A mum has been left feeling "guilty" after a friend told her that the Scottish names she chose for children are stereotypically "naughty names". Posting to Mumsnet, the anonymous woman said she was "hurt" by the fellow mum's comments, and is now worried that her two sons' names have "negative associations".
With another baby on the way, the parent has also been left fearful that she will make the same mistake, Hull Live reports. Taking to the online forum, she wrote: "A friend made a light hearted comment (supposedly) about my two children’s names last week and I am convinced she’s a MN member seeing as she used the term ‘naughty boy name’.
"My husband has got Scottish roots and before we [tried to conceive] the plan was always that we would honour his history."
The mum goes on to explain that her husband originally lived in Scotland before moving to England to "settle down" with her. Because of this, the couple agreed that they wanted to give their children Scottish names as a "nod" to the husband's family.
She continued: "We had a son first and called him Arran (pronounced Arun) after one of the Isles and we joked that if our second child was a girl we would call her Skye."
However they had another boy which they named Lewis, after one of the other Scottish Isles. Things then took a turn when her friend shared her opinion on the chosen names.
"My friend is pregnant - which is why we were taking about names," the mum said. "And that’s when she said (with a giggle) that it was really brave of me to give both my sons names that are associated with being naughty. She laughed it off but it really hurt."
She also explained how she feels "so guilty" that she may have chosen names with "negative associations" and now expecting her third child, she doesn't want to make the same mistake. Users of Mumsnet were quick to share their input, with many calling the friend rude or mean.
One wrote: "Never really thought about 'naughty names' but when I read the title though I immediately had a few names in my head that I thought you might say. Arran and Lewis I definitely wouldn't consider naughty names! Both quite lovely. Ignore your friend, quite a mean comment to have made."
Another user said: "They are beautiful names, ignore your friend. I’ve been teaching 20 years and neither makes me think naughty. "
One mum thought there are some 'naughty names' but the ones the mum had chosen weren't under that category. "They’re lovely names. I do think there are some 'naughty' names, the same way as I think there are mean names, clever names, shy names etc. But that’s because lots of people associate people they’ve known with characteristics. I doubt all the names would be the same."
Another Mumsnet user shared: "’Naughty boy’ names = nonsense and just barely concealed snobbery. Ignore it."
Many encouraged the mum to cut off her friend because her comments were "inappropriate" and how she wasn't actually a true friend.
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