Why do I read the baby names forum...?

[LittlePandaBear]

...when I'm not pregnant or even TTC at the moment?

When I was pregnant, it didn't occur to me to look for any forums about names or getting opinions, DH and I just decided amongst ourselves.

But I find it so interesting to see how people think about names, good and bad.

Why do you read this forum?

At risk of being Mrs Downer, I read it sometimes when I'm a bit sad that I'm not going to have any more babies and I sometimes wonder what my never-to-be babies would have been called.

I also like reading about all the excitement of people having only a 'bump' and choosing a special name.

I was just thinking about posting a thread like this today after pondering this. I probably frequent AIBU, Chat and Baby names the most on mn. I am not pregnant, not TTC and I never intend on having another baby and I am perfectly happy with that decision....so why am I still on this board all the time?

I am ttc but have been obsessed with this topic above all others even when not dreaming of a potential baby to name! I find the strength of opinions (mine and everyone elses) fascinating. Plus occasionally I do think some poor soul wanders onto here not knowing many children thinking they've stumbled on something highly original, and it gives me a totally false sense of helpfulness to join in the madding crowds alerting them to it's popularity!

I have been ttc for ages, with quite a few miscarriages. I love Baby Names. I love hearing the choices of others, and I have loved discussing my own lists for my dc. When I was pregnant with dd and ds 7 and 5 years ago this forum was very helpful (although everybody hated ds's name, but we went with it anyway!)
I have had 5 miscarriages since ds was born, and I have liked being able to discuss possible names at an early stage, when I couldn't tell others, it made it feel real. They all ended in miscarriage, but it helps me to feel positive in early pg, and give me something else to think about.

Also I have been obsessed with names since I was about 5 (used to read the Name Dictionary as a child!), so this feels like a natural place for me to be!

I was wondering that too. I won't be having another baby for at least 3/4 years but I also check the baby name boards. It's really addictive!

Cause I'm sad :o.

I partly look to see if anyone has slagged off mentioned my DCs names, although that's pretty unlikely. And partly because I'm keeping some sort of inspiration bank in my head for my next DC. Who knows when that will be .

I should add with DD1 I totally ignored widespread disgust at her name on here despite hours of pondering these threads. Still love her name.

Had an MC in Nov and totally agree with Tummytickler that it makes it real and exciting be able to discuss names on here when it's too early to want to tell the world. Plus people on here are honest, unlike in RL!

I am, I think, one of the older MNetters and do not expect ever to name a baby again.

But I love considering names, and can do it vicariously here.

Oh I get excited if a thread is started about either of my DD's names!

This board definiately influenced me though as my first DD has a name I loved based on no information about perceptions or popular trends or how many were born in the previous year. I still love her name, but it often gets lumped into the popular trend of 'little girl' names (shortish names ending in -y).

DD2 has a much more classic name that works at any age and isn't as popular. Mostly universally liked on mn, if sometimes considered dull.

I have already picked 3 names for DD3, despite the fact I am never having another!

I would have to have 10 children to use all the names I love so I suggest them here as I am not up for many any more.

DD's name is unisex and generally disliked on here. It is also not overly common. So on the odd occasion that it comes up I can give a positive opinion that's different to "that's like calling your daughter Dave!!" .

I have no idea why I lurk/post here! I have absolutely zero intention of having another child (in fact I'd be horrified). But names are kind of interesting I guess, and it's rarely that serious here which is a nice balance.

Naming babies is so much fun, but with DS my DH and I only agreed on one name, right from us first talking about having a baby, so we didn't get to have the fun of debating lots of names. That's why I lurk. Not likely to have another LO for a while since DS is only 8mo :( and I already know what another boy would be called.

I am pregnant and find it very interesting to see what names people are using and what are trending. I think i'm quite unlikey to go with the perennial popular ones, and with dc1 had lots of ideas but with dc2 find that I now have a million more assossications with names than previously.

I find it interesting to see the ones MNers love but would be a bit in RL - am thinking of names like Araminta, Romily, Octavia, Seraphina.

I've been lurking here for a while, don't post too often. We're TTC for about a year now, no luck yet. I just love the babynames threads - it's great proof that beauty is really in the eye of the beholder and (with a few notable exceptions) that for every five people that love a name there are five who don't.

And what it has taught me most of all is that if and when I get pregnant, I won't be telling anyone the names we're considering!!

Interesting to hear all of your thoughts. It's quite strange that we could be influencing strangers' baby names one way or the other!

It's not that different from Style & Beauty actually, where one person will love some clothing and others think it's horrid!

Have been obsessed with baby names since I was a kid (am very indifferent to my own and was always dreaming of a better one!)
It's such a nice thread full of hope and new baby excitement
Have no intention of ever having more (choosing 2 names was hard enough!) but I do look out for DD's name. It rarely ever comes up and is almost universally slated but I love it

I'm not planning another one for a few years but I love Baby Names! Just like seeing what is popular and some of the names other people like! And that I hate

I am another one who used to read the name dictionary as a child and I just find names interesting so am always happy to give my 2p on people's shortlists

Sometimes the threads are just interesting. I only read it if something catches my attention on Active Convos. My youngest is almost 10 and I'm done having DC so I have no good reason for participating.

I come on here to see the really poncetastic names some people choose. Love that there are Morts and Aurelias actually out there....

I come on here just to check that my shortlist for DC2 isn't completely preposterous. Haven't dared post it yet, though..