Since we are on a baby name roll......

TeamHayes · October 2011

The only name DH will consider for a boy is Kellen Francis. Francis is a family name and DH's middle name and his dads middle name, etc so I am fine with this.

However I am not sold on Kellen. He likes it because it is Celtic. I think it sounds like Cullen and reminds me of twilight and I am afraid everyone will call him Kelly.

Otherwise I like the name. What do you think? Can you think of any better nicknames?

Our girl name has been Harper Hayes for the past 5 plus years but now I am worried it is way too popular and am second guessing a name we have loved for so long. DO you think this name is just to popular now to use? I have a back up name I also l like but it is hard giving up a dream.

gisa886 · October 2011

If I love a name and have for so long I don't care about popularity. As far as Kellen goes I cant think of a nickname, but really like the name. I know a very adorable little boy with that name.

KFCupcake · October 2011

Harper is one of our top 3 picks for a girl as well. I really love it and DH is sold on it too.

For boys, DH has his heart set on Rocco. I am not a fan at all, but it's a family name and he's seeming like he's not going to budge on it. And to top it all off FIL brings it up every time we see him. "How's my grandson? LIttle Rocco Anthony is growing!"

Hopefully we both find common grounds with our men!

Lina1030 · October 2011

Kellen is NMS and I am afraid he may be teased and called Kelly. Perhaps another Celtic name.

Harper is a nice name...we have a similar issue with liking a name that has become popular (for Greeks)...Athina and DH doesn't find it as special. I am still ok with it for a middle name though.

For girl I am set on Andriana Athina (FN after my mom and the middle name because DH and I loved it for years). Boy I have NO IDEA...but would like to use Massimo as the middle name to honor my father.

WildcatPrincess · October 2011

I like Kellen, but I see the nickname being Kel which definitely sounds more feminine. I didn't even know Harper was popular, I haven't heard it in my area for a girl. Riley was in the top 20 for our state, I think, but we still went with it

TeamHayes · October 2011

Lina1030:
Kellen is NMS and I am afraid he may be teased and called Kelly. Perhaps another Celtic name.

This is what I am afraid of too but I can't think of a more "manly" nickname. Although it does seem that boys are called by their last names in sports once they get to their teens anyway.

BabyMakes6 · October 2011

Both names were on our list. I have liked Kellen for several years but not sure DH is completely sold on it. Harper has been in my mind for a couple of years but since a dozen celebs have used it now it's getting too popular for me. I moved on.

ckk8584 · October 2011

I really love the name Kellen! He doesn't have to have a nickname. We are set with Tristan for a boy and there's no real nickname for that. I also did not realize Harper was so popular; but I wouldn't let that stop you. This is YOUR baby & you should go with whatever you've always wanted

coreysmomma · October 2011

I like Kellen.

And I think you should go with Harper. Oh well if it is more popular now.

We love Bella Michelle for a girl, but I am worried about the popularity of "Bella" from Twilight. My DH worries that people will think her name is Isabella and we do not like that name. My DH is Italian and "Bella" means beautiful. The other issue is there is a family friend who has a niece Isabella and they all call her Bella... She comes to family events at times, so I am feeling we need to choose something different. Hell, we may not even have a girl!

For a boy, we have no idea.

Lina1030 · October 2011

TeamHayes:
Lina1030:
Kellen is NMS and I am afraid he may be teased and called Kelly. Perhaps another Celtic name.

This is what I am afraid of too but I can't think of a more "manly" nickname. Although it does seem that boys are called by their last names in sports once they get to their teens anyway.

That's a European or Military (and I guess sport) thing. In Greece all my teachers called me by my last name. That's how it is there. DD's teacher this year calls her by her last name...I asked where he was from and he said he is used to it from the military. But like you said that doesn't come until later.

Picking names is a PITA for us! LOL But once we pick it...we love it.

TeamHayes · October 2011

BabyMakes6:
Harper has been in my mind for a couple of years but since a dozen celebs have used it now it's getting too popular for me. I moved on.

I know, damn the Beckhams and the Growls (sp) and stupid Tiffany Amber Thiessen..... and the thousand other blogs out there I read who happened to "steal" my little Harpers name, ha!

luckibrat · October 2011

Kellen is NMS, but it isn't bad at all. But people will always default to a nickname, even if you don't use it. So Kel or Kelly is probably a definite unless you are a true hard a$$ on correcting anyone who calls him that (and then you can't do that once he is in school w/friends of his own). My DD's name was pretty popular the year she was born (I think #5 on the list). The previous year (when we picked it) it was not even in the top 10. I am a nerd so I pulled census data, numbers from SSA and did some calculations. Turns out that in my state, even with it being #5, about 1 in every 2,000 babies born that year had that name. With so much variety now in names, any one name isn't nearly as bad as the jennifers, etc of our time.

