Are you afraid someone will steal your name(s)?

Runnergirl2242 · May 2011

I have a friend that will NOT tell her baby names bc she thinks that others will steal her names. Are you not telling your name bc you are afraid someone will steal it? I hate telling my names bc I dont want to hear any negative opinions, I am not worried about the name stealing factor.

forensicmama · May 2011

There are people who do this, as low as it sounds (stealing names, that is). While a few people know the names we're going to use (like MIL), I'm not announcing on Facebook exactly! I might let all know once we get our gender scan and we find out if it's a boy or a girl. Other than that, I'm not opening my mouth.

welcometowonderland · May 2011

I refuse to tell names because I'm tired of hearing everyones opinions on it. My mother is the absolute worst! She bothers me constantly with names she has chosen and feels are suitable. I can't even open my facebook without seeing lists of names on my wall. I'm the only pregnant woman I know so I'm not worried about the name stealing factor.

PitaBread · May 2011

I'm the opposite. We are dead set on the name Mason for a boy, and have been for quite some time. We never told anyone and now our friends who just had a baby named him Mason. Now if we have a boy, it will look like we stole their kid's name! So maybe we will start telling once we find out the sex so that it doesn't look like we are the ones stealing a name!

rkto · May 2011

I think I would be more worried about negative opinions. People wont give you their opinion if the baby is already born.

Also, I would worry that someone might steal your name accidentally. If you announce in June what your name is and someone else already planned that name so they use it in July - they will feel bad that they stole the name (even though they already planned it) but then again, if you announce the name early, you can call "dibs"

freckleface77 · May 2011

This happened to my mom! She told her SIL names that she had chosen for a boy and a girl. Once SIL knew I would be a girl, she stole mom's boy name for her son 7 mos later. What if my mom wanted to use that name for her next child if it had been a boy?!!! Jerk! Angry

Just tacky, tacky, TACKY.

LCass · May 2011

I'm not really worried about it. DH and I picked out two boy names and two girl names years ago, and I have no problem telling people if they ask. Mostly I don't think the names we've chosen are really anyone else's style. And if someone did "steal" the name (which none of my friends or family would anyway), we've had them planned for years and would just use them anyway.

I have heard ridiculous things about name stealing, though. One person we know, her cousin was pregnant and shared the names they were thinking of with the family. Another cousin went and used BOTH names for their new dogs (since they wouldn't be having babies in time). That's just mean!

happylady07 · May 2011

No, I don't own it. While it might be annoying if someone you told ended up taking the first and middle name you chose, there isn't much you can do about it, and I would just take it as a compliment in my stellar name choosing abilities. Wink

forensicmama · May 2011

freckleface77:
This happened to my mom! She told her SIL names that she had chosen for a boy and a girl. Once SIL knew I would be a girl, she stole mom's boy name for her son 7 mos later. What if my mom wanted to use that name for her next child if it had been a boy?!!! Jerk! Just tacky, tacky, TACKY.

Same with my mom. When she was pregnant, she told another pregnant friend that if it was a girl, she would name her Virginia Lee (Virginia after my mom's great aunt). That woman stole the name Virginia. My mom gave birth maybe a month or two later and ended up naming my sister Jennifer.

dlast09 · May 2011

Ditto on not wanting to hear opinions. I could care less what people think of our names. Its what we want, and that is all that matters. To each their own about 'not telling because someone might steal'. I just keep telling myself that my kid will always be a part of my life and a part of me, and that person might not be. So who cares? :]

jonnygurl76 · May 2011

we just don't want to hear everyone elses opinions...especially MIL. they will find out once the baby is born!

HappyAardvark · May 2011

The whole concept of "name stealing" is pretty ridiculous. I'm sure there are plenty of bona fide name thieves out there, but you never always know the other person's circumstances, even if you think you know.

We haven't told very many people our name choices, outside of family and very close friends. Well, really only for a girl, since DH has a family name and if it's a boy, the name is already set. Anyway, a few months ago, a coworker had a baby girl and named her the name we love for a girl, which is also dh's grandmother's name. Do I care if she thinks I copied or stole "her" baby's name? Hell no. It's just a coincidence. But if she thinks that, whatever. Not quite the same thing, since her baby has already been born, but close.

