Baby Names

Names was the one thing out of pregnancy that we kept secret, even from my mother who was really peeved about it. To be fair to us, though, we didn't even choose the names until after they were born. We had a list of names we liked but couldn't choose one. Girls names were harder for us. We knew what boys names we would have chosen but girl names took all 9 months to decide.

Names are terribly personal and everyone has differing opinions. I love my daughters names (except Abigail's middle name but it's a family name...) but just today my mother started complaining about Isobel and how it's such a hard spelling to find in the US. Funny thing is that I love Isobel but I hate Isabel. No idea why but that one letter makes it good for me.

I understand why some people like to keep the name a secret. My poor SIL just had a baby girl, and had her heart set on naming her Lila. I think it's a beautiful name- however, her MIL had a fit, saying it was a "slag's name"    I can't believe the nerve of some people. In the end, they named her Isla- but kept it secret from us all until after the birth. 

 Personally, the only person I think gets a say in the name of our child is my husband (and even then that is limited! ) So I don't mind if people tell me they don't like it- they can just get used to it! Now if I could just figure out what that name will be....

I've never understood why people reveal names before the baby is born. I'd think they'd have to meet the kid to make sure that he/she seems like a whatever they have picked out. And like Smashley said, it just gives people the opportunity to criticize. To me, before the baby is born, it's between the parents alone and no one else. They might share names they like, but once it's narrowed down and a decision made, I think it's weird to tell outsiders.

I'd think they'd have to meet the kid to make sure that he/she seems like a whatever they have picked out.

I feel the same way! I don't really understand naming someone you haven't met yet!

I feel the same way! I don't really understand naming someone you haven't met yet!

If you're using family names then it seems the kid just have to fit into the name. Bah, family names. We used our sisters name for the girls middle names. I was more than happy to use my sisters name but Jons sisters name is AWFUL. Poor Abby got saddled with that one. She doesn't look like an Abigail Vikki but she is. Abigail Victoria would have been lovely but it's not Victoria, it's Vikki. It's not even a nice spelling! However, the reaction we got from Vikki when she heard what we had done was worth it. Still, poor Abby. I won't blame her for never telling people that one.

(sorry, I'll stop ranting. I always get worked up when I think about it)

For non-family names I think that if you love the name so much, you'll think your kid looks like it no matter what.

I think if you really like a name you will still go with it no matter what people say. Before we had the boy I was talking with my sister and mentioned Aneurin and she just started laughing. To her it looked like Aneurism even though it is pronounced differently. We still went with it and am very glad we did. Now his middle name I'm not happy with. I'm happy we named him after my father, but not happy that we stuck to the funny spelling my grandmother came up with.

On another note, my boss has a daughter a couple of months older than Nye and we were talking about names and I mentioned I loved the name Henry. His response was that it was pretentious. Her then went and name his daughter something like Genevieve. To me that is way more pretentious that Henry.

Oh! There you go Henry.

I've officially changed my middle name to my maiden name. Any children we have will also have my maiden name as their middle name. I wouldn't say it's a unisex name, I'd say it's more asexual. It doesn't sound particularly male or female, it's just a last name. You'd never use it for a first name. Except for one guy cousin who is single with no kids, I had all girl cousins (and a sister), so at this point that name isn't going to be carried on. I'd like to see the name stay 'alive'.

To me, before the baby is born, it's between the parents alone and no one else. They might share names they like, but once it's narrowed down and a decision made, I think it's weird to tell outsiders.

This is pretty much my opinion on it too!

Also, because I don't want to hear all the negative comments if people don't like the name we decide on. Not that it would change my mind. I would never change my mind just to please others but that's not the point. Everyone will have an opionion and it nobodys decision except for the parents. We picked out a girl name and wont be sharing it until she is born (or he!!! but we are still working on that name ) If she is born and we don't think it suits her then we have another on back up....I just really doubt that we will need the back up name. The one we have picked is So lovley!  

What do you think about first, middle, and last names that all start with the same initials? Do you think they flow?  

Examples......

Wayne William Walsh
Jack James Jones
Daniel Dean Davis

Nancy Nicole Nichols
Michelle Marie Matthews
Ashley Ann Allen

I just made those names up off the top of my head by the way.....

What do you think about first, middle, and last names that all start with the same initials? Do you think they flow?  

Well, as long as it's not a series of K names.   

I've got a first and last name that both start with the same letter.  Same 2 letters. 

I think it depends on the names involved.  I don't think it's a dealbreaker. 

We kept our baby's name to ourselves for the most part.  I didn't want opinions because we knew we liked it.  We also wanted to wait for him to arrive to ensure it "fit" him.  It did.  I have a friend who waited her country's max time to register the birth (they have a month longer than the UK) because she didn't have any strong feelings about any names -- so she wanted to see what might evolve over time.  No way could I deal with friends and family asking "have you named the baby yet" for 2 months.  I'd go insane.

Well, as long as it's not a series of K names.   

Of course not!!!! LOL

We kept our baby's name to ourselves for the most part.  I didn't want opinions because we knew we liked it.  We also wanted to wait for him to arrive to ensure it "fit" him.  It did.  I have a friend who waited her country's max time to register the birth (they have a month longer than the UK) because she didn't have any strong feelings about any names -- so she wanted to see what might evolve over time.  No way could I deal with friends and family asking "have you named the baby yet" for 2 months.  I'd go insane.

In the US, I think you have to do it before you leave the hospital! My mom wanted to name my brother Luke because it's a short version of her long Eastern European maiden name but her sister was also pregnant and due a week or so after her and had "called" the name for that pregnancy. Neither of them knew what they were having and my mom gave birth first. If she could have waited a month, she would have because my aunt gave birth a week later to a girl, who they obviously did not name Luke. So I think they scrambled for a name for my brother and ended up with James.

In the US, I think you have to do it before you leave the hospital! My mom wanted to name my brother Luke because it's a short version of her long Eastern European maiden name but her sister was also pregnant and due a week or so after her and had "called" the name for that pregnancy. Neither of them knew what they were having and my mom gave birth first. If she could have waited a month, she would have because my aunt gave birth a week later to a girl, who they obviously did not name Luke. So I think they scrambled for a name for my brother and ended up with James.

Oh boy, so glad I never had that issue with either of my sisters. They each have 3 kids and I only have 1. I could only IMAGINE the chaos that would ensue in my family if 2 of us wanted the same name LOL

I like all of OP's name choices, esp. Oscar (but I like Oscar Wilde).

My daughter is named Athena. I liked it because it was a strong name, and although it is unusual (unless you're in Greece I guess), it isn't a "made up" name or spelling.

Boys are hard to name! I think I'd go with Arthur for the above reason. I do like Rhys also but don't know how popular those two names are in England.

Boys are hard to name! I think I'd go with Arthur for the above reason. I do like Rhys also but don't know how popular those two names are in England.

My cousin's son is an Arthur and they're English. I'm not sure how popular it is, but nobody will think it's weird!

I do like Rhys also but don't know how popular those two names are in England.

Rhys is a traditional Welsh boy's name.