A Baby Naming Meme
I saw this meme at Stephanie‘s the other day and thought it would be apropos since we are in the midst of playing the baby-name-game. It’s all about our children’s names.
1. Do you have any cultural or religious naming traditions?
Not cultural or religious. Little’s first name is just a name I’ve loved since hearing it years ago; although, after we decided on the name we found out that Matt had a great-great-aunt (or something like that) with the same name. Boo’s first name is a family name (on Matt’s side) that has been in every generation dating back to the mid- to late-1500s.
2. Did you or your partner come to the marriage with pre-selected names?
We came into the marriage both with names that we liked individually and names that we both liked; however, none of those names show up on our children’s birth certificates.
3. Did you consider the sound of the first and middle and last names together? Did this make any sad eliminations?
Oh my goodness, yes. I make a huge deal (it could possibly be called OCD) about the flow of names. The first test for any name is how it sounds with our last name. We also consider how the first and middle sound together and how the three names sound as a whole. I’m quite particular.
4. Did you have veto powers?
Veto powers are held and very frequently used by both parties.
5. Did the baby naming cause arguments?
No arguments. It just takes us a long time to name our children.
6. Do you think it is easier to name boys or girls?
Neither! We struggled with Boo’s middle name until just weeks before he was born, and the wee babe remains nameless with less than 14 weeks until her due date.
7. Did you eliminate names because of people from your past or present who you don’t like or because a certain image comes to mind.
Absolutely! We both had certain names that this applied to, but Matt seems to have a lot more negative name associations than I do (at least with names that have been tossed out there). He is also quick to point out crazy nicknames, etc that might arise from the name or initials.
8. Did you / would you survey your children to get their thoughts on the name?
Little was just barely talking when we were naming Boo, so this didn’t apply. Now Boo is just barely talking as we name the wee babe. However, we have asked Little about what she thinks we should name the wee babe – at first it was always Annabelle (with the first “a” being a long vowel sound) which we quickly dismissed; lately she either says she doesn’t know yet or she makes something up that we quickly veto.
9. Did you tell people the name or possible names before the baby was born or were they “in the vault”?
We’ve always shared our names as soon as we’ve decided on them. We also share our “short lists” because otherwise people would drive us crazy asking (many of them already think we take way to long to find a name).
10. Did you use baby name books?
We’ve looked at them with all three children, but never found them useful; every name either of us suggests the other seems to shoot down. Mostly we just make fun of the names that are in there.
Let me know if you decide to play along with this meme; I would love to read your answers.
By the way – be sure to stop in Friday for a kid/baby related product review and giveaway!
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little’s name came from (even though you named her without knowing this) her 4th great grandmother who lived right after the civil war….her mother lost her husband, all his brothers but one and married the one remaining brother who survived…and that grandmother was their child. This makes that name even more special to see Little who is a very wonderful “young lady” who we love so much have this name.
I heard a name the other day that i loved and it has the nick name you liked. however i know you might not like it and thats ok because if you don’t use it we might.lol
This beautiful baby girl was dropped off in my care at bellevue and her name was Ellianna but they called her Ellie. i loved it, i thought it was pretty. but i also like Sarah.
Amen to #3.
Also, I had my daughter’s name picked out forever. No option for hubby, but he did get to have a say in the middle name.
As for #7, I think men veto names, especially boy names, that can be made fun of with nicknames much faster than women do because the boys are the ones who spend years giving each other nicknames in the locker rooms!