We didn't share DS's name until he was born. People are judgy and opinionated and I'm not interested. We're doing the same this time.
We've had a middle name for a girl since way before she was conceived, Hope. Now to find her a first name. I have a super uncommon name that really isn't difficult to pronounce, but when people see it written down, they have no idea how to say it. Sometimes it's nice, but more often it's a hassle, so I'd rather her first name be a smidge more common.
H doesn't like nicknames. His name is Michael and people always assume he goes by Mike. He doesn't complain to others, but to me he says "if my parents wanted me to be a Mike, they would have named me Mike" but his mom calls him Mike all the time and it cracks me up.
@soprano19 I like all of those name choices and think any one of them goes with Clara. I wouldn’t worry about a movie association if you like the name. Also, for those of us who never saw it, I don’t associate it haha.
@catem07 Anne and Claire both go well with Margaret. I would be preferential to Claire just because it’s my sister’s name 😂 I also completely disagree that Anne doesn’t go with Margaret though. I think those two names compliment each other every well while also being different.
I never experienced any negative remarks about telling someone our name picks last time, so once we are decided we will definitely share if asked. I think confidence is key - instead of "I think we are going to name him..." just "his name is" - if it's clear that you are 100% and not asking for opinions I think people are a lot less likely to give them.
Right now we have no idea though! DS's name is Ezra and we were set on it the minute we found out he was a boy and it just felt so right - no second guessing. We stick to family names for middle names, so his middle name is Cruz after MHs grandmother. This baby will have a middle name from my side of the family so our options are Anthony, Louis, Rosario, or Paul but I feel like we like a lot of first names, but don't both LOVE any.
Our short list so far: Isaiah Isaac Diego Desmond Elliott Owen Ivan
Ideally we want something that sounds good in English and Spanish since MHs family only speaks Spanish. Very open to suggestions!
@soprano19 I like all of your names but I think Matilda is the most "now" of all of them -- spunky and offbeat without being weird. But any of them would be lovely.
@catem07 I wonder if the other BMB is thinking of the 60's actress Ann-Margret? Because I think Margaret and Anne both have that classic British Queen vibe.
@chewie5990 Ezra is so cute! My brother just had to come up with a name that worked in English and Swedish and those bilingual names are so hard. I wonder if Diego would suffer from Dora the Explorer association. Would Oscar work?
@allie456 yeah the Dora the Explorer reference is the main thing holding us back from Diego - but I feel like the show isn't really popular anymore so idk if it would effect him so much as people our age making references. I like Oscar but there's just way too many Oscars on MHs side of the family already!
None of my kids names go together. I’ve never even considered how they sound together, honestly. I feel like both boys have names that suit them in different ways. My sisters and I all have names that range from average everyday names to names you’ve probably heard in a song but nowhere else. 🤷🏻♀️
We have a girl name. We’ve been telling people her nickname and love hearing everyone’s guess for what it’s short for. No one has guessed yet. Nickname is Sisi, but most people assume Cece because we don’t clarify spelling.
@chewie5990 Elliott is one of my fave boys names. I don’t know how it is for Spanish speakers though.
@allie456 No one mentioned Ann-Margaret but I’ve actually thought about that. It doesn’t bother me though. We really like regal-ish sounding names (one of our girls would have been Charlotte before the Cambridges sent it skyrocketing to the top of the popularity charts). Also this baby’s middle name will probably be Elizabeth (which is my mother’s name). And Ann (no e) is my MILs middle name. So it’s kind of a nice tribute to them both, even though I’m not actually passionate about family names.
DD #1: April 2017 DD #2: May 2020 Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
I like everyone’s name choices. Not very helpful, but they all sound good!
I keep going back and forth on names. I don’t particularly want a popular name, but it seems like all the names I do like also happen to be popular. I don’t think many names “go with” our last name but I guess it just ends up working out. I didn’t think my name fit well with my married name at first, but now it sounds natural to me.
As for names and name associations, you also cannot predict future name associations. My sister and I both have names which are names of members of a major political family, but said family was unknown to the masses when my sister and I were named.
Current name options: Jack Sawyer Finnian Declan Wyatt
@mamaj1220 and @heyybritt ok, that's helpful to hear thank you! I feel like my older daughter, Hadley, is unique enough that we almost never find anything personalized for her either so I'm not too concerned. Plus with Etsy everyone can get personalized things now
@bananapanda Hadley is on my short list of girls names... I have lots of names with A and D...
Lydia Hadley Cassidy Addison Madison Madeline Adeline Aldyn Landyn
I clearly like a certain sound... as it goes my husband and I have agreed on a boy's name for months, but we're having a girl and do not quite see eye to eye on that name yet!
@pirateduck I'm partial to Madelyn as that's my daughter's name. My cousin named her daughter born 5 months later Adeline so we have Addie and Maddie running around together now.
@sunshinesea22 Finnian is on our short list for boys. It was going to be dds name it she were a boy and I think we didn't decide on the boy name until we were driving to the hospital. Her name we picked out years ago, but the boy name we liked my cousin named her son 5 months prior.
