do you ever second guess your baby name choice?

redshoegirl

I told Ben today that I'm SO glad we named Dash "Dashiell". It really suits him, and I'm so glad we decided to use it. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad we named Will "William" as well, but I never second guessed it in the same way that I second guessed Dashiell when we were picking out names. I was looking on baby name websites right up until the week before he was born just because I wanted to be sure that it was definitely THE name (as a side note, Logan was a strong contender but we couldn't think of a shortened version of it that we liked - Lo? Log? Logie? ick! - and it never completely grabbed me the way Dashiell did).

I don't know if I'm explaining this very well...what I mean is that although we both loved the name Dashiell, it's fairly unusual and I was nervous that after we'd officially named him, one day I'd think "Uh oh...that was a stupid move! Now the poor kid is stuck with it and will be mocked for life! ZOMG - WHAT HAVE I DONE?!??!1!!eleven!!"

Mamas - were you ever nervous that you were choosing the "wrong" name for your child (and mamas-to-be - is this something you ever think or worry about)? Do you think that whatever name you pick naturally fits the baby just because it's what you, the parents, chose? Or do some names just go with some types of people and not others, and it's possible to have a name that doesn't suit you? (I'm especially curious about the latter, because I often get people calling me Jennifer - for some reason I seem to look like a Jennifer to people, not a Lisa!)

mrspresley

i think if you had gone w/the name logan, he would have just had to have gone by logan. no nickname.  were you insistent on a nickname? i know that in the south they have a very strong preference towards giving every child a nickname

we weren't set on having a nickname...in fact, our worry before naming her was that people would call her Anna for short and we didn't want that.  (nothing against the name Anna per se, we just love Annalise and wanted people to call her by that!)  it just so turned out that my best friend's niece is named Annalise....i had never heard the name before (just happened to come across it in a baby name book).  so when i told her we were considering it and she told me her niece had that name i asked her if she was ever called Anna for short.  she reassured me that her brother and SIL had only ever called her Annalise, so no one ever shortened her name to Anna. 

I fell in love w/the name as soon as I saw it, esp after I read its meaning since we are Christian (graced with God's bounty or devoted to God).  I actually started a list of names and emailed it to Brent, secretly hoping he would pick it as his favorite as well (which he did).  the name Elyse was on my list of favorites too and Brent vetoed it but he loved Annalise (funny huh? esp since he doesn't like Anne or Anna but likes Annalise which is essently Ann-Elyse!).  I don't think we ever second guessed our choice.  the only thing we questioned was the spelling. we were both set on spelling it Analise (prettier, I think) but then when a friend pointed out that she'd get teased in school for being "Anal"-ise we decided that we had "no choice" but to spell it Annalise.  I don't dislike the way we spell it, but I still prefer the Analise spelling if it weren't for the "tease factor"

I labored over the decision for soooooo long.  I have enough trouble as is naming a new pet, let alone a baby!!! so much so that we refused to settle on the name until right before she was born. we kept wondering if we'd come across another name that we liked more but in the end it was our favorite and I don't think I've had second thoughts at all since she's been born.

redshoegirl

mrspresley:

i think if you had gone w/the name logan, he would have just had to have gone by logan. no nickname.  were you insistent on a nickname? i know that in the south they have a very strong preference towards giving every child a nickname .....

I wasn't set on a nickname, no (in fact, when I'm talking to them, I often call both boys by their full names vs Will and Dash) - but in Australia, EVERY name gets a nickname, so I was determined to have a nickname that I would like, or at least be able to pre-determine. They also tend to make many nicknames end in -o (Tom = Tommo, Sam = Sammo) or -ie/y, so Logan would have almost certainly become something like Logie whether I liked it or not.

 

mrspresley:

we kept wondering if we'd come across another name that we liked more

I think this is also what worried me, and why I kept looking at names right up until they were born...I kept thinking, what if we name them and then three weeks later I come across another name that I like better?

mrspresley

redshoegirl:

but in Australia, EVERY name gets a nickname, so I was determined to have a nickname that I would like, or at least be able to pre-determine. They also tend to make many nicknames end in -o (Tom = Tommo, Sam = Sammo) or -ie/y, so Logan would have almost certainly become something like Logie whether I liked it or not.

hahahah...this reminds me of high school when we used to all joke around with each other and made everyone's name end in -o.....so it was Steve-o, Bob-o, Nikki-o, Jaime-o, etc LOL

sanae78

redshoegirl:

I'm especially curious about the latter, because I often get people calling me Jennifer - for some reason I seem to look like a Jennifer to people, not a Lisa!

