How do you know you’ve got the right name?
March 30th, 2007, at 10:56 AM
How’d you come up with the final choice for your baby names?
Making a list of names I like is easy (relatively). But actually writing it down on the birth certificate seems huge.
Any advice on how to know when you’ve got the right name?
March 30th, 2007 at 11:09 am
These suggestions may sound stupid, but they’re what my husband and I did:
1) Literally pretend/imagine to hold your baby in your arms. Call the imaginary baby each name. See which one “feels” right (it sounds hokey but it worked!)
2) Imagine your daughter at different ages- infant, toddler, young child, teenager, adult. Are there any of the names that feel right at a certain age, but not at others?
3) If you think you’ve found a name, say it a lot and write it down and look at it. Make sure it feels/sounds/looks right.
By that time a certain name will stick out…before you realize it everyone will be referring to the baby as that name!
March 30th, 2007 at 11:24 am
Looking back at what I just posted, I want to mention that this process took a while for us. It’s not like we sat down, did the three steps, and voila we had a name…(just in case that’s how my post sounded…)
March 30th, 2007 at 11:29 am
Oh, I don’t think this is an overnight thing, although I guess it could be.
Looks like some very good advice to me!
March 30th, 2007 at 12:09 pm
You know you want Charlotte. You’ve wanted Charlotte since the first time I mentioned it!
It goes very nicely with the other kids’ names.
March 30th, 2007 at 12:20 pm
March 30th, 2007 at 1:37 pm
Charlotte is a wonderful name…
March 30th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Even though it’s not Georgia?
March 30th, 2007 at 1:56 pm
I kind of dig Andi for Anderson (even if Katie’s still going to call her Anderson mostly) ‘cos it’s unique and not too many other girls will have it.
I think Charlotte is very pretty too, although if it were me I might be a little concerned about how much the popularity of the band Good Charlotte may have spawned a ton of Charlottes nationwide recently. I remember how in the ’80s when it seemed like every other girl was getting named Kayla or similar, because there was a character on the popular soap Days of Our Lives with that name. Same with Kylie (i.e., singer Kylie Minogue) with a lot of women my age post college naming their girls that.
I think Katie had asked about Emma on her blog - I don’t think it’s been quite as popular down here but is very much so up north and otherwise - three friends of mine in the New England states and one out on the West Coast all have daughters 5 years old and younger named Emma.
(Your and Katie’s discussion in comments today is making me giggle.)
March 30th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Ack, not Good Charlotte!
I’d hate to name her the wrong thing because of some band I’ve never listened to!
March 30th, 2007 at 2:44 pm
Sadly, I do think many, many people’s first thought when hearing Charlotte would be “Good Charlotte.”
Person: “She’s so cute. What’s her name?”
Proud father: “Charlotte. Her name is Charlotte.”
Person: “Ohh! Like that band! Good Charlotte! My son loves them!”
March 30th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Maybe that will be a temporary thing?
I have to admit, I’d never heard of Good Charlotte until Kate brought up this point yesterday.
March 30th, 2007 at 3:00 pm
I can’t think of any band’s named Anderson.
March 30th, 2007 at 3:01 pm
Why do you like Anderson?
March 30th, 2007 at 3:17 pm
Maybe that will be a temporary thing?
I think they’re probably destined for oblivion in the “somewhat” near future, but my prediction would be it’s gonna be at least another 2-4 years.
Charlotte does sound good with Hickman though. And fits in nicely with the rest of the kids’ names, but really most of the ones you two have picked out thus far do.
March 30th, 2007 at 3:22 pm
I don’t know - I just like it.
March 30th, 2007 at 3:27 pm
I like Anderson, too.
She would definitely be the only Anderson in her class.
I also think McLellan would be another nice family name that would be pretty for a first name.
March 30th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
I love Anderson! And McLellan. I’m officially pushing for Emma Catherine, tho. And call her Emma Cate! Yay!
March 30th, 2007 at 7:53 pm
Jon,
I’m trying to prepare myself that Georgia may not make the final cut.
As for Charlotte, my first thought is Charlotte’s Web- that’s not meant as a bad thing, at all.
All of the names you have selected have at least two syllables which seem to balance out Hickman really nicely.
You may have a favorite name, but I’ve heard a lot of people change the predetermined name once the child is placed in their arms. They just don’t “look” like the name.
March 30th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
You’ll know when it is right. When I hear Charlotte, I think of the city - for good reasons. Just don’t over think it. It’ll come to you and will fell right. Congrats - glad things are going well.
April 1st, 2007 at 3:55 pm
Georgia - my first thought was Charlotte Bronte, instead of Charlotte’s web.