My first choice for this one is Griffin George (George is my grandpas name). Other names on my list are Colton and Oakley. Brothers name is Quinten. I like how Quinten and Colton sound together but I think Colton is maybe too popular for my liking.
Last time DH and I had a really hard time naming DS and DH turned down soooooo many names that I liked so I was afraid to ask him about Griffin. He didn’t immediately tell me no, or he hated it or ask if I was crazy. But then he thought for a minute and said he has a friend with a boy named Griffin. Then he thought a minute more and he was like “ohhhhhh my! My friend with the kid named griffin also has a son named Quinten!” I laughed and then DH said that he can’t name his kids the same as what his high school friends brothers kids are named. I have been with DH for 7.5 years. I’ve never met these people. This “friend” was supposed to be a groomsman in our wedding and backed out less than a week prior. I said when do you see friends brothers kids?! He said never but I still can’t name them that. I think he’s being irrational and I told him to think about it. Now I just need to figure out how firm I want to stand. (I honestly think the kid would be named today if it weren’t for his “friends” brother whose children’s names he probably only knows because of social media).
@sunshinesea22 I love Finnian I threw Finn out as an option if this baby is a boy and then was reminded by amazing best friend his initials would be FU so that was a no go.
@JStill0603 DS was supposed to be Colton, but one of my close friends had a baby and found out he was a boy and that was the name they used then my cousin did the same. I was slightly salty but now I am glad because DS is the only one with his name in his grade level and there are a few Colton's.
@JStill0603 I wouldn’t worry too much and also wouldnt be too firm. There are lots of names out there and you have 6 more months to explore options. Husband may come around to it or you may come up with something else you love.
One of my holdups with Finnian and Sawyer are that they sound cute for little boys but do they work for grown men? Also DH would be real peeved if Finnian decides he wants to be called “Ian” I guess DH knows an Ian who is an ass.
Funny story about initials: We were talking to a friend about names and how you have to think about things like if their initials would spell anything embarrassing, and she was like "Ohh, I never even thought about that!" Then she thought for a second and said "So I guess names starting with a B are out for you guys because then their initials would be 'BM' and no one wants to be a BM." Then MH quietly chimed in with "...I'm a BM." 💀 But really it's never been an issue for him, and he just uses his middle initial whenever he has to use his initials for something.
**TW**
Me: 35 | H: 40 Married Sept. 2013 DS1: Nov 11, 2016 MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d) CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d) BFP! 8/24/19 DS2: May 10, 2020
LOL @shamrocandroll MH’s middle name starts with a J. His first name starts with a B. 😂 DS2 has his middle name but a T first name. He could go by TJ when he gets older if he wants but MH was like I’d NEVER go by BJ.
@rox7777 That's one of the reasons MH doesn't ever want to name a kid after himself. Then he'd be B Junior, and MH doesn't want him to be called BJ. That would be a terrible combination, since he could then be called either BJ or BM.
**TW**
Me: 35 | H: 40 Married Sept. 2013 DS1: Nov 11, 2016 MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d) CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d) BFP! 8/24/19 DS2: May 10, 2020
LOL @shamrocandroll MH’s middle name starts with a J. His first name starts with a B. 😂 DS2 has his middle name but a T first name. He could go by TJ when he gets older if he wants but MH was like I’d NEVER go by BJ.
Soooo we have been joking (since names aren't decided) that if it's a boy, it's CJ (as in my husband's first initial and then junior) and if it's a girl (which it is) it's BJ (my first initial and then junior), and now we just refer to the baby as BJ and laugh and know we have to come up with her real name soon before the nickname in the womb sticks for life!
As long as the middle initial isn't a vowel you are less likely to accidentally spell something!
Another name that has come up for us is Lucy, which I really like for several reasons:
1) It can't really be shortened into any nicknames that I hate. 2) It flows really well with the rest of our names and with our last name. 3) It's the same style as DD1's name. 4) It pays some homage to my grandma's name (Louise). 5) It has the same meaning as DD1's name (light).
Leaning towards Jemma/Gemma but not sure which spelling to go with but have hesitations since Emma is the most popular baby name right now. Also our family would then be Jer, Em, Ben and Jem and that sounds like confusion waiting to happen
DH and I really love the name Serenity for a girl, but after finding out yesterday baby is definitely a BOY!!!, we are going to have to start looking. I like the name Allister, it's a Greek, warrior name that means protector/defender of mankind.
@emlettuce I personally like the Gemma spelling but I can see some people trying to pronounce it with a Hard-G instead of “gem”.
Word of caution from someone with a name that looks intimidating but is actually phonetic. I have people butcher my name all the time just because they’re not used to the letter combination.
@drkoyya my whole life people struggled with my last name, it is pronounced exactly as it’s spelled. Makes me wonder if people were ever taught how to sound out words they don’t know in grade school.
