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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:
Cathmawr · 26/08/2025 20:56

Noah is a beautiful name OP ❤️ handsome and classic. I know one old man Noah and one Noah in his thirties but no little Noah's!

I'm sending you lots of love and am sorry you've had a traumatic time- please be kind to yourself and know these feelings won't last xx

Thedoorisalwaysopen · 26/08/2025 21:04

Noah is a brilliant name. Classic, strong, Biblical (if that is important to you and equally fine if not, but if it is, Noah was the ultimate brave protector who saved all the animals). It's not cute or silly. and it's easy for him to learn to spell! You have made a great choice.
Enjoy getting to know little Noah - sure he will be a cracking lad.

SleepingStandingUp · 26/08/2025 21:05

Oh Noah is lovely. It was top 10 everywhere when I was late pregnancy with my son (who also had a long stay in Picu, surgery etc so I empathise) and we really wanted it but didn't for fear of one of 20 in his class. Guess what? I don't bloody know any!!!!! Anyway, we picked another name and sometimes I do kinda regret it. I think Noah would suit him. But his name ALSO suits him. Kids grow into their names.

Can you think of a cute diminutive to use? Or silly name? Noah Noodle Chops or the like.

As he grows and claims his name, starts saying it and using it more, I think you'll find it just becomes him more.

highincalifornia · 26/08/2025 21:05

Names are popular for a reason, because they are liked by many people. So as your son goes through life lots of people will respond warmly to his name. More importantly all the other Noahs don’t matter, he’s your special Noah, it’s his name in your family , he’s here, he’s loved and he has a name to take him through life, well done .

okydokethen · 26/08/2025 21:05

I’ve never met or known of a Noah. It’s cool.

Bichette · 26/08/2025 21:12

Noah has been my favourite boys name since the first time I saw ER and the actor Noah Wyle. I ended up having girls so couldn’t use it ☹️.
It always seems to be high on the charts but I’ve never met a single Noah.

laura246810 · 26/08/2025 21:27

Biblical but a bible story we teach young children. So will have a famous namesake who was a leader from early on.

luckylavender · 26/08/2025 21:27

It’s a lovely classic name

mumofoneAloneandwell · 26/08/2025 21:29

Oh I love it

I pictured a brown haired boy, loving life, cheeky, smart and happy

Sorry about his traumatic start. May your life be peaceful from now on, and may Noah only know happiness and love ❤️

Aethelredtheunsteady · 26/08/2025 21:33

There’s such a wider spectrum of names now that even those in the top 10 aren’t as common as they were a few decades ago. I only know one Noah but my DS was one of two in our antenatal group (despite it being only just in the top 500!). From a boring point of view having a more common name is likely to be a blessing as more and more of life is conducted online, anything that makes you harder to find can only be a good thing! Plus I grew up with a (then) uncommon name and hated never being able to get souvenirs etc with my name on.

Noah is also a lovely name. It’s a classic that suits all stages of life.

Despite being fairly certain of my son’s name I couldn’t bring myself to name him until here a week into his hospital stay (he was premature). I don’t think my brain could reconcile what I thought having a baby would be like with what was actually happening. Giving him a name made it all so much more real. I was so scared of losing him that I think by not naming him I was subconsciously trying to create a bit of distance. I think when you’ve had a traumatic start there’s an added level of emotion when it comes to picking a name.

Sorry about the PND - I think it’s really positive that you’re able to relate these feelings to it, shows you’ve got great insight which will serve you well in overcoming it. I’ve had very severe PND myself and am finally coming through it (with a lot of help from psychiatry/meds/EDMR etc) - I just want to reassure you that it does get better.

nocoolnamesleft · 26/08/2025 21:34

It’s a classic name. It’s been in use for millennia, so will never date. Everyone will know how to spell and pronounce it. Your DS will find it easy to learn to write. It’s a name you can readily imagine in any profession. Honestly an excellent choice.

LivingTheDreamish · 26/08/2025 21:35

Noah is a really gorgeous name. It manages to be classic (it’s in the Old Testament!) and yet never feels boring and will suit your gorgeous boy all through his life and wherever that takes him.

TheThreeStingrays · 26/08/2025 21:35

I think it’s a wonderful name. Like many other posts, I’ve never come access a Noah before and therefore think it is very special. Hopefully you will warm again to the name and he will feel more like a Noah to you soon. Just as it takes time after giving birth to feel more like yourself too. Be kind to yourself, you’ve been through a hell of a lot

wizzler · 26/08/2025 21:39

It’s a lovely name Op. Was on my list

Original poster
BeatingPND · 26/08/2025 23:43

Oh fuck me I love you all. Thank you so much. I thought I might get one or two replies but I’ve been reading through them all with tears in my eyes and I can feel the love and support. You have all genuinely genuinely helped me see the name again as how I first saw it. And I do hope that I can separate this from the other feelings.

Im going to make myself a sign/notice board/mood board with the reasons k chose it and some of the comments people made about the name here.

Also laughed out loud at the at least you didn’t call him teabag comment 😂

But again, this feels like what MN was intended for. You have all helped me tonight thank you. And I will come back and read this thread every day to feel that.

OP posts:
Eenameenadeeka · 27/08/2025 02:26

It's such a lovely name. The thing it's it's popular because it's lovely but that's a good thing - lots of people think it's great and agree with you 😊

PatheticDistraction · 27/08/2025 04:17

I think it sounds like a lovely kind name - just gorgeous x

user1492757084 · 27/08/2025 05:40

Take heart that yourn child's name, Noah, sounds good with his surname.

OMGitsnotgood · 27/08/2025 06:10

I think it is perfectly normal to have a bit of a wobble over your child’s name, I know I did with both of mine and I didn’t have PND.
it is is a very strong name as others have said. And the fact that it is popular must mean something!

Original poster
BeatingPND · 27/08/2025 17:57

Thank you again everyone I’m reading through again.

OP posts:
typicaltuesdaynight · 27/08/2025 18:04

I know one Noah he’s just started high school and he’s the kindest boy I know. I think it really is a lovely name. Congratulations to you and lovely Noah. You sound like you’re both been through a really rough start 🥰

hideawayforever · 27/08/2025 18:52

it's really lovely

Original poster
BeatingPND · 28/08/2025 21:20

Thank you everyone. I’ve tried to think through all the things you’ve all said today and today has been better and it’s helped.

OP posts:
Tay596 · 28/08/2025 21:33

I'm really glad you didn't call your baby Baked Bean or something else that would be really difficult to love OP! Could you imagine the conundrum we'd all be in then on how to make you feel better! Baked Bean could work as a middle name or nickname though perhaps?

nocoolnamesleft · 28/08/2025 21:49

Tay596 · 28/08/2025 21:33

I'm really glad you didn't call your baby Baked Bean or something else that would be really difficult to love OP! Could you imagine the conundrum we'd all be in then on how to make you feel better! Baked Bean could work as a middle name or nickname though perhaps?

Edited

I know! It's so much easier writing supportive posts when it's such a genuinely nice name.