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Mum-to-be sparks online debate about whether her baby's name is appropriate

A mum has sparked a debate online about her gender neutral choice of baby name [Photo: Getty]
A mum has sparked a debate online about her gender neutral choice of baby name [Photo: Getty]

Hours spent poring over baby names lists, arguments with your other half about off-the-wall suggestions and ‘You want to call them what?’ reactions to potential monikers. Naming an actual human being is a big responsibility. Huge.

So when one mum got a somewhat negative reaction from her family about her intended baby name, she turned to the Internet to share her frustration and gauge other parents opinions about the gender neutral name she had chosen.

Taking to Mumsnet the mum-of-two, soon to be three, wrote: “Finally, after much indecision, we’ve decided a girl will be Iris James.”

But the poster went on to say that the choice hadn’t gone down well with her family.

“I mentioned it to [my brother] who got very upset and kept on saying it’s not a girls’ name,” she wrote.

“My mother has rung me this morning and said [my brother] was so upset because he wants to name a son of his James. Keep in mind he is not married or having a child,” she continued.

“But I want to use Iris James. She said that I shouldn’t and should save it for him, because it will be his first child and a son.”

The user went on to say that her two elder daughters are named Hattie Juniper and Cleo Annika to explain that the couple like more unusual monikers.

And the forum was quick to offer their opinions on whether she should go ahead with the gender neutral name if she does go on to have a daughter.

“Sorry but James is either a boys or surname. It’s not you who has to live with that name but your potential daughter,” wrote one poster.

“Why James? Is it your maiden name/special significance? Have you considered Jamie? Not so much to appease your brother, but it IS a boys name,” added another.

But others didn’t see anything wrong with choosing what’s seen as a traditional boys name.

“I think iris James is a lovely name. I’d be inclined to ignore your bro & mum & push on with what you want to call your kids. Don’t discuss it with them anymore,” one poster offered.

“Blake Lively/Ryan Reynolds’ daughter is James and Jamie King (actress) called herself James when she modelled in the 80’s/90’s (FYI),” another wrote about the choice.

Would you give your baby a gender neutral name? [Photo: Getty]
Would you give your baby a gender neutral name? [Photo: Getty]

And while some believed the poster’s brother had a point in being upset about the potential name choice, some users didn’t think it was fair to ‘bagsy’ a name.

“It’s fine to use, your brother is being weird and can still use James as a first name for the son he may or may not have one day if he wants,” wrote one poster.

Flexi-gender names have been having a moment of late. Popular baby-naming site Nameberry called ‘post gender’ names ie a name given to both boys and girls in roughly equal measure the hottest trend on the baby moniker market for 2016.

“The old ‘Boy Named Sue’ idea of a boy being shamed by having a girl’s name is passing away,” Pamela Redmond Satran, a founder of Nameberry told NY Times.

“Today, boys named Tatum feel as cool as girls named Rory, and vice versa.”

Would you give your child a gender neutral name? Let us know @YahooStyleUK

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