SheLovesMrHip · May 2011

PappsMcgee:
I tell people the girl name we have picked out (no boy name yet). I figure if one of my friends steal it, shame on them. We'll just have two girls with the same name.

SO true sister......I have told people our names and thought the same thing.

awesnap · May 2011

We aren't sure yet about names but not really worried. I don't have anyone else really close to me that is also pregnant at the same time. However I won't be telling this one "friend" because she is a one upper and I just don't care to hear how her baby someday will have an even better name... Confused

Interestingly enough, my brother announced he had baby names picked out like a year ago, even though he and his girlfriend aren't even ready to get married yet, let alone make a commitment to have a baby. They are both teachers though, so I think they talk about names and were really set on these two names. I let him "call dibs" on them, even though I think the concept is silly.

StephRuns · May 2011

HappyAardvark:
The whole concept of "name stealing" is pretty ridiculous. I'm sure there are plenty of bona fide name thieves out there, but you never always know the other person's circumstances, even if you think you know.

I agree. If someone wants "my" name (even though I don't own it anyway) then they're going to use it no matter what. I know my child will not be the only one in the world with that name, so why get so upset? I'm going to name my child whatever I want, no matter if there are 50 others around me with the same name.

lovelylacey08 · May 2011

forensicmama:

freckleface77:
This happened to my mom! She told her SIL names that she had chosen for a boy and a girl. Once SIL knew I would be a girl, she stole mom's boy name for her son 7 mos later. What if my mom wanted to use that name for her next child if it had been a boy?!!! Jerk! Just tacky, tacky, TACKY.

Same with my mom. When she was pregnant, she told another pregnant friend that if it was a girl, she would name her Virginia Lee (Virginia after my mom's great aunt). That woman stole the name Virginia. My mom gave birth maybe a month or two later and ended up naming my sister Jennifer.

This happened to my mom too. She was planning on naming me Tara and told her family. Then she got a call from her mother when she was about 6 months along and was told that her sister, who didn't even know she was pregnant, had given birth to a girl and named her Tara. My mom was so upset.

I'm telling people myself but I don't think anyone will take them... if they do ill still use them!

babes12 · May 2011

i'm not necessarily afraid of someone stealing our name but i did worry that someone would say that's what they want to name their child too etc... I always end up waiting till LO is born to name them anyway, i have to see them first.

cantalopes24 · May 2011

PitaBread:
I'm the opposite. We are dead set on the name Mason for a boy, and have been for quite some time. We never told anyone and now our friends who just had a baby named him Mason. Now if we have a boy, it will look like we stole their kid's name! So maybe we will start telling once we find out the sex so that it doesn't look like we are the ones stealing a name!

This is exactly why we tell EVERYONE our names, but I also don't care if our kids shares a name with someone and no one I know is having a baby anytime soon. If we have a boy I have a feeling our girl name might be stolen between now and the next baby so this way if it does everyone knows they are the name stealer lol.

cantalopes24 · May 2011

forensicmama:
freckleface77:
This happened to my mom! She told her SIL names that she had chosen for a boy and a girl. Once SIL knew I would be a girl, she stole mom's boy name for her son 7 mos later. What if my mom wanted to use that name for her next child if it had been a boy?!!! Jerk! Just tacky, tacky, TACKY.
Same with my mom. When she was pregnant, she told another pregnant friend that if it was a girl, she would name her Virginia Lee (Virginia after my mom's great aunt). That woman stole the name Virginia. My mom gave birth maybe a month or two later and ended up naming my sister Jennifer.

Because the quota for these names had been filled??

FmrAFBrat · May 2011

forensicmama:

freckleface77:
This happened to my mom! She told her SIL names that she had chosen for a boy and a girl. Once SIL knew I would be a girl, she stole mom's boy name for her son 7 mos later. What if my mom wanted to use that name for her next child if it had been a boy?!!! Jerk! Just tacky, tacky, TACKY.

Same with my mom. When she was pregnant, she told another pregnant friend that if it was a girl, she would name her Virginia Lee (Virginia after my mom's great aunt). That woman stole the name Virginia. My mom gave birth maybe a month or two later and ended up naming my sister Jennifer.

Same with my mom by her sister...lol. My name was going to be Jennifer but my aunt (who denied she was pregnant the entire time) named my cousin that 4 months before I was born.

