DEAR ABBY: My longtime friend — let’s call her “Cindy” — is six months pregnant and has started sharing name ideas with me regarding her baby — it’s a girl. For some reason, Cindy will hear a word she thinks sounds pretty and think it will make a great name for her daughter, regardless of the meaning of the word. I had to beg her to stop considering “Chlamydia” as a name. She finally agreed after I repeatedly emphasized the bullying her daughter could receive over that name.

Now she has her heart set on the name “Cliche” and seems to think as long as the name isn’t an STD, everything will be fine with that choice. She’s now calling me “hypercritical” as this is the fourth name I’ve objected to. (“Bidet” and “Chalet” were the other selections.)

Cindy’s family doesn’t seem to care and even agrees that “Chlamydia” sounds lovely, and she should go with that name. I’m at my wits’ end. I only want to help an innocent child avoid a lifetime of ridicule and stress. What should I do? — NORMALLY NAMED IN NEW YORK

DEAR NORMALLY NAMED: There are none so blind as those who will not see, and none so deaf as those who refuse to listen. Suggest Cindy might like the Greek names Kalista, Lydia, Olympia or Andromeda. A constellation was named after Andromeda, a beautiful daughter of Greek myth. After that, avoid frustration by no longer offering Cindy more suggestions.

Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

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