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Baby names

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

Original poster

Why am I so difficult with names?

30 replies

MajorIck · 19/09/2023 10:08

Hi all. Due my first in November, a little girl.

Everything is ready to go - crib, car seat, clothes, etc. DH and I are literally prepared to have her tomorrow - except for the life of me, I cannot choose a name!

DH has some names he likes but isn’t sold on too, but it seems I’m the one struggling the most. It’s like every name is wrong to me, and I have this insane ability to attach a negative association with any name I hear. I’ve either known someone with the name, or it reminds me of something I don’t like. It would be a talent if it wasn’t so maddening!

Anyone else have this?

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Original poster
MajorIck · 19/09/2023 11:04

Plusque · 19/09/2023 10:12

Well, if literally every name you’ve considered reminds you of someone or something you don’t like, that suggests to me that you’re not casting your net widely enough — there will be many thousands of possible names which won’t have any associations for you if you look hard enough.

What kinds of name have you considered? What is your DH suggesting?

I think 2 issues are: 1) I like common names and 2) I went to an all girls school growing up so I associate a lot of names with then, and I did not enjoy school at all.

OP posts:
CurlewKate · 19/09/2023 11:04

To be honest- it stops being a big deal very quickly. I think it's something small and controllable you can focus on when everything else feels insane. It needs to be something which sounds OK with your last name, easy to spell, doesn't make anyone do a double take and which will work at all stages of life. You're not naming a baby-you're naming a teenager, a professional woman and an old lady. And it absolutely doesn't matter if there's someone else in her class with the same name! Kids tend to like this.

Riverlee · 19/09/2023 10:57

Do you want ideas? If so, what type of name do you like/dislike?

Sometimes, when the baby appears, the name will also.

Hazelnut9 · 19/09/2023 10:51

Naming a child is a really really big decision so I think it’s normal to struggle to find the right one. Start by writing down names you don’t hate? And then hopefully you’ll get an idea what kind of name you’re looking for and go from there?

Plusque · 19/09/2023 10:12

Well, if literally every name you’ve considered reminds you of someone or something you don’t like, that suggests to me that you’re not casting your net widely enough — there will be many thousands of possible names which won’t have any associations for you if you look hard enough.

What kinds of name have you considered? What is your DH suggesting?

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