Better to have a name picked out or?

[nerofire63]

My husband has a few names he really likes. I have not given it any thought. I feel like it would be better to name our baby after he/she is born, right on the spot. My husband, on the other hand, thinks it is better to have names decided now. What do you all think?

I don’t think you have to be 100% on a name before it’s born, but it’s odd not to have thought about it at all, are you not pregnant? I don’t think a baby should go home without a name, you should be pretty sure in advance.

I dont think it really matters either way.

You dont hsve to decide the split second they're born, do you.
Not only that but sometimes parents change their mind at the 11th hour because they just don't suit their intended name. Also babies sometimes name themselves, almost as though they have a particular name written all over them

I wouldn't decide on a name before they arrived but neither would I trust myself to decide on the spot either (what if you were off your tits on drugs?). 'Yeah she definitely looks like a Zimphaniah-Marie'.

A long list is the way to go. That way you can try some names out before settling on one.

I didn't really have many girls names I liked, ended up in an emergency section, woke up woozy, DH said one of the names we'd been toying with and I agreed on it. Not so keen on it now. DD loved it and that's all that matters in the end. Was a very different story when second and third came along. I was ready!

I think it's a good idea to have a shortlist. And to discuss it - because if you are anything like DH and I then one of you might veto the other's favourite names and you'll have a baby and no concensus

If you are too set then you can be a bit thrown if, when the baby is born, what you've chosen doesn't 'feel' right.

Or some people are so set on one name they choose it regardless then have wobbles later

Just my opinion but definitely pick a name first! We had a boys name we loved but my baby was a girl - I was really stuck! We had a short list but even then it took 3 days. I actually found it really upsetting (it was the hormones!!!) I kept crying to my husband that I didn't know her name!! Plus family kept badgering us. I really really wish we had been as certain on our girls name as we were with our boys. Everyone says they'll 'look like a ....' our baby didn't look like any names- she just looked like a baby!!

I don't think I could give birth without having discussed names with OH and come up with a shortlist. It doesn't stop you ripping up that list if baby is born and doesn't 'suit' the names.

But it's all down to preference.

Shortlist then choose.

I agree that you at least need a shortlist.

We're in a similar situation but do have a shortlist. I asked the same question on here a few weeks ago: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/baby_names/3176311-Waiting-until-the-baby-is-born-before-deciding-on-the-name

Shortlist. Then when the baby is born choose for definite. We had a name picked for little brother, then when he was born that became his middle name as he suited it better.

Right now we have a name picked for DD simply because DP won't shut up about it, but certain things may change that e.g. if she doesn't suit it, if she has red hair (the name relates to a nasty character with red hair and I know for certain people would make the connection!), so we're having some on standby.

Get a shortlist of several names you like a lot, but are of different types.
Some names are soft, some strong, some classic etc.
On other threads today I saw Nancy, Evie, Daisy and Matilda. All are nice but they are very different.
Do you have any names that you like?

We didn’t decide until ours were born but had a shortlist before then of names we both liked/agreed on.
What if you don’t discuss it at all, then find when your baby is born that you like names like Anne, Jane and Mary and your DH likes Nymphadora, Zelda and Orbit?

With all three of mine I had made list after list through out the pregnancies. Thought it over way too much and eventually got down to a few names. I didn't make a finally decision until they were born basing it on what name seemed to fit them best. Always seemed to work for us, I didn't want to be completely set on a name before even meeting them