Active discussions

Help protect children from gaming harms.

Take our survey

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

Original poster

How did you manage to name your baby? Also, opinions and suggestions please.

40 replies

MariaMadita · 26/07/2018 20:52

Maybe I'm being silly but I feel like there is so much in a name. Naming a human being is just such a big responsibility and a real privilege... And then there are issues like social perception (e.g., the name Kevin in Germany...), trends, potential spelling issues, historical associations etc... And actually finding a name we both like Wink

We need names that at least sort of work in English, German and preferably also Italian... And we both like really different names.

names we could both see us consider / like... Gloria, Anna, Matteo and Sebastian.

Suggestions? Advice?

Tia.:)

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
AnyaMoondial · 27/07/2018 20:08

Would Mario work?

kenandbarbie · 27/07/2018 19:33

We named our twin boys after family then picked a name that matched for next dc. Have a shortlist for dc 4, but nothing has stuck yet.

Jasquers · 27/07/2018 19:27

My husband is Swedish and I'm English. We chose a name that works in both. Leo for our boy. Short and snappy and can't be shortened unlike my name which really pi##es me off!!

Threeandabit · 27/07/2018 19:22

Flowers Thanks for answering me.

Mousefunky · 27/07/2018 10:42

I was set on Sebastian with this baby but DP wasn’t having any of it because he went to school with one who was a twat. I tried to plead with him to let me have it but he just wouldn’t so I had to think of another he would agree to. I didn’t like any of his suggestions either, he wanted Raymond after his grandad Hmm which definitely is a Grandad’s name ffs... so we were at absolute loggerheads for weeks. All of a sudden a name we’d both mentioned but sort of dismissed came into my head and I said it a few times over and over till it clicked and felt right. He’s thankfully agreed so we now have a name Grin.

Most people say you’ll know what to call them when they arrive and it is true. I didn’t have a name for DD1 until she was born.

Original poster
MariaMadita · 27/07/2018 10:23

How is Kevin perceived in Germany?.... I am just curious. smile

With a lot of prejudice...

There's even a quote about it
which translates to "Kevin is not a name, it's a diagnosis."

It's strongly associated with social disadvantage. And it's also become a bit of a joke. (There are obviously other stigmatised names [a few French and many Anglo names] but Kevin is probably the most prominent one...)

There's also an academic paper (just for a master's) called: "do pupils get better grades just because they're called Maximilian and Charlotte instead of Kevin and Celina"?

Btw, I am not condoning these kinds of prejudices. I think it's extremely unfair...

But they seem to exist in pretty much every country (I feel like this board does often highlight the attitude in the UK...) and I wouldn't want to try to make a point when naming our bean*, you know?

*Idk why but the baby just gets called bean/bean-y. (Well, Böhnchen and fagiolino as well...)

OP posts:
Threeandabit · 27/07/2018 09:46

How is Kevin perceived in Germany?.... I am just curious. Smile

Dc is named after the main character in a tv show I watched, a week before I found out I was pregnant. I often wonder what their name would be like if I had watched something different.

I like Anna and Sebastian.

Not sure how they are perceived internationally, however, I like the names: -

Joseph
Max
Benjamin
Reuben

Sophia
Rosa
Claudia
Saskia

Happy choosing, op! Smile

Original poster
MariaMadita · 27/07/2018 09:17

I took it very seriously... grin

Same!!

I think my problem is that I'm thinking in "themes... (And that DH simply gives an opinion when asked but doesn't look for names himself...)

I named her my favourite name that I have loved since childhood

I unfortunately don't have a name like that.. but my dolls actually did have really nice names ;)

just Nicole is nice but unfortunately feels dated to me. Thanks :)

Susannah is nice but it feels a bit too "soft" to me personally?

Whittle it down then give it time to settle in

I guess I'm just so all over the place...

OP posts:
JustlikeDevon · 27/07/2018 01:58

I had THE loveliest Nicole not once but twice at two different unis, both German. First was known as Nico, second Nicci. Could also be italianesque . Happy memories of the most amazing women.

Rollupandride · 27/07/2018 00:52

Found the name in a book, mentioned to DH. That was the only one he gave a fairly positive 'hmmm' to and then it just grew on us and felt like the right name.

Whittle it down then give it time to settle in.

Ohyesiam · 27/07/2018 00:07

I named her my favourite name that I have loved since childhood. I was about 7 when I first heard it and thought it was the prettiest sound I’d heard.

Goostacean · 26/07/2018 23:58

I went through two baby names books, cover to cover, listing all the names I liked or would consider.

I then removed any from the list that didn’t work (needed names that work in English, Spanish and Russian!).

Then discussed with DH and got it down to the final 3, and eventually chose the one that grew on us the most.

I took it very seriously... Grin

Picknickers · 26/07/2018 22:34

Susanna?

Original poster
MariaMadita · 26/07/2018 22:19

@bridgetreilly

Aww, thanks :)! I guess I just want the perfect name... International, cheerful, strong without being harsh.

DH wouldn't mind / prefer something traditionally English or biblical. But he dislikes all the biblical names I suggested... (E.g., I really like Yael, who has always been my favourite biblical hero...)

OP posts:
bridgetreilly · 26/07/2018 21:38

Don't worry about it so much. When you get to know them as a person, they will start to define the name, rather than the other way round. Obviously don't choose a name you hate, but it really doesn't have to be such a big deal.

I love Anna and Sebastian. Not a huge fan of Gloria or Matteo, but it's not my kind.

You could also consider:
Marc
Thomas
Gabrielle
Sabrina

Swipe left for the next trending thread