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Baby names

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

Original poster

Help me love my babies name - PND

143 replies

BeatingPND · 26/08/2025 16:23

My son was born after a really traumatic time late pregnancy and he needed a hospital stay. I’m sure I’ve had some version of PND dealing with it and I feel I’m coming out the other side I hope. It was worth it for him being earthside but was unimaginable. One of the things is he doesn’t feel like his name. It doesn’t feel special enough, as it turns out it’s the number 1 name. I’d never heard of anyone else with this name. Maybe if it hadn’t had been number 1 it would have felt ok.

Ive read alot of name regret is tied to PND. I can’t think of any other name to call him and I don’t want to change it now. I just want to love it and use it happily with him. Well I do like other names but DH doesn’t and we have a fucking awful surname that rules out a lot of the names I did like for stupid rhyming and not sounding right with it.

So please tell me the positives about the name Noah. I don’t need to hear about him being one of 20 in his class, I am really struggling. Please be nice and only post of you can help me reframe my thinking.

Thank you

OP posts:
Readyforslippers · 26/08/2025 16:25

Really lovely name, strong but still somewhat classic.

modgepodge · 26/08/2025 16:27

It’s a lovely name. If you like it you like it.

there are 2 Olivia’s in my daughters class (that was the number 1 girls name the year she was born). There are also 2 Stanleys, 2 ettys, 2 elodies and 2 robins (both girls spelt like that), none of which are particularly common names. And no Noahs! So even if you pick a rare name, there could be another.

there is so much more variety in names these days that even the number 1 name won’t be that common. It won’t be like Linda or Susan in the 50s, Debbie in the 70s or Claire in the 80s.

🙂

indoorplantqueen · 26/08/2025 16:27

It’s a lovely name.

LovingPoster · 26/08/2025 16:28

It’s a beautiful name. I don’t think any name will really feel special enough when you’re comparing it to your much longed for baby. I felt similarly about my daughter’s name and now I can’t picture her as anything else. She’s made the name so much more special and it fits her perfectly. I am sure the same will happen for you. I hope you feel much better soon ❤️

Carriedoesntlivehereanymore · 26/08/2025 16:28

I think it’s a gorgeous name. Cute for a baby and a little boy, strong for a man.

Original poster
BeatingPND · 26/08/2025 16:29

Thank you both so much. Sounds stupid writing it on an internet forum but I decided today was the day I need to really remember all the beautiful reasons I picked his name and how I was so in love with it and him before it all went wrong. And I want to love it again and today’s the day. Thank you again for commenting

OP posts:
SlicedMelon · 26/08/2025 16:29

Noah is a gorgeous name and even though as you say it’s a top 10 name, I certainly haven’t met any Noah’s really so it sounds unique to me! Also I am sure you know that the top names these days are nowhere near as ubiquitous as the top names 30 years ago, where there was much less diversity in names.

Noah is a strong name that is classic and sounds like it belongs to a kind and clever person, it works for all ages and is a great name for a boy and for a man. And it is easy for everyone to spell!

Topjoe19 · 26/08/2025 16:30

Gosh I love Noah. Good choice.

UnsocialMedia · 26/08/2025 16:30

Noah's gone down the rankings a bit, Muhammad is now the most frequently chosen name (assuming you're in England or Wales). That said, Noah is very popular.

If it being popular is upsetting you, choose something else.

IME that's the only negative thing about the name though, it's a lovely sound and suits a person through all ages of life.

Can you narrow it down to whether it's just popularity that's putting you off?

Edited to add I just spotted you said don't mention the popularity aspect. Sorry. I do think it's a beautiful name and would suit a wide range of types of boy/man. It's an easy one to carry through life.

thereisajellyfish · 26/08/2025 16:31

Noah is a gorgeous name and works well for every stage of life. I only know 1 Noah, who’s in his 20’s now and I work in a school!.

Viviennemary · 26/08/2025 16:31

I don't know a single one. But even if there are a few you know it doesn't matter if you like the name.

PiggieWig · 26/08/2025 16:31

Noah is a lovely name - classic and gentle sounding.
When you picked the name, what was it you loved about it? Try and focus on that.

I was one of three girls in my year with my name, and there’s usually at least one other everywhere I’ve worked. It really doesn’t bother me. I like my name and still love my mum’s choice.

IamChipmunk · 26/08/2025 16:31

You might find you dont encounter that many. My son has a name that was top 10 but until last year there was no one with the same name in his whole primary school (yr6!)

My dd has a name that was less than top 50 when I picked it and there were bloody 4 of them in her primary school!!

lifeonthelane · 26/08/2025 16:31

Lovely name, it was high on our list for our son.

Temporaryname158 · 26/08/2025 16:32

It’s a lovely, classic name that will see him through cute baby stage right through to an old man!

in my kids school of 210 kids there is no Noah, so despite it being ‘popular’ I don’t know any.

Homeandfireworks · 26/08/2025 16:32

indoorplantqueen · 26/08/2025 16:27

It’s a lovely name.

It’s a lovely strong independent yet loving boy name. I’m a teacher and very very experienced (30 years plus) and work in a private school now but stage for about 25 years, Noah gives me great vibes. Not met many but the ones I have met are lovely!!

mumonthehill · 26/08/2025 16:33

I love love Noah and it would have been ds name but my friend had a ds just before me and called him Noah. I still love it though. You have made a great choice and it is a wonderful name.

TheWoollybacksWife · 26/08/2025 16:34

I agree with the previous poster that it is a strong and classic name. My DS has a lovely friend called Noah and he is loyal, polite, kind and funny. My DS has a top ten most popular name - 8 boys all called the same name in his year group - they loved it.

UnsocialMedia · 26/08/2025 16:34

Tried to edit my post as I spotted you didn't want any comments relating to popularity, but I'm too late I think.

I did add that not only is it a beautiful name, it also suits a range of personalities, IMO it's a very easy name to carry through life.

Momstermash94 · 26/08/2025 16:36

While I know you say that Noah appears high on the popularity lists at the moment, if it helps I am in a bunch of baby groups (baby sensory etc) and haven't come across any Noahs. It's actually my favourite boys name, it was the top of my list if we had a boy but I had a beautiful DD instead

OnePinkDeer · 26/08/2025 16:42

It's gorgeous.

Such an old classic. It will never go out of fashion.

Tay596 · 26/08/2025 16:44

I love Noah! It works for a young kid, is quite cool/surfy for a teen but is also a bible classic so works for an older man too.

Cheesetoastiees · 26/08/2025 16:45

There is a reason names make it into the top list, because they sound lovely and special. I've worked with children for 20 years and rarely met a Noah. It's a lovely name for a little boy, great for a man and just sounds nice when you say it. Congratulations on your special wee boy.

Moreteaandchocolate · 26/08/2025 16:45

My son has a top 5 name and we don’t know any others in his school! There is a wider variety of names in use than in previous decades, so the chances of knowing multiple children with the same name is lower.

Noah is a lovely name - soft yet strong sounding, classic yet with a modern feel. It’ll serve him well in life.

Liondoesntsleepatnight · 26/08/2025 16:46

We have a baby Noah in our family and a grown up one, lovely name OP

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