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How do you decide what to call your baby?
I'm going crazy with baby names. My partner and I can't agree on what to call our son?! It's our first child and neither of us can decide what to call the baby. He doesn't like the names I choose, and I don't like the names he chooses. We can't agree on anything other than the in-utero name - which right now is Bean. I am NOT calling my son Bean.
Any ideas? How did you decide what to call your baby?
Any ideas? How did you decide what to call your baby?
Most Useful Answer
We thought our baby might have been a little girl and the name was sorted thanks to a dream about her, perhaps you'll get one of those to help you!? Then at our 20 week scan we saw his man bits and had to start thinking of a different name - don't think he would have been too impressed with
Amelie Mae. I must admit, thinking of boys names was harder, even though I always used to think the opposite. It doesn't help that we are both teachers and it's hard not to associate the name with particular children you've known. We narrowed it down from our own individual favourites list, to a joint favourite list of 5 names. Then we tried those names in all different combinations to find a preferred first and middle name, but I agree, you have to say the whole name to see what fits and check the initials etc. Our little boy, now 12 weeks, became Elijah James (or EJ for short). After much switching around with our other favourites, it's what we just kept coming back to. You'll know if it's right, it just feels it ... once you've found it that is! Happy name making! :o)
We just made up a list and each of us crossed off the ones that were definite NOs. Then we decided to wait until she came out and see if she looked like any of the names on the list 
She was a Maya!
She was a Maya!My other half had a name that he'd always liked, and I liked it too. Was the only name we both quite liked, and my husband wanted to follow the family tradition of the middle name being the same as his (and the same has his dad's), so I said fine we'll also give him my dad's middle name too. As soon as I said the whole name outloud with surname we both recognised it as someone we already knew and who was a big part of our lives. Even though we'd only just had the first scan.
When you hear the right name, you'll both recognise it.
Some people, and I have friends who did this, don't believe on naming until the child is born. My friends had some names chosen but didn't pick anything until they saw their daughter and once they did all teh names went out the window. She just wasn't any of them. It took them nearly six weeks before they finally 'found' her name.
I think it is worth waiting for that 'right' moment when you just know THAT'S it.
When you hear the right name, you'll both recognise it.
Some people, and I have friends who did this, don't believe on naming until the child is born. My friends had some names chosen but didn't pick anything until they saw their daughter and once they did all teh names went out the window. She just wasn't any of them. It took them nearly six weeks before they finally 'found' her name.
I think it is worth waiting for that 'right' moment when you just know THAT'S it.
Same as Lynley's friends here. We didn't know if we were having a boy or girl, so choosing names was impossibly hard. We had a long list of girl's names as my gut instinct was that it was a girl, but only a couple of boys names. I was very relieved when we HAD a girl in the end, but we still couldn't agree on a name. Finally my hubby chose one and I agreed, but when I had to introduce her to someone as such, the name got stuck in my throat and I couldn't say it. It just WASN'T her name. We eventually chose Kyra, when she was five days old and we were going to his parents for the weekend and NEEDED a name. I was so excited as it had been the name in my head, and now we both love it and think there couldn't be a more perfect name for her.
I agree with Lynley. It'll come when the time is right.
I agree with Lynley. It'll come when the time is right.
It's so hard isn't it!! I think it's the most difficult decision you're going to make 
The things that were running through my head when choosing names
What does it rhyme with
What stupid nicknames would cruel kids come up with
What does it sound like as a whole with the middle name and the surname
Can they "amend" it later in life (like Matt, Matty, Matthew)
How do you spell it.... variations on the same name
Does it remind you of someone you knew
So many things!
The things that were running through my head when choosing names
What does it rhyme with
What stupid nicknames would cruel kids come up with
What does it sound like as a whole with the middle name and the surname
Can they "amend" it later in life (like Matt, Matty, Matthew)
How do you spell it.... variations on the same name
Does it remind you of someone you knew
So many things!
Gaaa this thread has got me starting to think of potential names for my second child... and I'm not even pregnant!
Since you two can not meet the agreement, why not ask the senior ones at your home for some help. I am a person not good at naming either.
We thought our baby might have been a little girl and the name was sorted thanks to a dream about her, perhaps you'll get one of those to help you!? Then at our 20 week scan we saw his man bits and had to start thinking of a different name - don't think he would have been too impressed with
Amelie Mae. I must admit, thinking of boys names was harder, even though I always used to think the opposite. It doesn't help that we are both teachers and it's hard not to associate the name with particular children you've known. We narrowed it down from our own individual favourites list, to a joint favourite list of 5 names. Then we tried those names in all different combinations to find a preferred first and middle name, but I agree, you have to say the whole name to see what fits and check the initials etc. Our little boy, now 12 weeks, became Elijah James (or EJ for short). After much switching around with our other favourites, it's what we just kept coming back to. You'll know if it's right, it just feels it ... once you've found it that is! Happy name making! :o)
Amelie Mae. I must admit, thinking of boys names was harder, even though I always used to think the opposite. It doesn't help that we are both teachers and it's hard not to associate the name with particular children you've known. We narrowed it down from our own individual favourites list, to a joint favourite list of 5 names. Then we tried those names in all different combinations to find a preferred first and middle name, but I agree, you have to say the whole name to see what fits and check the initials etc. Our little boy, now 12 weeks, became Elijah James (or EJ for short). After much switching around with our other favourites, it's what we just kept coming back to. You'll know if it's right, it just feels it ... once you've found it that is! Happy name making! :o)
Last edited by gall76,
Oct. 13, 2011 at 11:46
Thanks for all your input everyone. Oddly, Ben is one of the names my partner vetoed, although he loves Bean. Men! 
I like the idea of waiting till after he's born now. Maybe that'll make it easier! Thanks again for all your thoughts.
Does anyone know how long you have before you HAVE to choose a name?
I like the idea of waiting till after he's born now. Maybe that'll make it easier! Thanks again for all your thoughts.
Does anyone know how long you have before you HAVE to choose a name?
You're only restricted by the length of time it takes to register a birth, and you can during that time re-register with a different name too if you change your mind (a friend of mine has two 'birth' certificates for that reason). Legally you have 42 days, or six weeks, to roll up to the Register office. I think you need to book in advance though at my places, so don't just turn up on the last day! Plus you can then, if you think you've made a mistake, change baby's name by deed poll. A fellow journalist colleague wrote a feature on that subject, having realised herself that they'd made a mistake with baby's name and they changed it when he was about 18 months old.
DH and I had some names in mind, but only chose after DD was born. Felt odd to name someone we'd never 'met'.
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