I think we discussed this before...I used to get called Michelle a lot because apparently I look like a Michelle.  Weird.

I never second guess our name choice.  Kaya kinda just stuck from the beginning and we never really considered any other name.  Her middle name came down to the wire, though, but I'm really happy with our choice.  We actually flipped a coin or something and it was going to be Yukiko (I liked the meaning: "snow child") but B liked Akemi better and I actually love the name now.  It suits her somehow, and flows better with Kaya.  

mrs.winter

Logan was one of our choices as well as Holden, Landon and Sheldon.  I think Ashton suits our boy to a "t"...when I look at him, I think Ashton.  We used to get, "oh, like Ashton Kutcher" which is annoying but oh well. I love his name and I hate when people call him Ash.....his name is Ashton:-) I always have to correct his sitter.  I'm sure he will probably end up being called Ash, but for now, I get to make those decisions;-P

Mrs.HulaHunnie

We were torn between Jaylee and Blake for the longest time.  I like boys names for girls ( I think we discussed this before) and surprised myself at 26 weeks when we had our u/s and were 100% sure she was a girl. James said "that's it she's Jaylee" and it was never really discussed after that. We were however on the fence with her middle name, I had met a girl growing up named Mieko (Prosperous) and loved the sound of it, but when we looked at babyname books we also loved Emiko (smiling child) so that was left up to the day she was born, she was born smiling so we just had to name her Emiko.  My grandparents call her Emi-Chan and I'm okay with that. I am however not okay when people call Jaylee "Jay" or "Jails". Her name is Jaylee and it will always be Jaylee. I have a feeling when she gets older she will have to explain how to pronounce/spell her name and why she was named that.

myday1708

I sometimes wonder what it would be like if we had chosen another of our top names.....

Like Sydney Rose. Beautiful name. But I have since learned there is a baby named Sydney Reese down the street from us! And a baby in her swim glass named Sydney Michelle. I guess it's more popular than I had realized at the time! Plus, she just doesn't look like a Sydney!

Then there's Lucy. Also very popular and very cute... But I can't see her as a Lucy! And Janey. I still like that one. But Alexa is so much more sophisticated than Janey or Lucy. 

I think babies grow into their name quickly... And you can't imagine them by any other name! I definitely love her name even more than when we first decided on it. 

Finally.... Roxanne. Roxy. I still love that name. A little much for a baby to live up to, but cool nonetheless. Maybe a great name for a little sister? Alexa & Roxy? Hmmmm? :-) 

redshoegirl

mrs.winter:

Logan was one of our choices as well as Holden, Landon and Sheldon. 

Holden is one of my all time favorites - I love love love love love it! But I can never use it now that I live in Australia and have an Aussie husband since it's a brand of car here. It would be like naming your child Chevrolet or Honda. 

lelekay

I think about this all. the. time!  I think MH and I have finally decided on a name (at least we're 99% sure of what it'll be), but now I worry about it every day.  It's pretty old-fashioned, and I wonder how our families will like it (we haven't shared it at all), and more importantly, if HE'LL like it!  Will he like it?  Will it suit him?  And I certainly love the name (now), but what if I don't in another year?  MH needed some convincing of this name (which was my favorite), but what if he ends of hating it and resenting me after the fact?

At this point, I'm just hoping he *looks* like a _______ when he's born.  If he doesn't to us, we do have a few other contenders, but I really hope he does!

redshoegirl

lelekay:

At this point, I'm just hoping he *looks* like a _______ when he's born.  If he doesn't to us, we do have a few other contenders, but I really hope he does!

LOL I worried about this too! In fact, after the boys were born, I stared at them REALLY hard and tried to make sure their names fit them. To be honest...I still didn't have a clue. 

