My mother-in-law asked us if we had chosen a name yet when we learned during the ultrasound that we were expecting a girl. According to her, deciding on a name required much consideration and was a significant responsibility.
If we were expecting a girl, my husband and I had already chosen the name Olivia. The middle name we had in mind, Olivia Marie, sounded well with the name, which we both loved. Since the letter “L” appears in our last name, the combination seemed cheery and harmonious.
Even though my mother-in-law didn’t say anything at the time, I could tell she didn’t like it by the way her lips were pursed. However, she remained silent, so I assumed the matter was resolved.
After a week or so, she began offering recommendations. She apparently sought advice from a friend who is interested in astrology and other forms of mysticism. “That name doesn’t suit your daughter,” she told us when she approached us. You should choose another one. Next, she proposed a name that had belonged to her grandma. It was the ideal fit, she thought.
To prevent upsetting anyone, I won’t mention it here, but believe me, it was a nightmare. One of those archaic names from a century ago, it was more reminiscent of something you might hear in an old folktale than one that has just gained popularity. To be honest, compared to what she proposed, it made names like Egbert seem commonplace.
Fortunately, my spouse is sensible and disregarded his mother. Our daughter, who is six months old, is called Olivia.
It’s odd because my mother-in-law refused to even mention her name for the first several months. She just referred to her as “the baby.” She now, however, insists on using the name she chose. She has even developed the belief that a person is shielded from evil if they are called by two names. She also says that the names we gave Olivia will be used to make fun of her at school.
The fact that my husband’s sister recently gave birth to a child as well hurts even more, but we’ll find a way to handle it. At the same time, we were pregnant. In fact, they adopted the name my mother-in-law proposed for her grandchild. Our daughter is now just “the baby” with two names, and her grandchild is the favorite.
