Baby Name Anxiety

[heavenknows2007]

My daughter is now six weeks! We weren't even sure what we were going to name her when we went into the registry office, and then just one of our names (Eleanor) came out. After leaving the registry office, I cried because I just wasn't sure of the name, and now my husband has given me today as a deadline to either decide to keep Eleanor, or to change it. (He's having trouble bonding without her name, and it's really upsetting him -- I think this is fair.) We haven't announced the name to anyone besides my sisters if that helps.

I really cannot decide. We had a few names and I was told that I would KNOW when I saw her, but, you know, I didn't and I don't! Any name I use seems weird now, and though there are a few I might (?) like more than Eleanor now, it feels weird to abandon a perfectly good name and wreck her birth certificate.

That said, I keep obsessively reading comments about Eleanor and seeing it and its nicknames (Ellie, Ella) is too popular (wouldn't use Ellie ourselves -- though I suppose she might.) Now I'm worried Eleanor is just too long for me to use on a regular basis. I'm also worried it doesn't match my son's name, though my husband says that doesn't matter. AND I'm worried if I change it, I'll regret it later esp. when I meet little Eleanors and think, why did I get rid of that name? Or if later she prefers Eleanor . . .

I'm not averse to changing it if it's really not her name, but how did you decide? How did you finally bite the bullet???

[BingBongToTheMoon]

Stick with Eleanor and call her that. I have a usually shortened name and no one ever has called me anything than my full name…well once I’ve corrected them anyway.

[YokoOnosHat]

I don’t think any baby’s name feels exactly right at first. It definitely took a few weeks for both of my girls to feel like their names rather than “the baby” that I was calling this name for the arbitrary reason of giving them a name. Suddenly, one day, it just fit.

I’d go with it now, she needs a name and Eleanor is a nice one. My husbands best friend is married to an Eleanor who is known as Eleanor and nothing else, she’s never been an Ellie or Ella. It’s a classic name and classy too.

[KateInHappyland]

I vote stick with it, Eleanor is lovely!
You have plenty of nn options too, so you can experiment and find one that sticks without changing her actual name.

[NumberTrain]

It's a gorgeous, versatile name. Mine is similar and I love that I've been able to have different nicknames through the years from cutesy to more serious as I've aged. I struggled with both of my kids names for.the first year. It helps me to remember you're not naming a baby but a person. Her name will be with her throughout and you've given her one which is beautiful, can be affectionately shortened and taken seriously in an interview. Perfect!

[FartnissEverbeans]

Eleanor is gorgeous! I love the nickname Nell/Nellie.

[Foxglovers]

I think Eleanor is a lovely name. I always think it’s good to think if you would like to introduce yourself as that name - and I would for sure!

I found choosing my childrens names very easy as I had clear favourites- but even then it took weeks and weeks for them to “fit” their names. I honestly never understood the ‘see what they look like’ thing - they all just end up becoming their name?

[Flutterflybutterby]

Babies don't seem like their names unless you name them something really really cutesy and babyish. Almost all beautiful names don't suit babies. My daughter's name seemed too big for her for a long time! So I think this is why a lot of parents feel unsure about names. We called my baby Kitty (because she used to meow like a little kitten), or just 'baby' for a long time! But now she's bigger we adore her name. Eleanor is a beautiful, classy, classic name and while she's small, if the name seems too big for her find her a cute nickname! Eleanor has lovely nickname options! Of course there are Elle, Ella, and Ellie (I don't love Ellie but think Elle and Ella are beautiful), but as a teacher I've also met Eleanors nicknamed Nell, Nellie, Annie (not sure how they got there though), and Nora. So many adorable options. Find something that works while she is tiny and you have always got plenty of other nickname options for the future.

I always think that if you name your child Eleanor or Elizabeth you've got about 6 names in one

[Elspethelf]

I meant to say my niece is Eleanor ^

[Elspethelf]

Eleanor is a beautiful name. We all felt her nn would be Elle but her older brother couldn’t pronounce her name and called her La. She is 13 now and the whole family still call her La!

If you felt strongly about another name, I would say change it. But since you don’t, you may feel the same uncertainty about the next name.