I have one of the simplest names to pronounce. On top of that it’s a very popular song name. You would be amazed at how many people can butcher pronunciation AND spelling. 🤦🏻♀️
@pirateduck I've gotten to a point when I notice people call me "Ms. Last name" instead of trying my first name, I force them to try and pronounce my first name. 9 times out of 10 they get it right if they take the time to sound it out. It's the people who say my name and add letters/sounds that aren't anywhere in my name
@drkoyya I want to know your name so badly now just to see if I can get it lol. Also made the mistake of sharing our name choices at Christmas, I should have known better but I basically said them and I think it was clear that it was not up for debate but I could tell by some of the looks that family isn't sold. Oh well.
MH and I both think our favorite name right now is Jack Francis. I feel like I can’t commit to anything just yet. It seems so premature to decide that’s the best name for our baby 5 months before we even meet him. I’m also not 1000% in love with it. I think I’m having a hard time totally embracing it because it’s a fairly common name and part of me wants something different but not too different.
Re: Hello! Drop your top baby name choices here!
We've had a middle name for a girl since way before she was conceived, Hope. Now to find her a first name. I have a super uncommon name that really isn't difficult to pronounce, but when people see it written down, they have no idea how to say it. Sometimes it's nice, but more often it's a hassle, so I'd rather her first name be a smidge more common.
H doesn't like nicknames. His name is Michael and people always assume he goes by Mike. He doesn't complain to others, but to me he says "if my parents wanted me to be a Mike, they would have named me Mike" but his mom calls him Mike all the time and it cracks me up.
I also completely disagree that Anne doesn’t go with Margaret though. I think those two names compliment each other every well while also being different.
Right now we have no idea though! DS's name is Ezra and we were set on it the minute we found out he was a boy and it just felt so right - no second guessing. We stick to family names for middle names, so his middle name is Cruz after MHs grandmother. This baby will have a middle name from my side of the family so our options are Anthony, Louis, Rosario, or Paul but I feel like we like a lot of first names, but don't both LOVE any.
Our short list so far:
Isaiah
Isaac
Diego
Desmond
Elliott
Owen
Ivan
Ideally we want something that sounds good in English and Spanish since MHs family only speaks Spanish. Very open to suggestions!
@catem07 I wonder if the other BMB is thinking of the 60's actress Ann-Margret? Because I think Margaret and Anne both have that classic British Queen vibe.
@chewie5990 Ezra is so cute! My brother just had to come up with a name that worked in English and Swedish and those bilingual names are so hard. I wonder if Diego would suffer from Dora the Explorer association. Would Oscar work?
DD #2: May 2020
Baby #3: EDD May 2023; MC October 2022
As for names and name associations, you also cannot predict future name associations. My sister and I both have names which are names of members of a major political family, but said family was unknown to the masses when my sister and I were named.
Jack
Sawyer
Finnian
Declan
Wyatt
Lydia
Hadley
Cassidy
Addison
Madison
Madeline
Adeline
Aldyn
Landyn
I clearly like a certain sound... as it goes my husband and I have agreed on a boy's name for months, but we're having a girl and do not quite see eye to eye on that name yet!
@sunshinesea22 Finnian is on our short list for boys. It was going to be dds name it she were a boy and I think we didn't decide on the boy name until we were driving to the hospital. Her name we picked out years ago, but the boy name we liked my cousin named her son 5 months prior.
crazy. But then he thought for a minute and said he has a friend with a boy named Griffin. Then he thought a minute more and he was like “ohhhhhh my! My friend with the kid named griffin also has a son named Quinten!” I laughed and then DH said that he can’t name his kids the same as what his high school friends brothers kids are named. I have been with DH for 7.5 years. I’ve never met these people. This “friend” was supposed to be a groomsman in our wedding and backed out less than a week prior. I said when do you see friends brothers kids?! He said never but I still can’t name them that. I think he’s being irrational and I told him to think about it. Now I just need to figure out how firm I want to stand. (I honestly think the kid would be named today if it weren’t for his “friends” brother whose children’s names he probably only knows because of social media).
Married Sept. 2013
DS1: Nov 11, 2016
MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d)
CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d)
BFP! 8/24/19
DS2: May 10, 2020
Married Sept. 2013
DS1: Nov 11, 2016
MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d)
CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d)
BFP! 8/24/19
DS2: May 10, 2020
Soooo we have been joking (since names aren't decided) that if it's a boy, it's CJ (as in my husband's first initial and then junior) and if it's a girl (which it is) it's BJ (my first initial and then junior), and now we just refer to the baby as BJ and laugh and know we have to come up with her real name soon before the nickname in the womb sticks for life!
As long as the middle initial isn't a vowel you are less likely to accidentally spell something!
Married Sept. 2013
DS1: Nov 11, 2016
MMC: 11/16/18 (9w6d)
CP: 2/3/19 (5w3d)
BFP! 8/24/19
DS2: May 10, 2020
1) It can't really be shortened into any nicknames that I hate.
2) It flows really well with the rest of our names and with our last name.
3) It's the same style as DD1's name.
4) It pays some homage to my grandma's name (Louise).
5) It has the same meaning as DD1's name (light).
FTM
BFP 08/25/19, EDD 05/04/20
FTM
BFP 08/25/19, EDD 05/04/20