Going to the hospital with several name options

mlrafiki

I still have not been able to get DH to commit to a single name choice. We have a short list, and I have my #1, but he just can't decide which he prefers. Unless something changes soon, we'll be headed to the hospital with that list. Has anyone else gone into labor without having made a final decision on the name, and if so, how difficult was it to choose? Did it just seem to fit or did it take time to get used to it?

ShoeFanatic614

We did and we were Team Green so we had it narrowed down to 3 names per gender. Once she was born, I immediately discarded one of them that I was just meh on. DD was Alice for about 3 minutes until I looked at DH and said, "that's not her name. Her name is Norah." So it really was fine. I guess we did just "know" but I am hoping that this time we can narrow it down to just one name!

526SadieSadie

We nearly went to the hospital with our top 5 names.  The week before I was due (so, two weeks before her arrival) we decided I didn't love any of the names more than he loved his favorite so we made it official.

You might need to hold the baby and call him/her a couple of things before it feels right, nothing wrong with that.  They won't discharge you without a name for the birth certificate but there's no rule that says you have to be completely decided when you get to L&D

I'm curious - What are your top choices?

mlrafiki

Names are:

Kenneth

Daniel

David

Nathan

I'm super-stoked on Kenneth because it's the least common and it was my grandfather's name, and we were going to pair it with MN James to honor DH's dad and stepdad. DH has cold feet on the name because his mom's boss is Kenny and his son is Kenny Jr. or KJ, and for some reason DH thinks this is weird. *shrug* They're on the other side of the country and I don't think I've ever met the guy, so this is a non-issue to me. I'm OK with the other names, but not thrilled. I'm considering veto-ing Daniel outright.

TheWop

We went with 5 girl names, 3 of which were front runners.  We thought it would be easier seeing baby, but it really wasn't.  For me it took time to get used to it.  None of the names seemed to magically "fit" at the time.  We ended up going with a mutual favorite.  Now I'm glad we went with what we did.   I can't imagine her as anything else (our top 3 consisted of his #1 fav, my #1 fav, and a mutual fav).   Don't stress about it too much.  No matter what you pick, it'll be the right name

526SadieSadie

I really like Kenneth James. James is my favorite middle name, it pairs so well with everything!

My second favorite of your list is David James (but Daniel James is close)

 

Helenahhandbasket

We did.  We knew we were having a girl but we had 3 name choices.  His favorite, my favorite and the compromise name. 

We actually wound up going with his favorite-- Josephine, after his father who was Jose. 

The reasoning?  I thought she had the same nose as my late FIL.  Weird?  Probably, but I have zero regrets.

scbedi

ShoeFanatic614:

We did and we were Team Green so we had it narrowed down to 3 names per gender. Once she was born, I immediately discarded one of them that I was just meh on. DD was Alice for about 3 minutes until I looked at DH and said, "that's not her name. Her name is Norah." So it really was fine. I guess we did just "know" but I am hoping that this time we can narrow it down to just one name!

nice story!

BittyMang

I had it down to 2 and finally decided hours after his birth. I didn't officially announce it for a day which drove everyone crazy because I was so drugged from my c section and was worried about making the wrong decision

anssett

Where I live (WA) you can take the baby home and wait a month to decide! I have a friend who took a good 3 weeks to decide on the kid's name. Now he's Phineas.*shrug* To each her own. Point being, don't let anyone rush you.

luminousbluestar

I work as a hospital postpartum nurse and I'd say at least 25% of my patients come in with a list of names and have yet to decide. They give you a good 24hrs before they send the birth certificate clerk in so usually people have a gut choice by then.

 

That said, personally it would drive me nuts not to have a name selected ahead of time.

mlrafiki

luminousbluestar:

I work as a hospital postpartum nurse and I'd say at least 25% of my patients come in with a list of names and have yet to decide. They give you a good 24hrs before they send the birth certificate clerk in so usually people have a gut choice by then.

 

That said, personally it would drive me nuts not to have a name selected ahead of time.

Good to know, thanks. And RIGHT?! It's driving me crazy to think we won't have settled on a name before we go in, or that I'll have to talk myself out of my preferred name. Fingers crossed that DH thinks he comes out looking like a Kenneth.... 

JenyaJM

For our 2nd daughter, went to the hospital with 4 names 2 that I liked more, and 2 that DH liked more. Couldnt fully agree on one! When she was born, he ended up letting me get the name I liked best and he did agree, she fit the name. It was an easier process than I anticipated...!

KrazyKat35

We went in with two names with DS2. Neither one of the names were what we went with. He is named after my brother who he shares a birthday with, and DH's late father.

mamainseptember

mlrafiki:

Names are:

Kenneth

Daniel

David

Nathan

I'm super-stoked on Kenneth because it's the least common and it was my grandfather's name, and we were going to pair it with MN James to honor DH's dad and stepdad. DH has cold feet on the name because his mom's boss is Kenny and his son is Kenny Jr. or KJ, and for some reason DH thinks this is weird. *shrug* They're on the other side of the country and I don't think I've ever met the guy, so this is a non-issue to me. I'm OK with the other names, but not thrilled. I'm considering veto-ing Daniel outright.

Love Kenneth! If this baby is a boy his MN will be Kenneth after my grandfather as well. Great list BTW, I actually like all of them! 

Amanda&EricB

We had a list of about 5-6 names that we liked. I pushed for 3 hours total- we decided on a name 2 hours into pushing.

Mrs.G123

We had a list and dd2 was names for over 48 hours. Don't do it! It was so stressful!

MeganF722

DH and I briefly talked about names before DD was born. We each had a name that we liked, and ended up using both names. We will make a little list but wont make a final decision till LO is born.