[elle-M]

I'm due with baby#3 next year and was speaking about names with a friend. We have chosen a boy's name (in fact, DD would have been named this). As soon as I said it she laughed out loud and said "are you serious"? I was hurt, but I know it's my fault for discussing names if I don't want to hear what people think.

So anyway, the name is Frederick William and the nickname will be Fred (that's the part she laughed at).

Surely not that bad???!!!

[Divvy]

I love Fred.

If I didn't already have a child with a name that rhymed with it, I'd use it.

[Broxie]

I love Frederick and Fred.

[*musical*]

I'm a teacher....there have even no Freds in the 12 years I've been teaching at three different school. But I don't dislike it. Ned has been nbecoming more popular in the past five years....why not Fred.

[Lucretia Borgia]

Well I like it ....but I have a Henry and a Charlie, so that person would probably have had a bit of a snort at my name choices too! (I also have a bit of a crush on crown prince Frederick of Denmark, but probably the less said about that the better....)

If you like don't worry about what other people think, but it's probably wise not to discuss names until the baby is actually born...people are less likely to be rude if you present a child and say "this is x" ...I say less likely...I guess it's not unheard of though! Good luck!

[opethmum]

I know a Frederick, his nn was Rick/Ricky as a child but as he grew older people started calling him Fred. I have no problem with that name. Don't get upset with people who have no taste!

[*little-rach*]

It's definitely nms but I wouldn't say it's laughable or bad.

Is it a family name? I would use an middle name if it was

[kelbelblue]

OP, I think it's a lovely classic name

[la di dah]

I don't think it's laughable It's a little old-fashioned but I like some old-fashioned names.

Honestly it's probably ahead of the curve, from the way I've heard people talking about Alfred (half of them planning to use Fred as the nickname) coming back. Could go up the ranks in 10-15 years. There might eventually be more little Freds/Freddies than your friend expects.

I wouldn't let your friend get to you unless you share taste a lot. And even then, not necessarily. It's funny what pings "old/funny" to some people while others don't. My sister loves Alfred but thinks Henry is too dusty, and I would have flipped that.

[whelmed]

I love that name, classic but not overused. Don't be put off by your friend's rudeness. Some people just engage mouth before putting brain in gear, not much you can do but shrug it off and stick with your own plans.