BabyMakes6 · October 2011

TeamHayes:

BabyMakes6:
Harper has been in my mind for a couple of years but since a dozen celebs have used it now it's getting too popular for me. I moved on.

I know, damn the Beckhams and the Growls (sp) and stupid Tiffany Amber Thiessen..... and the thousand other blogs out there I read who happened to "steal" my little Harpers name, ha!

And Neil Patrick Harris, Lisa Marie Presley, Paul Simon, Eddie Vedder, Laura Allen, Sarah Clarke, Myleene Klass.

You said Kellen reminds you of Cullen. It reminds me of Kellen Lutz who plays Emmitt Cullen in the Twilight movies.

ETA: He is definitely not girly!

acooper18 · October 2011

I like Kellen. I think as long as you call him by his first name before he's school aged, he'll go by Kellen. And as for a popular name, I love Addison for a girl, even though its really popular right now. I'm still gonna use it.

Christina_Diane · October 2011

Sorry, both names are nms, but that is why they are your baby names and not mine. I don't think you will ever have everyone 100 percent sold on a name.

I wouldn't worry too much about popularity. I'm a Christina born in 1984 and didn't know any other Christinas until college.

Our boy name is the #1 boy name. I love it so much, so I couldn't care less that it is so popular. IMO, it is a strong name with a good nn.

If you really love Harper that much, use it.

katieh1017 · October 2011

I like the name Kellen... If you aren't sold, how about looking up more Celtic names and making other suggestions too? My cousin is naming her little boy a Celtic name, Rowan.

I love the name Harper and had never heard anyone use it until the celebrities and then have seen it a lot on the name boards. I say go for the name you like! I really don't care if a name is popular or not. For all you know she could be the only Harper in her class You just never know.

devious1031 · October 2011

If you love the name I wouldn't worry about popularity. Even if I knew then how popular Isabella Grace would be, I wouldn't change it from being DD3's name because I KNEW it was perfect for her, and it is!

As far as Kellen, if you like the name and can't figure anything else, then try making a list of other names (celtic or otherwise) and wait till baby's born. If once you see him Kellen "fits" then go with it =0)

NayNaysPlayPen · October 2011

I absolutely love the name Kellen. I knew one in high school and no one called him Kelly.

Musiclover2012 · October 2011

TeamHayes:

The only name DH will consider for a boy is Kellen Francis. Francis is a family name and DH's middle name and his dads middle name, etc so I am fine with this.

However I am not sold on Kellen. He likes it because it is Celtic. I think it sounds like Cullen and reminds me of twilight and I am afraid everyone will call him Kelly.

Otherwise I like the name. What do you think? Can you think of any better nicknames?

Our girl name has been Harper Hayes for the past 5 plus years but now I am worried it is way too popular and am second guessing a name we have loved for so long. DO you think this name is just to popular now to use? I have a back up name I also l like but it is hard giving up a dream.

Your boy's name is NMS but I don't hate it.

I love the name Harper and say go for it, I don't think it is too popular yet.

ecn0002 · October 2011

I really like Kellen. I now 2 guys in their late 20's with that name. You don't need a nickname for a great name.

Harper Hayes...I'm not sold on it. But Harper is NMS at all. I think there much better, not as popular names that will work wonderfully with your last name!

mrs_j_may_08 · October 2011

We have a Kellen and a Harper among our circle of friends' babies. Personally, I don't think Kellen would be called Kelly. If our friends use a nn with their son, it's usually just "K" or "Baby K."

I love Harper, but it's becoming a bit too popular for my tastes. Unfortunately a lot of names I've like for a long time are now super popular (Ava being one of them).

mfred3223 · October 2011

I went to school with a guy names Kellen, and no one called him Kelly.

Harper'smom · October 2011

Don't forget David Spade...We live in a trendy region and have never met another Harper. The name has been well received and we don't regret our choice one bit.

TeamHayes · October 2011

Thank you for all the feedback. I am warming up to Kellen more and more everyday and I think if DH really loves it I can learn to love it as much as he does.

We do like the name Rowan too but family friends have a baby named Rowan and the poor little guy has a lot of complications.

I am still on the fence with Harper and the other name we like. The more I think about the popularity of the name the more I get a bad taste in my mouth. None of my family, friends or friends friends have used this name so it is still fair game in my area and in my circle but who knows when we move to a different town how many other little Harpers will be in her class.

Yes I know I am getting ahead of myself and am destined to have a boy so this shouldn't even be a conversation until we find out the sex.

I digress.

Tambcat · October 2011

I don't mind Kellen, or Kelly as a nickname.

I still like Harper, even though it's kind of trendy right now. It strikes me as a strong, not too girly girl name.

pensparade · October 2011

I actually kind of like Kellen

I have always loved Harper but it might be getting too popular now.

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