choosing a name for second child

[SqueezyB]

Is anyone else finding it really difficult finding a name for DC2?

When I was pregnant with DD I knew exactly what name I would choose, I guess it helped that I'd had it picked out since I was about 15! Luckily DH liked it too! Once we found out it was a girl I even started calling the bump by that name (just to myself, we didn't tell people the name) and as soon as she was born the name just suited her. Even now I absolutely love her name, and people always comment on how lovely it is and how it suits her.

This time round, although I can think of plenty of names I like, there is nothing that I LOVE, and nothing that really jumps out at me - particularly girls names. I dunno if it's harder that this time we haven't found out what we're having. DH just says we can decide once he/she is born but it's driving me mad and I kinda feel guilty about it - I don't want to give this baby a name that's just 'alright'.

Is it just me?? Will the baby just 'suit' a name once it's born? Are my hormones just sending me into a tiswas?? (I'm 31 weeks!)

I'm having this exact problem for my first baby! Very distressing after spending most of my life obsessed with picking baby names!! I hope it will just be obvious when they are born what suits and what doesn't!

I'm sure it's unusual to be 100% sure beforehand, maybe you were just lucky before?!

It's tough isn't it when you feel you've used up your 'perfect name' - the others feel, a bit - sub standard!!

You'll think of something, close enough to perfect to do the job, that will become perfect in time

I think you will find that towards the end of this pregnancy you will just have the name come from "no where" and yes I think all babies are born suiting their name I dont actually think we name them as much as they name themselves

what's your dc1's name OP?

DD is Polly Jean. For me it was the perfect name - always been a massive fan of PJ Harvey, plus Jean is my mum's name. And Polly fits the bill perfectly of being a pretty, well-known name (so people don't go 'ehhh?'), but not particularly popular so there aren't loads of them in every toddler group. Now that she is a cheeky 2-year-old, Polly suits her down to the ground!

ChippingIn, I like the idea that whatever we choose will become perfect in time . Secretly I'm hoping this one comes with a name tag!

Oh Polly is absolutely lovely. Good choice. Quirky and pretty.

Greta
Lois
Dulcie
Nina
Thea
Maggie

Any of those make you think hmmmm?

It is hard, and especially so when the second DC is the same sex as the first.

In a way though, the first name is a bit of a "fantasy" name - often, you have picked it before the baby is born, and it sort of represents what you think the baby/child will be like. When DS1 was born, I had a bit of a wobble about the name, because the birth wasn't what I expected, and he looked nothing like I expected, so I wasn't sure the name was right for a while (even though I loved it before and I love it now).

With DS2, we had 3 possibles, and waited until he was born to see what felt right.

I love Magalys name suggestions, especially Nina, Lois and Maggie

I'd add

Claudia
Lydia
Stella

BTW - my fantasy girl name is Claudia Jane (CJ from the West Wing - clever, assertive and funny woman). I offer this to you because I'm not going to have any more DCs

Good suggestions, thanks! Maggie was actually on our shortlist, but I feel like it should have a 'proper' name too and can't bring myself to use the name Margaret. Thea great name too, but already got one in the family, and both Stella and Lydia I love but DH has vetoed Lois is too much like my name and Claudia is lovely but reminds me of a girl in school!

At the moment I think my frontrunner is Tess, although DH has suggested Josie (full name Josephine) today, which I am now mulling over...

I know exactly what you mean. With DS1, we had a name ready and waiting, and didn't have to talk about it after his birth. DS2 was totally different, We had a shortlist but nothing that jumped out at us. For about 30 mins after he was born, DH was saying "what shall we call him?" and we just chose something quickly. I love the name, but it is weird to think that that is my son's name, IYKWIM.

Exactly the same here too- dd1's name was our absolute favourite, picked out very soon after discovering the pg, and confirmed after the 20wk scan. So for dd2 we (I) feel a bit guilty that there is no amazing, special name jumping out at us for her. We've dithered and mulled and picked one we think is really pretty and I'm sure it will be lovely and suit her, but obviously dd1 got first pick and I feel a bit bad about it. Taking my Mum's advice on thorny parenting issues here: "guilt, just say No"!

what about Romy?

Yes me! Hence the cat's name thread! We can't even find names that we like this time, let alone love.

not lydia, although a lovely name, it rhymes with chlamydia. just thinking about the playground post the sex education lessons.

Don't know how I can talk, I called my DS1 Maximus (cruel I know) and now I have number 2 on the way and I'm completely stuck for a name that is as powerful or strong. Any suggestions would be good.

We didn't choose Max til he was born and don't have a clue this time around either.

Same boat here too. Ds1's name was settled early on during pregnancy and (although it's surged up the baby name lists in the 4 years since he was born) I still love it and it suits him down to the ground. I could name about 6 girls no problem, but we're having another boy and I do sort of feel that I've used up my best boy's name. I think we've sort of reached a consensus on a name which is a bit of a compromise for both dh and me, but it's definitely growing on me. I just hope he'll look like the name when we meet him!

Great suggestions above. I'd add Clara (which this baby would have been if female!) Goes well with Polly...

We had a shortlist with DS1 which one glance at him vetoed completely, bar one name! He just didn't look like a Tor or a Lucien!

WIth this one...it's tricky cos it has to suit both DP and I, but also sound good with DS's name. You can't have a Henry and Joni-May. For example.

my DS1 was Killian (German spelling of an Irish name) from the moment the scan revealed he was boy (we were living in Austria and they routinely tell you the sex then refer to the bump as the name you have chosen.)

DS2 was really hard to name as we were back in scotland but i wanted a name that related so we cheated and used the Irish connection to my DS1 name to call DS2 Ronan, although i will admit the fact that Ireland were doing so well at the 6 nations in 2007 that he almost ended up being named after the whole Ireland team...

Had DS2 been a girl he would have been Amelia Rose or Heather Rose

Hey jbakedbean
why not try Aurelian to go with Maximus?

what about a name from a pj harvey song, OP? such as:

catherine
leah
elise
angelene
stella (marie)

i kept putting elise on the girls name short list for DC1 but DP wasn't having any of it! DC1 turned out to be a boy anyway ...