound bitchy that wasn't my intentions!

[singhappy02.livejournal.com]

Zane isn't so bad...but Brinli? Oh lord.

We have a Kensley (Kinsley? I forget how to spell it) in the family, but Kinli is weird.

Also...Chesni wouldn't be so bad if it was Chesney, and the country singer didnt' exist.

[seksimaggie.livejournal.com]

Hahahaha what if they compromised with Xaden... That would have to be the worst of the -aiden sound name trend...