Some people say you should wait to name your baby until they're born to make sure the name fits, but I don't think that would have worked for me - it's not like I looked at them and said, "Yep, you look like a William and you look like a Dashiell!" I think I probably could have called them practically anything and been able to say, "Yep, you look like a _____." It's not that babies all look alike and are generic, but they're kind of squishy at birth (they look totally different now to how they looked when they were born) so I don't know that waiting to name them would have done much good for me because I'd have needed to wait like a month...then again, maybe I'm just not very good at reading faces lol.

Married2MrWright

Once we decided upon naming her after our mother's we never looked back.  Elizabeth Joan fits her and we often call her by Elizabeth.  Sometimes I wonder if she'll ever want to change her nickname from Libby to something else, especially when I meet grown women who use the name Libby.  My nickname was Lolli growing up, but it didn't stick (except with family).  Joseph was JJ growing up and again, only family calls him that. Some of those folks are calling her EJ.  Not sure if that'll stick.   So it remains to be seen...for now, she's our Libby.  Sometimes I call her "Lizzie B, my Busy Bee" but I cannot imagine calling her Liz or Lizzie or Beth or Betty or Lily or any of the other nicknames for Elizabeth.  When we're being silly we call her Libby Jo...very "okie", no?

debbiezoey

 I was torn between 2 names when I had my daughter.  I was single at the time so my mom and sister were with me in the hospital.  I knew it was a girl and had finally decided on Emma.  Luckily, they hadn't signed the paperwork yet because after about a day and a half, I decided she didn't seem like an Emma, took a poll of my mom and sister, and changed her name to Ellie.  I have a card from one of her great grandmas that says, "Welcome to the world Emma!" 

I am really glad I changed it after that too, and this will date me, but it was shortly after that that Rachel from Friends had her baby and named it Emma.  LOTS of Emmas appeared after that!

She is just Ellie, not Elizabeth, not Eleanor... Ellie Belly Peanut Butter Jelly!

MrsZiz

Once we knew "it'" was a she, she was instantly a Bella... Ryan asked me once when we started dating 5 yrs ago "If you ever have a daughter would you name her Bella". I replied "sure I hadn't really thought about it much but yeah whatever"... At the time, I liked him and would've said anything to impress him Now look how life works out! 

It wasn't a question of what we would name our daughter and we started calling her that when I found out that she was in fact a she... So like Lisa said, when they come out, I think they "look" like whatever name it is that you want them to look like, or in our case, we had brainwashed ourselves that she would look like a Bella and of course, she did!

Like Renee said, people make their comments. DH and I had liked Ashton for a boy but we both thought "ashton kutcher" but looking at Renee's Ashton I never thought that! Odd huh?! I like Kiana for a girl (if we ever have another one) but Ryan thinks "keanu reeves"... we've weird like that.  

With Bella's name people always say "oh is it Isabelle or Isabella" when I respond "nope just Bella". they look at me like I'm nuts... I really didn't want a name that would be shortened or a nickname to come off of it (like Isabella into Bella or Izzy) I wanted to name my kid what I planned to call them... nicknames come later in my eyes. Our Bella was "ladybug" the very minute I laid eyes on her and now she's a ladybug, a bella boo, bella bug, sister, and numerous others   

MrsNicole&Brian808

Before we were even TTC, Brian and I jokingly said that if we ever had a boy, we'd name him Hank (after our dads--Harold + Frank).  When we got our BFP, and looong before we found out we were indeed having a boy, Brian started calling the baby Hank.  So it seems we are going with it!

I had concerns since "Hank" is not very common.  I mean, have you ever met a baby named Hank?  I know it's short for Henry, but a friend of ours named Henry was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident when he was in his early 20s.  So no.  Not Henry.

We've told a few people and the first thing they say is, "Hank?!" accompanied by a funny face.  Eh.  It's significant to us and I think we're sticking with it.

I think his middle name will be Macyn.  Yeah, it's a weird spelling of Mason, but again, it has significance.  M, C, Y, and N are our grandmothers' first initials.  They have all passed and we wanted to honor them somehow.

lelekay

MrsNicole&Brian808:

I had concerns since "Hank" is not very common.  I mean, have you ever met a baby named Hank?  I know it's short for Henry, but a friend of ours named Henry was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident when he was in his early 20s.  So no.  Not Henry.