Sueduction · May 2011

PitaBread:
I'm the opposite. We are dead set on the name Mason for a boy, and have been for quite some time. We never told anyone and now our friends who just had a baby named him Mason. Now if we have a boy, it will look like we stole their kid's name! So maybe we will start telling once we find out the sex so that it doesn't look like we are the ones stealing a name!

Exactly! If we have a boy (we find out soon) we are and have been set on a name even before we were expecting! I tell every second person I see when they ask so that way if someone else ever does use the name, they'll know someone "stole" it from us.... I would name my child it regardless though, there are enough people out there that know we are using it!

ps: Jack Dylan! lol

PearlPink · May 2011

I'm not telling SIL or MIL because I don't want them to discuss or gossip about babies name. I dont' want their opinions. DH and I like the name and thats all that matters. My mom and grandma love it though and so do my close girlfriends I've told. MIL can be very opinionated and it would hurt my feeligns if she said anything, so I'll let DH tell her on his own.

Ess-elle · May 2011

You can't "steal" a name. Names do not belong to anyone.

stabil19 · May 2011

I think women are very catty. I think this is silly! There are very few names out there that are not duplicated. I am a teacher, and I have 5 Tylers in one class. It's also interesting that Tyler is on my long list for names.

I would NEVER name my child something because someone else did. I also will not be afraid to name my child something that someone else has chosen too. This really is no big deal.

I will not be sharing our names because we are not finding out the sex, plus I am sure I will still not know until I see my baby. Also, I won't share because of the negative reactions to names. People have strong opinions, and I have friends and family that will say "NO don't name your child that". The name of our baby is the choice of my husband and me, and I will not let anyone else influence me.

In my opinion it's too big of a deal. "Stealing" a name is just a ridiculous way to look at it.

Elsa1984 · May 2011

We aren't telling because we dont want to hear opinions on names that we love.....we aren't worried about someone stealing them.

blu-eyedwife · May 2011

welcometowonderland:
I refuse to tell names because I'm tired of hearing everyones opinions on it.

This is us. I'm not really worried about someone stealing our names, but I don't want the comments - either to us or behind our backs. There are plenty of other names out there if one of our friends picks a name we like. I don't get being SO tied to a particular name that you'd be upset if someone else took it - unless it was a family name of significance.

Janimal · May 2011

If I told someone the names we liked and they used them, I would take it as a COMPLIMENT, not a theft.

So....my DD is Delilah Ruth - have fun with it!

For this one, so far we have a boy name only, Spencer Lewis. STEAL IT!

ras26 · May 2011

awesnap:
Interestingly enough, my brother announced he had baby names picked out like a year ago, even though he and his girlfriend aren't even ready to get married yet, let alone make a commitment to have a baby. They are both teachers though, so I think they talk about names and were really set on these two names. I let him "call dibs" on them, even though I think the concept is silly.

Apparently my SIL, who is not pregnant, has picked out baby names for a future theoretical child and told my MIL that she was afraid we'd "steal" one of them. When we heard the boy's name, it was, in fact, one of our top 2, edging towards #1. It's a family name, and the kids would be first cousins. Sorry, chica, if we have a boy first, we'll probably use it. If we have a girl, and then she has a boy first, it's all hers. I just thought that it's silly that she's not pregnant, and I am, yet somehow it would be us "stealing" *her* name.

FallFabulous · May 2011

We are not sharing our names for 2 reasons: stealing (yes!)... I know we don't "own" names, but if someone else took it, we wouldn't want to use it... and we just LOVE our names!

We don't want anyone's opinion. By all means, our names are not weird, both are in the top 100 however I am sure we would get some comments.. and I would rather not hear them... I think our families will be so excited to meet the baby, by that point, the name won't matter!

JMKaut · May 2011

I'm not afraid of people stealing my boy name, I just don't want to hear of ten other people suddenly using it. I really like it, and we picked it for a special reason, I don't want people just using it because it sounds cool or whatever. It's a Biblical name that's been around since forever, just not as popular as other ones.

one of my friends already used it for a middle name...

joydwilliams · May 2011

I am worried that my SIL will do this to me. I told her the name daddy picked if its a girl because he always wanted to name his daugher just that. She was like aww i was thinking that...total lie cuz she copys everything i do...but i guess i wont steal it. How rude. Now im worried cuz she annouced she was preggers 3 weeks later.

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