How did you manage to name your baby? Also, opinions and suggestions please.

[MariaMadita]

Maybe I'm being silly but I feel like there is so much in a name. Naming a human being is just such a big responsibility and a real privilege... And then there are issues like social perception (e.g., the name Kevin in Germany...), trends, potential spelling issues, historical associations etc... And actually finding a name we both like

We need names that at least sort of work in English, German and preferably also Italian... And we both like really different names.

names we could both see us consider / like... Gloria, Anna, Matteo and Sebastian.

Suggestions? Advice?

Tia.:)

Don't worry about it so much. When you get to know them as a person, they will start to define the name, rather than the other way round. Obviously don't choose a name you hate, but it really doesn't have to be such a big deal.

I love Anna and Sebastian. Not a huge fan of Gloria or Matteo, but it's not my kind.

You could also consider:
Marc
Thomas
Gabrielle
Sabrina

@bridgetreilly

Aww, thanks :)! I guess I just want the perfect name... International, cheerful, strong without being harsh.

DH wouldn't mind / prefer something traditionally English or biblical. But he dislikes all the biblical names I suggested... (E.g., I really like Yael, who has always been my favourite biblical hero...)

Susanna?

I went through two baby names books, cover to cover, listing all the names I liked or would consider.

I then removed any from the list that didn’t work (needed names that work in English, Spanish and Russian!).

Then discussed with DH and got it down to the final 3, and eventually chose the one that grew on us the most.

I took it very seriously...

I named her my favourite name that I have loved since childhood. I was about 7 when I first heard it and thought it was the prettiest sound I’d heard.

Found the name in a book, mentioned to DH. That was the only one he gave a fairly positive 'hmmm' to and then it just grew on us and felt like the right name.

Whittle it down then give it time to settle in.

I had THE loveliest Nicole not once but twice at two different unis, both German. First was known as Nico, second Nicci. Could also be italianesque . Happy memories of the most amazing women.

I took it very seriously... grin

Same!!

I think my problem is that I'm thinking in "themes... (And that DH simply gives an opinion when asked but doesn't look for names himself...)

I named her my favourite name that I have loved since childhood

I unfortunately don't have a name like that.. but my dolls actually did have really nice names ;)

just Nicole is nice but unfortunately feels dated to me. Thanks :)

Susannah is nice but it feels a bit too "soft" to me personally?

Whittle it down then give it time to settle in

I guess I'm just so all over the place...

How is Kevin perceived in Germany?.... I am just curious.

Dc is named after the main character in a tv show I watched, a week before I found out I was pregnant. I often wonder what their name would be like if I had watched something different.

I like Anna and Sebastian.

Not sure how they are perceived internationally, however, I like the names: -

Joseph
Max
Benjamin
Reuben

Sophia
Rosa
Claudia
Saskia

Happy choosing, op!

How is Kevin perceived in Germany?.... I am just curious. smile

With a lot of prejudice...

There's even a quote about it
which translates to "Kevin is not a name, it's a diagnosis."

It's strongly associated with social disadvantage. And it's also become a bit of a joke. (There are obviously other stigmatised names [a few French and many Anglo names] but Kevin is probably the most prominent one...)

There's also an academic paper (just for a master's) called: "do pupils get better grades just because they're called Maximilian and Charlotte instead of Kevin and Celina"?

Btw, I am not condoning these kinds of prejudices. I think it's extremely unfair...

But they seem to exist in pretty much every country (I feel like this board does often highlight the attitude in the UK...) and I wouldn't want to try to make a point when naming our bean*, you know?

*Idk why but the baby just gets called bean/bean-y. (Well, Böhnchen and fagiolino as well...)

I was set on Sebastian with this baby but DP wasn’t having any of it because he went to school with one who was a twat. I tried to plead with him to let me have it but he just wouldn’t so I had to think of another he would agree to. I didn’t like any of his suggestions either, he wanted Raymond after his grandad which definitely is a Grandad’s name ffs... so we were at absolute loggerheads for weeks. All of a sudden a name we’d both mentioned but sort of dismissed came into my head and I said it a few times over and over till it clicked and felt right. He’s thankfully agreed so we now have a name .

