Baby name dilemma 😭

I honestly don’t think it’s too much of an ‘out there’ name. I kinda like it. But I commend that you’re thinking of your baby’s future. So many parents give their kids crazy names and spellings and never think about that. You can always tell people it rhymes with Noah to help the pronunciation. Is it mostly older people giving you a hard time? They can’t comprehend any name that isn’t Michael or David. I feel like it walks the line well of unique but not weird

If you like the name, keep it. It’s not too strange or weird of a name. I lived in Hawaii and it was suuuper common there, and in the states I’ve heard it a few times. It’s a lovely name. It’s not like you named your baby “chair” or something that is going to be embarrassing as an adult. I personally love the name and believe beyond it being suitable for an adult someday, choose what you like!

Aww I feel for you; I was in a similar situation. We’re Welsh and we called our baby Ioan (Yo-wun) a very Welsh name. Although most liked the name we had lots of questions asking how to pronounce, how to spell etc. I quickly started hating the questions and decided to change his name to Owen. However he was only called Ioan for a few days before we changed it so I can imagine your dilemma 😟.

Koa is a wonderful name, I would keep it ❤️

I would keep it. Its a lovely name and not at all hard to understand. People are ignorant when it comes to names and if it isnt james, thomas or oliver they act like the name has never been heard of

I think it’s a lovely name and it’s not that out there, people are being difficult there I feel

I love that name! Xxx

It’s a lovely name but it’s not too late to change it if you’re having doubts. It’s such a big responsibility naming someone. (It’s not the same but I added a name to my daughter’s name after a few months and 100% happy I did). People who see him regularly will get used to a name. But it is unusual in the UK so new people probably will ask questions (that doesn’t have to put you off but if it bothers you then bear that in mind). I’ve got an unusual name and with new people I often have to spell out or people ask about my name. Personally doesn’t bother me at all but I know some people might not like that 🤷🏽‍♀️ But the bit that stood out to me most in your post is your partner dreading saying his name. I think all names need to pass the playground test - if you wouldn’t feel comfortable calling their name loud in a playground maybe it would be good to rethink it. Definitely keep as a middle though if nothing else.

I really like Koa

It’s beautiful! It honestly amazes me how little effort some people put into learning a name. You could annunciate a bunch and they’ll still say it wrong. It’s not you, or the name. You chose it for a reason and I think you should keep it! It’s unique but it’s not an “out there” name.

Grayson Koa sounds great

You can move it to a middle name and call him that as his nickname. But if that is still sad then keep it. You should hear the names of my daughter’s kindergarten class.

I love Koa! We considered it for my second baby's middle name (and we have no cultural connection, I just love the name) but it didn't flow well with the first name we chose. It's uncommon but not by any means weird or difficult and I don't think it'll cause him too much trouble. You have to remember that by time our babies grow up the idea of "traditional" names will be very different from what we think now and a LOT of people will have less common names, so it won't seem unusual

I'm English too (live in US and those types of names are super common here). I'm also ginger if it helps and currently at labour and delivery delivering a 100% ginger boy (my husband is ginger too - call us the Weasleys). Gingers are bullied. You know this. Koa is a terrible name (sorry!!). You have extra responsibility with a ginger kid to make his life easier. I'd go with a strong, normal name for a ginger son. Also, not being funny but after moving to US you realise that English names are special all by themselves. Names like 'Koa' 'Kia' etc are so common in US right now anyway. It's more special to enable your baby with his heritage through a name. Why not 'Jack'? Adam is also a name related to red hair.

@Stephanie this comment is horrible lmao. You are apart of the problem 100%. Wheres the diversity? Adam? Jack? Seriously? Lol.. Koa is a perfectly fine name & why not for a Ginger? Jeeez

@Stephanie I'm a ginger and my son is a ginger and I've never once been bullied for it. I've gotten compliments from random people for my hair constantly my entire life and my son does too

I’ve met more than one baby Koa! Its a lovely name and it’s gained popularity in the UK recently, so he wouldn’t be the only person with that name. My children have Irish names, and we get mixed reactions but usually very positive. You have a lovely reason for the name you chose, I love that connection!