We've told a few people and the first thing they say is, "Hank?!" accompanied by a funny face.  Eh.  It's significant to us and I think we're sticking with it.

 

I'm a little worried about our name choice and funny faces, too, but stick with it!  Especially if it means something to you.  I actually love "Hank"....I think that's adorable for a little boy. 

vanilla15

We haven't named our baby yet, but I am definitely not 100% sold on the name we have picked out.  We are not finding out the gender, but I am 99.9% sure it is a boy.  So we have mainly been focusing on boy names & our favorite is one that an old boss named his son.  (His son is about 7 or 8 now) When he named his son that I came home & told DH & he said "that is a really cool name"  and that was about it.  So now we are having this baby and that name immediately comes up again.  Now I love this boss, but just b/c it is him & his son's name I have 2nd thoughts.  We live in completely different states & I never see them, but I do keep up with everyone from that office.  I told him we were considering the name & he and his wife seemed excited, but they can be very two-faced.  And I am sure there were some snickers after we parted.  (they recently came down for an event & we met up for lunch one day - otherwise I hadn't seem them since I moved)  I know I can't pick a name based on the parents of a kid with the same name...but that is the only real hang up I have with the name.  The other problem - can't think of one other name!  not one!!! 

I also worry if it were to become trendy, but in all of my life I have only heard of one other kid with this name & I've googled it a few times and I only found one guy in Canada, a dentist in Mexico & a politician in Alabama - i know kind of random, right!?

I always thought it would be easy & fun to name a baby...nope, wrong!  It is tough!!

Married2MrWright

MrsNicole&Brian808:

Before we were even TTC, Brian and I jokingly said that if we ever had a boy, we'd name him Hank (after our dads--Harold + Frank).  When we got our BFP, and looong before we found out we were indeed having a boy, Brian started calling the baby Hank.  So it seems we are going with it!

I had concerns since "Hank" is not very common.  I mean, have you ever met a baby named Hank?  I know it's short for Henry, but a friend of ours named Henry was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident when he was in his early 20s.  So no.  Not Henry.

We've told a few people and the first thing they say is, "Hank?!" accompanied by a funny face.  Eh.  It's significant to us and I think we're sticking with it.

I think his middle name will be Macyn.  Yeah, it's a weird spelling of Mason, but again, it has significance.  M, C, Y, and N are our grandmothers' first initials.  They have all passed and we wanted to honor them somehow.

I ? this Nicole.  Thanks for sharing...how special for Hank Macyn to have a name so indicative of the family members who have come before him.

SanHawaii08

MrsNicole&Brian808:

Before we were even TTC, Brian and I jokingly said that if we ever had a boy, we'd name him Hank (after our dads--Harold + Frank).  When we got our BFP, and looong before we found out we were indeed having a boy, Brian started calling the baby Hank.  So it seems we are going with it!

i was wondering if you had decided!  I like "Hank" too  One of our friends named their son Jeremy, for Gerald + Amy (one set of grandparents) 

vanilla15

Married2MrWright:

Sometimes I wonder if she'll ever want to change her nickname from Libby to something else, especially when I meet grown women who use the name Libby. 

I think naming her Elizabeth, but calling her Libby is perfect.  I have a friend Becky & that is the name on her birth certificate.  She has no problem with the name Becky, but doesn't like it professionally so she recently legally changed her name to Rebecca just so on business cards (or resumes) she can write Rebecca & feel a little more "grown up".

MauiWedding08

nope.  Jack is the perfect name for him.  I have stopped explaining the John the 4th = Jack and just go with Jack. 

I didn't expect to name him that.  I didn't really like the idea of nicknames.  I thought it was strange that MH is better known by his nickname (Trey for the 3rd) at home since  I only met him as John.  It wouldn't hurt my feelings if Jack grows up and wants to be known at John but for now Jack really suits him.  DH's mom wasn't happy about naming him John III so I think she had really convinced herself that his name was Trey so she hates that he goes by John now and is always trying to convince me to start calling him Trey.  I won't be like that.

