Name decision process

Svenny1011 · May 2013

DH and I sat in bed on Saturday and brainstormed some boy and girl names. For the most part, we agree on the majority of them. We're still going to add, but once we have the a/s, I think we'll want to start narrowing down.

My question is, rather than just having ongoing discussions, how have you whittled down your list, or ultimately come to a decision on a final name? We put the names in a spreadsheet (b/c we're dorky like that), so I'm thinking that he should take the list and highlight the names he likes the best, and I'll do the same. Then we'll cross reference and whatever ones we both liked will be the final contenders.

Is that too complicated, or does that make sense? Sorry if this is a dumb question. I just don't want a ton of back and forth and disagreements about names!

Unknown · May 2013

We have names in two places. A white board on our kitchen fridge, and in a Google doc spreadsheet that we can both access. We both add names as we think of them, and once we know the sex we'll narrow it down.

JaysonandKristin · May 2013

We keep names in an Excel doc. Since we're still far off, we haven't really started narrowing down the search.

He came to the table with 10 boy and 10 girl names, and I did the same. Eventually, we'll each have veto power. He can nix any names on either list of 20, and I can do the same. The one left standing will be the one.

[Deleted User] · May 2013

I think your idea is a good one. I'll be 30 weeks tomorrow and we don't have any final names yet. We just throw names out there and discuss them...I think we've narrowed it down to 1 boy and 1 girl name but we still have a while and things could change:) We're team green so we won't know what we're having until delivery. I'm not stressing about it, the perfect name will pop up eventually. GL:)

Svenny1011 · May 2013

Thanks! DH can be very opinionated, and it seems like this is the best way to let him pick what he likes. It is like the most fair process, I think. If we just talked about them, we'd never agree!

blessedylimama · May 2013

I love the idea of a spreadsheet (I'm dorky like that too!)!! DH and I just kinda throw names out at each other and see what we like. For DS I always LOVED the name Brody and convinced DH to use it as our boy name. Since we never got to use our girl name, that is the one picked out this time around too (I still like it b/c it is a version of my great grandma's name, but I have since found another name I really like. Torn b/c I kinda -ok not kind, I did- fought my sister not to use the name for her DD#3 and now feel like if I don't use it after making such a big stink I will look like a jerk. So we will probably use it). We seem to have an easy time agreeing on names, which is nice. My sister and BIL never have a "for sure" name til the kid is born!

hollowway · May 2013

I guess we're different. When I was about 5 weeks we had our boy and girl name picked out and set in stone. Of course we've been brainstorming since November 2011 when I was pregnant the first time... After two losses we pretty much knew what names we did and didn't like...

Svenny1011 · May 2013

equibabe611:
I guess we're different. When I was about 5 weeks we had our boy and girl name picked out and set in stone. Of course we've been brainstorming since November 2011 when I was pregnant the first time... After two losses we pretty much knew what names we did and didn't like...

I don't think losses have anything to do with it. I have had two myself since 2011.

kendra223 · May 2013

We did the whole agreed upon list. Lillian was a name he picked and I slowly agreed on. I started to really like it and he changed his mind. He said it sounded too old.

So one day we were just discussing names on the couch. The discussion was ending with no results and then he randomly said "Caroline"... and I let that sit for awhile and now that's her name. They don't always come from lists.

StayingSecret · May 2013

I'd give it some time before getting that detailed. Who knows? At week 28, you could look at him and say "What about naming our baby Prince Harry Wait For It" and he'll say "Oh my goodness, yes!" and it will just stick.

We haven't named this LO yet, but for #1, my DH came up with the name, I liked it. It stuck. We didn't feel the need to keep brainstorming.

hollowway · May 2013

Svenny1011:
equibabe611:
I guess we're different. When I was about 5 weeks we had our boy and girl name picked out and set in stone. Of course we've been brainstorming since November 2011 when I was pregnant the first time... After two losses we pretty much knew what names we did and didn't like...
I don't think losses have anything to do with it. I have had two myself since 2011. 

Our losses did, because we had names picked out from the first pregnancy. We had already weeded out names we didnt like by the time this pregnancy happened. Otherwise I think it would have taken us longer.

StephanieLove10 · May 2013

If it works for you, it's not weird or complicated. The thing is, even with a tool like this, you may still have disagreements or tons of back and forth. That's all part of the process.

As far as my own experience, my husband and I knew that we wanted to honor family members with the baby's name. We both kept mental notes of names that were "in the running". When we found out we were having a boy, we settled on a name.

I guess when limit the pool of names from the beginning (family names) it's easier to come a final agreement on what the name will be.

Good luck to you and your husband.

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