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???

[Elspethelf]

I meant to say my niece is Eleanor ^

[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

[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?

[FartnissEverbeans]

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

[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!

[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.

[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.

[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.