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Baby names

Find baby name inspiration and advice on the Mumsnet Baby Names forum.

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Original poster

Just curious - did anyone else do this...?

32 replies

KMUN · 08/04/2008 23:15

Absolutely refuse to get into a discussion about names with anyone apart from DH.

To have a fait accompli
To avoid pressure of 'family names'
To avoid helpful comments like - "ooh, I wouldn't call him/her that..."; "that's a dog/cat/parrot's name" et bloody cetera
In case anything went awry at/before birth - early naming seems to be tempting fate somewhat

After a quick look at some of these threads, wouldn't fancy the open season on decision-making. It's hard enough.

As I said, not having a pop, but just curious...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

NoBiggy · 08/04/2008 23:21

I told people I was considering a name I actually wasn't.

Then when they went telling everybody, thinking they had some good gossip, they looked foolish when they found out the actual name.

And with DD2, I (and DP) kept the name a secret for two weeks after the birth just for our own entertainment. Drove people crackers.

Purplepillow · 08/04/2008 23:31

When I had dd I was thinking of 2 specific names for her and when she was born I chose a completely different one, there was a few confused people about - including me as the name had never entered my head until I saw her

Guitargirl · 08/04/2008 23:37

We had a shortlist of names which we didn't share with anyone (well, I say that but I think DP did with his mates in the pub after he'd had a few). Drove my Mum crackers who was desperate to know, DP told her we were thinking about 'Moonshine' and 'Rainbow', etc. Then when DD was born we chose a name not on our shortlist but one we has briefly discussed months before as it just seemed to totally suit her, we both agreed on that in an instant.

Califrau · 08/04/2008 23:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pinkyminky · 08/04/2008 23:41

Kept it all very secret, just between me and DH.

TwoFirTreesToday · 09/04/2008 09:21

First time around we said we were considering Agamemnon or Hermione, second time around everyone assumed we were having a girl and we knew it was a boy. I had some long discussions with MIL about which names she didnt like! From the perspective of not being able to consider a girls name anyway, it was fascinating to see the little comments and influences that evolved and how they really really influence your thinking. In the end our 3 year old told MIL he would be a William while I was in hospital, so spoiled her suprise, but we didnt mind

littlelapin · 09/04/2008 09:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

belgo · 09/04/2008 09:24

I don't discuss names with anyone apart from dh. I also won't discuss them on mumsnet either as I really don't want to hear other people's reactions to them.

Dh and I have very good reasons for choosing the names we've chosen - not just because we like them, but because they are international names easily pronouncable in flemish and english.

BellaBear · 09/04/2008 09:25

We didn't tell as we wanted to avoid people telling us they didn't like it. I don't care if people don't like it, I just didn't want to know about it.

PortAndLemon · 09/04/2008 09:30

We just turned any discussion of names around to "names we like but would never use" or "names that would sound terrible with DH's last name" -- the latter works particularly well as people get so enthused by trying to outdo your suggestions of Terrible Names that they don't notice that you've evaded the original question. We've never discussed the actual ames with anyone else before the baby is born.

hatrick · 09/04/2008 09:30

This reply has been deleted

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hatrick · 09/04/2008 09:33

This reply has been deleted

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YouCantTeuchThis · 09/04/2008 09:38

us...we told everyone it was a choice between two ridiculous names that happened to rhyme with our surname. Loads of people bought it...

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 09/04/2008 09:46

We are refusing to discuss names with anyone else (or even each other lol) I know it's gonna be an argument between us and am putting it off! Just don't need anyone else wading in to make it more complicated.

Sidge · 09/04/2008 09:48

Having had a few thoughtless opinions from people about DD2's name, with DD3 we kept it a secret. Actually even I didn't know as I gave DH a list that I liked and told him to pick one; he wouldn't tell me until she was born .

If anyone asked we said we would call her Gertrude. But German MIL loved it and told everyone she was going to be Gertrude (she isn't.)

Youcannotbeserious · 09/04/2008 09:49

Def. to 1-3

Our baby's name is our decision..........

No. 4 - If I'm honest, I've thought about it, but pretty much settled on a name anyway, but have decided not to make it all that public beforehand (Only me, DH and the DSDs know)

MrsBadger · 09/04/2008 09:51

1-3

of course we consulted MN though...

Original poster

KMUN · 09/04/2008 10:41

Also, was unlikely to be swayed, but people are much less likely to be rude to your face after they are born . Can't stand the fact that people assume you want their opinion or care that their evil grandma/pa was called that.

We banned any Top 20 names from the last 5 years and had a hilarious long car journey where DH and I traded the most ridiculous name combos we could think of, I never mentioned any of my favourites at the time and DH revealed a disturbing penchant for VERY German names . After that cathartic session, we then basically ended up with a list of 5 or so (sensible ones) for each sex, and by the time she (it turned out) was born had one first and middle name for each sex. All kept under wraps for the reasons above, and just in case of something bizarre like the revealing of a serial killer or criminal mastermind with the same name happened.

OP posts:

MrsTittleMouse · 09/04/2008 10:49

We told everyone that we had a really long short-list (which was true) and then did a PortAndLemon and turned the conversation to names that would be completely inappropriate/clash horribly with DH's surname. Worked a treat.

mads1 · 09/04/2008 10:50

DH and I are keeping it a secret to avoid comments and interference!! (mainly from the two granmas!!. Driving my Mum potty!!
Have said that they are welcome to offer advice - which so far has been very funny!! MIL suggested a name that rhymed, intentionally, with dd1. This is something that we feel should only be our decision - not that we'd listen to anyone else!!

ninedragons · 09/04/2008 11:28

I bounced a few possibilities off a few friends whom I consider to have excellent taste.

Doobydoo · 09/04/2008 11:31

Didn't discuss our choice of names with ANYONE.Even though people kept asking.

MissPaulaYates · 09/04/2008 11:33

we dont tell anyone
get enough stick after it is born!

sleepycat · 09/04/2008 11:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

LadyPenelope · 09/04/2008 11:53

Didn't discuss with anyone or solicit ideas or advice from anyone. Didn't want to hear that they didn't like it. It's no-ones business but our own, and after it was done, it couldn't be changed even if they didn't like it!!

MIL doesn't like the name we call DD (shortened version of her full name)and used to tell us all the time.She does like her full name, so calls her that which is fine but drove me crazy that she would complain about it. Both sets of parents were a bit about ds's name - FIL kept asking for days after he was named "so what are you going to call DS?" As though it was still open for discussion. My parents asked "why?" but were fine with our answer "because it's a name we liked."

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