Most people say you’ll know what to call them when they arrive and it is true. I didn’t have a name for DD1 until she was born.

Thanks for answering me.

My husband is Swedish and I'm English. We chose a name that works in both. Leo for our boy. Short and snappy and can't be shortened unlike my name which really pi##es me off!!

We named our twin boys after family then picked a name that matched for next dc. Have a shortlist for dc 4, but nothing has stuck yet.

Would Mario work?

I like Anna, Matteo, & Sebastian. Gloria isn't my cup of tea, but there's nothing wrong with it.

Some other names that might be fit the bill, based on a quick google of recent name popularity lists for Germany & Italy:

Alex
Adam
Leo
Gabriel
Samuel
Daniel

Aurora
Clara
Mia
Sofia
Nina
Greta
Noemi
Lara

DH and I each went through the baby names book and made individual lists.
Then we went through each other’s lists and crossed out the definitely nots.
Then we put the possibles on the kitchen wall and whittled them down over several weeks.

Tbh Gloria sounds dated to me, however isn’t it true that on the continent names from the 50s are quite popular, Linda, Brenda, Rita, Veronica, Denis, Victor and Walter were all in the kids club whilst on holiday in Italy last year. Not really my taste.

I like Pps suggestions of Nina, Sofia, and Samuel. What about Mattia for a boy?

I'm 35 weeks pregnant.
I've been trying to find a baby name since I first started ttc (August 2016!) and it took me until about 8 weeks ago to (maybe) having picked one.
I've Just kept looking at names and making short lists and re-doing the shortlist over and over and over.
We found out we are having a boy at 19 weeks, so finally i could focus on just one set of names.
Me and Husband finally found a name (well he finally liked a name on my list) and it kind of stuck. I kept thinking of the baby as this name, and he said he does too.
I'm not certain though. I still have a shortlist of about 5 names and we'll not make the finals decision until we see baby.

Gloria - no. I picture some evangelical American Christian.
Anna - pretty, travels well. Ime it is trendy though.
Matteo - love this
Sebastian - fine.

Louisa might hit all those criteria though not sure about the German bit. Though lots of people get it confused with Louise... .

Anna is also a lovely name. I know a German woman called Alexandra. I actually have an Italian friend with a dd with that name.

We wanted Greek / English names and went for one biblical (pretty standard) and one which was a Greek word with a nice meaning but a name in English.

I love Yael too, though in English we'd spell it Jael and then it sounds like jail which is... not a great association!

What about Judith/Judit?

Hi, I'm back ;)

Sorry, I had a very stressful day yesterday at my new place of work. So many conference calls... Which lead to me mentally praying heaps of hail Marys. (I wasn't aware this much of my upbringing had stuck/ I think it's become primarily meditative nowadays, tbh...)

Ehm, anyhow, baby names ;)

Most people say you’ll know what to call them when they arrive and it is true
Let's hope so...

@Jasquers
I personally rather like names that can be shortened. Mine can and I have several nicknames I really like.

Mario wouldn't work (imo), Noemi is really nice, I adore Mattia but it sounds girly in DH's opinion...

@Joeybee congratulations!!!

I picture some evangelical American Christian
For me it's more Latinate / Catholic but yes, evangelical Christian could be an other association...

Louisa would definitely work in German.
I was actually thinking about Alexandra and Alexander. I unfortunately dislike the nn Alex for a boy but don't mind it for a girl...

@bridgetreilly

Yes, jail would be unfortunate....
Which is one of the reasons I prefer the Y spelling. (I think it would be a great middle name. Or as you said, J/Yudith. Or maybe Esther, Deborah...)

Btw, what do you think of Carlotta?

I really like it but wonder whether it just sounds like carlot to native English speakers?

I love Carlotta, Elisabetta too.

Like literally every other parent in history- pick a name you like, job done.

Or call it Baby McBabyface. Your choice.