Help - struggling with pnd and baby has no name

[ActonBell]

Title says it really. DS is 2 weeks and has no name and I’m really finding it difficult. Have severe PND - I’ve been here before and I am getting help. He doesn’t sleep unless being held and I’m beside myself with tiredness.

Really want to decide on a name before Christmas.

We’ve been mulling Aidan, Arthur, Charlie, Henry, Rory (though DH doesn’t like Henry). Looking for two syllables or more. Feel in such a fog and terrified of giving him the “wrong” name.

Remember you can easily change his name on his birth certificate all the way up to 1 year. So don't worry about getting it 'wrong' it can be changed. Pick something now so he can be registered and when the fog clears you will either love it or change it. No big deal honestly.

Congratulations on your little boy.

I love Rory. Also I know you have 6 weeks but my DD was born late nov and I can't get her an app until the end of feb so you've prob got alot more time than you think as long as you've got an app made it dosent matter when it is

So sorry to hear you are going through this, I’m currently struggling with PPD too and it’s such an awful feeling.

I like Rory, it’s one of my favourite names.

Congratulations! All really lovely name choices, I think my fave are Arthur and Rory but you can't really go wrong with any of them

Love Aidan and Charlie
All nice names though. Only one I wouldn't pick is Rory as it's got really popular quite quickly and too similar to lots of other top 100 names (Ronnie, Roman etc). But all your names would be fine and work well.

Aidan is lovely op or how about Rowan?...

Lovely names, I can see what you mean about being scared to decide. But like everyone has said you can change and you can't go wrong with any of those names. Try to ease some of the pressure off yourself On a few occasions I've said to my husband in frustration - okay pick your top two (or three) favourites! And I do the same and to my surprise we will both end up with one matching choice. If you don't have a matching choice, but a favourite each you could practice for a day with each and pick which one you would like to try again on the third day.

It's easy for me to say but try not not be terrified of giving him the "wrong" name - all the names on your list are in the top 100 popular boys names (apart from Aidan, but it was there only 10 years ago so it is still very well known/used). The one major benefit of popular names is that it obviously means more people like them, which also makes it less likely that you or he will be "judged" on your name choice - a bonus if you are feeling shakey emotionally right now.

My personal favourite is Henry - as I tend to prefer more timeless names (and it also gives him possible nn's like Harry or Hal if DS wants) but I can understand that's a no go if DH isn't keen. If it helps other popular timeless style names I love and that are 2 syllables or more are Edward, Adam, William, Alexander, Thomas, Samuel, Michael etc - but I don't really think you can go wrong with any of the choices on your list.

In order

Charlie
Rory
Arthur
Aidan

I don't like Henry much either, although I do know some lovely ones.

Congratulations on your baby.

Charlie and Arthur are nice. I really dislike the 'roar' sound in Rory. It's an ugly name. Good luck, OP!

Congratulations ! I love Henry and Rory. If your husband doesn’t like Henry then my vote goes to Rory.

Sorry to hear you’re suffering

You won't go far wrong with any of those names. I also like Aidan and Rory best of your list.

Just check that they sound nice in combination with your surname both with and without any middle names, and that they have a nice flow to them. Check that the initials (again with or without middle ones) don't spell anything onerous or that people, especially children, will find 'hilarious'. And that the names don't run into one another such as Charlie Easton or Aidan Norwood as they can be indistinct when spoken quickly eg 'Charlie Ston' or 'Aida Norwood'. Those tips are from a baby book I had when naming mine. Will also help you to rule things out so you can narrow down your choices.

for the PND.

They're all good "sturdy" names that will age well. Drop Henry is your DH isn't keen.
Thomas
William
Oliver
Oscar
Benjamin
Rupert
Robert
Jonathan
Jamie
Alistair
Callum
Connor
Daniel
Edward
Freddie
Frankie
George
Gregory
Isaac
Adam
Matthew
Nathan
Patrick

Sorry to hear your not feeling great. My favs are Charlie and Rory

I'm just out the other side of a similar experience. DD was born in October and I could not work out which name on our shortlist to call her. We settled on one and then people kept saying it 'wrong' and I'd burst into tears every time... I was awake at night obsessing over it until I hated all the names. We eventually had to register her and gave her all 3 names on the shortlist but I was in tears at the registry office. It was a mess.

She's now 11 weeks and we've stuck with our first choice and got used to it and I am so much better (Sertraline has also kicked in).

You will get there but I can recommend choosing a few names and reminding yourself that if the first choice doesn't suit him in a few months time, you can use his middle name?

Your list is lovely and Aidan is my favourite from that. Would suggest Fraser, Cormac or Dylan?

Good luck.

All lovely names OP. I promise you won’t make a wrong choice, you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Cross off Henry, then delete one name each week and see which one is left in a month. So sorry you are having to deal with pnd a second time. Grab all support you can and don't push yourself or punish yourself.

I like Aidan and Rory, also Ethan as suggested by someone.

I had dreadful PND, it's a temp situation in a permanent new start.

They are all lovely names. My favourites are Arthur and Henry but if OH doesn’t like Henry then Arthur it would be.

Other suggestions:

Harry
Tobias/ Toby
William
Frederick/ Freddie
Alexander
Albert/ Albie
Alfred/ Alfie
Finley/ Finn
Theodore/ Theo
Edward/ Teddy/ Eddie

DH really likes Aidan and has now thrown in Benjamin.
I don’t love Ben but maybe I could get used to it.

Aidan and Rory are my favs. Benjamin could be benji.

Aidan is lovely.

Congratulations OP!

I have a Ruairí and am happy with his name

Sorry that you are suffering. Take all the support

I like Arthur (Artie? Bert?), Charlie and Aidan.
Could offer Austin/Austen as another idea?