@Vivianna there are 66m Brits on an Earth of 8 billion people. I'm not sure calling a British, ginger boy 'Koa' is encouraging diversity on a global level. Of course it's a horrible comment. I think she DID make a big mistake. I think I made a mistake on naming my dog and I'm agonising over my own name for my son. Names are important I'm weighing in because I think it is important and know how I value others' opinions even if not the same as my own. There's no point if we all just lie to save face and appear to be nice people, that doesn't help anyone with a naming dilema.

I personally don't like Koa. Grayson is cute 🥰

Life is too short and you never really know if you will get the opportunity or not to name a baby. Go for the name that both of you LOVE

@Stephanie I don’t think anyone is lieing though, when most of these comments agree that this name is harmless and infact a great name. It also holds meaning to the OP hence why she chose it. Regardless she already has alternative names in mind, so you suggesting Adam & Jack just seems BLAH & BORING. & who freakin cares about your dogs name, if your not worried about “ saving face” then you should stop worrying about all what other people think of you and the names you choose especially just because your Ginger… seems sad to me ☹️

Thanks for the advice everyone! I'm not sure what we'll end up doing (going to make the decision this week) but you've made me feel better about things either way😊❤️

@Stephanie oof I’m sorry but that’s ridiculous maybe Koa is a horrible name for YOU! but it’s not her job to name HER child in order to appease people or you for that matter. Koa is strong yet soft and will do her ginger child just fine. Ginger or not that does not matter. Now if we are talking super long complicated name that’s different. Could affect things in the future. I was made fun of for my name and literally no one could pronounce it at first go but Ive gotten plenty compliments on it in my lifetime and grew to love my name and its meaning!

@Vivianna I don't think anyone is lying (otherwise I wouldn't have already heard this 'diverse' name everywhere already). My point is I don't believe I should lie to save face. I think people should provide their true opinions when someone is asking for opinions. I gave my perspective, clearly you have some problem with it. I think it is a bad name and chavvy, and won't work well for a British ginger boy. Imagine what it will be like when he turns up for job interviews? His name ends in an 'a' in a country that speaks a Latin-derived language where names that end with 'a' are feminine. I also don't like Jackson or Greyson and prefer Jack or Grey, as this is not an American baby. Why are you interacting with this group if you don't think names are important?

@Stephanie I think names are important, just in a different way than you do. I prefer meaningful names, filled with intent- rather than pleasing others - especially with the used up line of blaming it on some future scenario where they could possibly get a job. Koa is not some tongue twister, tabooish name. People will figure it out..

@Stephanie girl what the hell! It’s not 1970. Kids are not getting bullied for being ginger anymore. Sure there’s annoying comments about it here and there but bullying? No. Why would you even put that in her head to worry about. Even if it was true (which it is not).

@Heather thanks for this comment I appreciate you pointing that out. My baby's dad is ginger and he's the most handsome charming and confident man I've met and has never suffered any bullying, nor will his son. I think this is the most mindless and unwelcomed comment @Stephanie made but she's entitled to her opinion on the names. To be perfectly honest I wasn't even asking for name opinions I was asking for opinions on changing a baby's name this far down the line and whether that's an acceptable thing or not.

Koa is totally cute! I like when people ask me to repeat or spell my kid’s name. They’ll never forget it. I watched a Ted talk once that said if people can learn to pronounce Tchaikovsky, they can learn to pronounce your name. Be proud of what you chose. He will love it one day.

And just for the record, my son is named Kabir. I don’t even pronounce it in English, I use the Hindi कबीर pronunciation. I anglicize the spelling, but my child’s name is Persian. It means magnificent. He was named after an ancient poet, born and raised in differing religions. My ex husband is Indian and I like that my child’s name is religiously ambiguous. It fits us. His name is a mark of his heritage. If people want to push back or criticize, they don’t have to be around me or my child.

@Amber, may I ask how you pronounce his name in Hindi? The meaning in his name is beautiful.

Koa is a beautiful name, and if you love it, then I'd keep it. If you want to change it, you should, but don't wait too much longer. Koa is on my list of love, but I can't use names.

It’s pronounced with a palatal R sound, which doesn’t exist in English. It’s like a rolled R and it sounds most similar to an English D sound, although not quite as harsh. My parents and my boyfriend still call him Ka-beer or just Beer, but that’s mostly because they can’t pronounce that R sound. Anyone who speaks more than one language, however, has had no problems pronouncing it.

@Amber, I can't quite work out pronunciation, but how it sounds in my head is lovely 😊🤣

Thank you:)