We went to the hospital with a list of 3 names: 1 girl name (I posted awhile ago that it was going to be Clara Marie).  And either John IV or Noah Andrew (after 2 of our great grandpas) if it was a boy.  John wasn't even sure that he had a preference but once Jack arrived we both just knew that he needed to be John IV.  Now that DH's Granddad isn't doing so well health wise it has been even more special that they all share the same name.  And we have said that Jack just doesn't look/act like a Noah - probably because we know him as Jack

MrsNicole&Brian808

lelekay:

MrsNicole&Brian808:

I had concerns since "Hank" is not very common.  I mean, have you ever met a baby named Hank?  I know it's short for Henry, but a friend of ours named Henry was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident when he was in his early 20s.  So no.  Not Henry.

We've told a few people and the first thing they say is, "Hank?!" accompanied by a funny face.  Eh.  It's significant to us and I think we're sticking with it.

I'm a little worried about our name choice and funny faces, too, but stick with it!  Especially if it means something to you.  I actually love "Hank"....I think that's adorable for a little boy. 

Thanks, Leah!  I think we are sticking with it.  I actually can't think of any other name I like!

Married2MrWright:

MrsNicole&Brian808:

Before we were even TTC, Brian and I jokingly said that if we ever had a boy, we'd name him Hank (after our dads--Harold + Frank).  When we got our BFP, and looong before we found out we were indeed having a boy, Brian started calling the baby Hank.  So it seems we are going with it!

I had concerns since "Hank" is not very common.  I mean, have you ever met a baby named Hank?  I know it's short for Henry, but a friend of ours named Henry was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident when he was in his early 20s.  So no.  Not Henry.

We've told a few people and the first thing they say is, "Hank?!" accompanied by a funny face.  Eh.  It's significant to us and I think we're sticking with it.

I think his middle name will be Macyn.  Yeah, it's a weird spelling of Mason, but again, it has significance.  M, C, Y, and N are our grandmothers' first initials.  They have all passed and we wanted to honor them somehow.

I ? this Nicole.  Thanks for sharing...how special for Hank Macyn to have a name so indicative of the family members who have come before him.

Thanks, Lori!  I figured I'd share...why not?  I'm pretty sure this is it!    We lost 3 of our grandmothers (Yoshie, Chieko and Nellie) in an 18-month period a couple of years ago.  The loss is still pretty fresh on our minds.  And Brian was really close to his other grandma, Miyoko.  I've actually read that "Macyn" is a female version of Mason, but we just need to spell it that way, otherwise it loses its significance.

SanHawaii08:

MrsNicole&Brian808:

Before we were even TTC, Brian and I jokingly said that if we ever had a boy, we'd name him Hank (after our dads--Harold + Frank).  When we got our BFP, and looong before we found out we were indeed having a boy, Brian started calling the baby Hank.  So it seems we are going with it!

i was wondering if you had decided!  I like "Hank" too  One of our friends named their son Jeremy, for Gerald + Amy (one set of grandparents) 

Hey Sandra!  Yep, Brian is standing pretty firm and I really can't think of anything else I'd want to call our boy.  And "Jeremy" is a great combo.  How clever!

lola808

No second thoughts.  I love our choice.

But I now also LOVE our second choice for a boy's name.  Prior, I was on the fence about it, but now that we got to use the first one, I'm hoping we can one day put #2 to good use, too!

redshoegirl

MrsNicole&Brian808:

Before we were even TTC, Brian and I jokingly said that if we ever had a boy, we'd name him Hank (after our dads--Harold + Frank).  When we got our BFP, and looong before we found out we were indeed having a boy, Brian started calling the baby Hank.  So it seems we are going with it!

I had concerns since "Hank" is not very common.  I mean, have you ever met a baby named Hank?  I know it's short for Henry, but a friend of ours named Henry was tragically killed in a motorcycle accident when he was in his early 20s.  So no.  Not Henry.

We've told a few people and the first thing they say is, "Hank?!" accompanied by a funny face.  Eh.  It's significant to us and I think we're sticking with it.

I think his middle name will be Macyn.  Yeah, it's a weird spelling of Mason, but again, it has significance.  M, C, Y, and N are our grandmothers' first initials.  They have all passed and we wanted to honor them somehow.

This is random, but when I was a kid I looooooooved this series of books about Hank the Cowdog - so I have a lifelong fondness for this name!