Have you ever had a friend, family member, or even an acquaintance decide to name their child the name that you wanted to name your child? Not because they heard it from you but simply because they liked the name and they were just lucky enough to have their child before you did?
I actually haven't experienced this, but I (often) worry that I will. Total waste of thinking time, I know, but I'm just selfish like that I guess. It's actually more of a feeling of "I don't want to look like I'm copying you" than it is selfishness. I wouldn't care one bit if someone used the same name I use, as long as they use it after me. I don't like doing what other people do. Not selfishness but pride perhaps?
Anyway. Tyson and I have the names of 3 boys (including upcoming baby #2) and 2 girls picked out already and I'm pretty sure we love them enough that we won't be changing them. I've debated back and forth whether to reveal them all just for the sake of "claiming" them before anyone (over the course of the next 7 years) else discovers them (because I thought of them first, of course), but then I ruin the fun of keeping the baby's name a secret until it arrives. You know what I mean? It's always fun to find out someone had a baby and learn what name they picked out. But then again, if we already have our names picked out, it's not a matter of discussion and waiting until the baby arrives to decide, so is there really any reason to keep it secret?
Back and forth and back and forth I go.
Anybody out there feel particularly inclined to convince me one way or the other?
I actually haven't experienced this, but I (often) worry that I will. Total waste of thinking time, I know, but I'm just selfish like that I guess. It's actually more of a feeling of "I don't want to look like I'm copying you" than it is selfishness. I wouldn't care one bit if someone used the same name I use, as long as they use it after me. I don't like doing what other people do. Not selfishness but pride perhaps?
Anyway. Tyson and I have the names of 3 boys (including upcoming baby #2) and 2 girls picked out already and I'm pretty sure we love them enough that we won't be changing them. I've debated back and forth whether to reveal them all just for the sake of "claiming" them before anyone (over the course of the next 7 years) else discovers them (because I thought of them first, of course), but then I ruin the fun of keeping the baby's name a secret until it arrives. You know what I mean? It's always fun to find out someone had a baby and learn what name they picked out. But then again, if we already have our names picked out, it's not a matter of discussion and waiting until the baby arrives to decide, so is there really any reason to keep it secret?
Back and forth and back and forth I go.
Anybody out there feel particularly inclined to convince me one way or the other?
This has happened to me three times, but I think that's what you get for picking names when you get married and then waiting five years to get pregnant. We've dropped all three names, and found new ones we love even more. Don't stress about it. (Also, never choose a name that's on a top ten or even top hundred list, or you're just asking for it..)
ReplyDeleteNames are funny. I hate copying people too - but somehow Emma ended up with the middle name Grace even with a cousin named Grace and another cousin with that middle name. It just had to be.
ReplyDeleteI don't know how people pick names for certain before the baby is born. I've just seen too many times when the name doesn't fit the child, so I guess I'm paranoid about that. (For one thing, I would have been Virginia!)
But if you DO have them all picked, what's the point keeping it a secret? Maybe you can claim them in advance? :)
This is a tricky one!!! What happens if you have them and "claim" them, and someone else that didn't tell anyone but she's ALWAYS wanted that name...would you be bugged? Kev and I love a name for a boy, but Bryan and Dana "claimed" it....so here's a question...what if you claimed a girls name and you only have boys? But I'm with you too...if someone names their kid AFTER I have already, then i'm not as bugged, but if they had their kid first then that's another story! lol is this a girl thing? What did Tyson say? I guess that's one reason we named our baby Zealynn! :) My favorite is when people feel the right to tell you that you shouldn't name your baby a certain name. I get that all the time with Z...either they like it or they don't. It stressed me out before but obviously we didn't care! :) I'm scared you are going to tell me names and they'll be names I love! :)
ReplyDeleteI saw keep them in the vault :) Thats what we do...hee hee
ReplyDeleteI say, not saw...sorry
ReplyDeleteI agree with Jeana-- keep them in the vault!
ReplyDelete(Truthfully I am really curious and want to know your "secret", but if I was in your position then I would just keep them to myself.)
We actually had this happen with Camden. That was the name we both really liked when we got married. Our first son was always going to be Camden. Then we found out that my dad's cousin was naming her little boy Camden. This was three months before our son was born. We decided to stick with the name because it was what we always wanted and had our hearts set on. At first I was really bugged by it, but now I really don't care.
ReplyDeletePersonally, I think that we will "claim names". That way everyone will know what names we have picked. If they want to name their kids the same name... more power to them. At least everyone will know that we had them picked before they named their child that.