If having a non popular nn would help, I like Leni as a nn for Eleanor. I like gender neutral though.

Congratulations on your daughter

[Cbeebiesrehab]

@LyraAureliaFreyaRose make a new thread I’m sure a lot of people will offer advice.

[DotDotDotDotDot]

Zombie thread!!!

[WhoppingBigBackside]

Nowt wrong with Eleanor. nn Nell is nice
Best wishes

[Summerdayshaze]

Keep it and Nell is a beautiful diminutive. Or Norie.

[Elisemum]

Eleanor is a very nice name. But if you don’t like it change it, it’s not too late.
However I will never understand how can people not decide on a name during 9 months of pregnancy?! I mean it’s 9 months not make a decision, not 9 days… hundreds of not thousands names to chose from and people still can’t decide lol

[Luredbyapomegranate]

It’s a lovely name - a great classic with lots of short forms - (Nell, Lena, Ella Nora, etc) - lots of amazing Eleanors in history, from Aquitaine to Roosevelt.

There’s not other name you specifically want to use, why don’t you add in two middle names to give her options eg Eleanor Alice Rose.

And if the anxiety continues - see your GP.

[WashableVelvet]

I never ‘just knew’ with our kids’ names! But now I love the names because I love the people the babies have become.

Eleanor is gorgeous.

[TeenMinusTests]

It's a lovely name. Eleanor of Acquitane, Eleanor Roosevelt.

[LyraAureliaFreyaRose]

I am currently having HUGE anxiety at the moment regarding my babies name.

She was Lyra all pregnancy and, in my head, loved the name. How it looked when written down and it’s meaning.

Now….I have had my daughter. All I could hear in the delivery room was liar liar liar in my head. Felt pressured to announce name but still didn’t feel right but my partner loved it.

Have put off doing the birth certificate because of my doubts. Her middle names are Rose Aurelia. Aurelia because of the golden sunrise that appeared when she was born.

Am thinking of changing the Lyra part of the name to Freya as it has a much softer sound but my partner doesn’t love it so much and says it with a bit of sadness.

My daughter is a month old now so need to make a quick decision! Any advice would help!

[LyraAureliaFreyaRose]

How did you get on with settling on the name?

I am currently having HUGE anxiety at the moment regarding my babies name.

She was Lyra all pregnancy and, in my head, loved the name. How it looked when written down and it’s meaning.

Now….I have had my daughter. All I could hear in the delivery room was liar liar liar in my head. Felt pressured to announce name but still didn’t feel right but my partner loved it.

Have put off doing the birth certificate because of my doubts. Her middle names are Rose Aurelia. Aurelia because of the golden sunrise that appeared when she was born.

Am thinking of changing the Lyra part of the name to Freya as it has a much softer sound but my partner doesn’t love it so much and says it with a bit of sadness.

My daughter is a month old now so need to make a quick decision! Any advice would help!

[BertrandRussell]

I had that problem with a thread asking about Anaglypta recently..........

[Paperbacked]

I can't be the only one who saw the thread title and thought for one horrible moment that you were thinking of calling your baby Anxiety?

Raises hand. Me too. Along the lines of Tess of the D'Urbervilles naming her ill-fated baby Sorrow.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

If you've got even the slightest doubts let alone anxiety. I think that says that the name isn't for you, but that's just MHO.
What are the cons to the other names?
A lot of Mnetters put up pics of their babies to ask opinions on what name suits their little one. Someone could suggest a name that you haven't even thought of.

[FriendlyGhost]

It's my name. I love it and always have. I didn't meet any others growing up and as it's never been really trendy it doesn't date. Plus it has good associations like eleanor of Aquitaine and Eleanor Roosevelt. I was an Ellie growing up but have gone back to Eleanor for work.

[LunaLoveg00d]

I can't be the only one who saw the thread title and thought for one horrible moment that you were thinking of calling your baby Anxiety?

[Grufalosfriend]

Most importantly, YOU have to love the name, not us.

I personally think Eleanor is a nice name, but I do find Ellie/Ella a little overused these days. Other nicknames, like Nell or Elin are lovely and make a refreshing change.

Of your other suggestions, I really love Celia (or even Cecilia) - beautiful, feminine and not so overused.

Good luck!