{This looks like me . . . about three and a half months ago!
Photo courtesy of Google Images}
Were you like me many years ago, scribbling out a little list of baby names in a journal or on a scrap of paper somewhere, determined that your future husband would sign off on it immediately and that would be that? Mine were silly names - names I don't even like now. Obviously they are not the names I've given my children. The Hubby came to our marriage with his own idea for baby names, but after discussing it with his wise spouse, he realized it was a dumb idea and we moved on.
There are so many different approaches to naming babies - each approach as unique as the tiny individuals who will bear these names for their entire lives. Many people I know have chosen one of the following options when selecting a baby's name {see if you can find your approach in here somewhere}:
consulting baby name books
checking out the multiple baby name sites on the internet
choosing names based on their meaning
giving a scriptural name
giving an historical name
giving a nature inspired name
making up a name that no one has ever heard of before
taking a common name and tweaking the spelling to make it different
combining two names to form a new name {blasted Renesmee!}
choosing names that all begin with the same letter
picking a name for no other reason than liking it.
I'm sure I've missed a few approaches. Our approach {not listed above} stems from wanting to instill in our children a desire to follow in the footsteps of noble ancestors who have come before them in their genealogical line. We have chosen to give each of our children a family name in the hopes that they will not only be inspired by their ancestors, but also do their best to live up to and honor the name they've been given.
Big C is named Robert Christopher after my father-in-law Bob and my older brother Chris, two men we admire and love.
Hannie B is named Hannah Kate after Hannah Shipley, a several times great grandma of mine and Mormon pioneer who died crossing the plains with her husband in search of a place where she could worship God without persecution.
RedDog is named Soren Wilson after a Scandinavian great, great grandfather and the Hubby's cherished grandfather, both stalwart righteous men.
As for Baby X, well, his name is chosen and waiting for him to arrive. It spoke to both the husband and I as we searched our family records and studied the stories of lives lived. It carries the history of our pioneer ancestors in its thirteen letters, as well as pays tribute to one of my own family members.
I'm excited to "reveal" it in the coming weeks. We have all become very fond of uttering it while rubbing my belly and if the leaping in my womb is any indication, he is ready to come and bear it proudly.
I am no expert on naming babies. I have only one very opinionated piece of advice to give to others on this topic, and that is to remember that this is the name your child will bear his or her whole life long, so give it some thought!
How do you choose your baby's names?
10 comments:
I have the same mind set as you!! Gibson Randall is named after his Uncle (Randy) and Stella Beth is named after my Great Aunt and my Mother. I love family names. I love genealogy and learning about our ancestors. Can't wait to hear what baby's name will be.
my daughter aven eowyn edith...first name made up (twenty years ago), second my gaelic heritage and a literature reference to a favorite strong woman character, third my husband's artist mother who sadly died before she was born. poor child with such a long name.... of course, now i'm hearing that there are other avens who came after ours! in retrospect, a good choice.
We kinda did the same as you. I had some "ideas" and he had some (ridiculous) ideas that largely stemmed from Japanese names. When it came down to it though, every name our kids wear are from the family tree. It is also safe to say that they were decided through a long fought battle - especially in the case of the first two. T and I agree on almost everything in this world - except baby naming. So making it about family worked for us.
Logan Gilmer = My grandmother's favorite aunt's last name plus the obvious
Emma Kathryn = My great aunt's name and sister-in-law's name
Trenton Adam = T's brother who died at birth and his youngest brother.
On the whole brother thing, when we asked permission to use that name that pretty much sealed up the use of that one. With the other two kids the names were in limbo until the last second.
Also -
T has 3 brothers. Each brother has named one of their sons after another brother (James has a Ryan, Ryan has a Talon, Talon has an Adam and Adam has a James). We closed the circle with Trent and actually he got a double dose.
Whew, I was talkative!
I agree. As long as you give it some serious thought and make sure the initials don't spell anything embarassing, I think you're doing a great job.
Our children's names reflect family history and bring something new to the family tree as well...a naming strategy we copied from my husband's parents.
We named our son Benjamin Edward. We feel that family is important so we gave him the middle name of Edward because that is his dad's middle name and the first name of his grandpa and great-grandpa.
When we found out we were having a boy, I immediately had two names that I loved (Nathan and Ethan). We knew his middle name was going to be Edward but couldn't agree on a first name. We are both big on strong names, but ones that you can nickname when they are little but be professional when they are adults. So, we call him Benny right now. He will probably be Ben when he gets to school, but can be Benjamin if he so desires in his profession. Had we had a girl, her name would have been Elizabeth. That is my confirmation name and I just love it. Plus, it has the same features as Benjamin. Strong, but can have nicknames.
Sorry I was so long-winded!!!!
you asked for this!
#1: Adam Timothy Cornelius
(dad, uncle, uncle)
#2: Andrew Paul Forest
(GGF, GU, GU)
#3: Samuel Isaac James
(LOVE THE NAME SAM! GU, GU)
#4: Makenna Emmalea Judy
(Named for a friend 20+ yrs ago,
Emma-GGM,Lea-Aunt, Judy-Best Friend
I wanted my children to have names they could take pride in and and relate to.
I love the whole process!
Do you like the name we gave you? I had no method to my child naming madness. I would do it a bit differently now but I think that all of my children have names that are right for them.
Disclaimer: Though my parents did not have a method for naming their kids, I LOVE MY NAME!!! And I think that my brothers and I all have classic, timeless, traditional and strong names. Thanks mom and dad. :)
I don't really have a method to my childrens' names. Some are just because I like them. Some are family names. Some are character's names. Some I liked the meaning behind. But ALL fit my children to a "T."
I just wanted to reiterate your statement that the child will live with this name for the rest of his or her life!!! Please parents, be responsible.
My husband and I have tried to pick first names that aren't too outrageously popular. I have nothing against popular names but they just aren't my bag.
My children's middle names are always family names.
#1 Alec James
Alec is a Scottish name and my hubby has a serious jones for all things Scot. James is for my Grandpa Evans.
#2 Cora Louise
Cora is a name I have loved for a long time. Luckily my husband loved it too when I oh so casually hinted that I would like to name our daughter Cora. Louise is for Louise Wilkinson, honorable mother of the Queen Vee and my Mother in law.
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