One of the most exciting parts when having a baby is the naming process! Although at times it can be overwhelming, it is one of those choices that is rather important to any new parents. After all... once it’s decided and on that certificate, it’s pretty much a done deal.

It’s a wonderful time to be writing out the lists of possibilities. Girl or boys names written neatly in your baby book ( or as I do.. a random list on my iPhone).

Some parents decide to wait until they meet bub before they finalise their decision while others choose a name so they can refer to baby during the pregnancy and become more familiar. There are so many wonderful ways of doing it to help build that excitement of the new addition!

Warning! There are also lots of things or more so people, that may consciencely or unconcienly ruin the fun.

With our 4th child due in February, we have been through it all. And I have played the game differently each time. A names baby early on, a baby we let every opinion in about, a baby that was names which everyone adored but ended up now being nicknamed totally different to what we thought and it’s stuck of course along the way had some of our hopes smashed or laughed off by people who needed to throw their 2 cents in what ever we did.

#damnedifyoudoordont

Let me explain.
There will possibly be, if you share your potential list of names, people that will really need to share their opinion of why your choices are not up to their standards or ideals.

You may hear they following...

“Oh no, I knew someone at school called that and they were horrible.”

“ But it will be shortened to this...”

“Oh that just makes me think of this...”

“You can call her that... it’s too close to .... persons name”.

“What about ..... instead?”

“No.... that’s on my list”. ( Usually said by someone who doesn’t have kids yet)

“Maybe spell it this way instead?”

“Um why?”

“Oh I hate that!”

Then you will have family memebers who lovingly push for what they feel is best.

“It needs a family name in there.”

“Name it after your great second cousin removed...”

“It would make me happy if you had... in there”.

“You can’t name it that”.

“No, that’s too strange..”.

And of course, often the names you choose will often be categorised into

Weird/ out there/ common/ classic/ strange/ not gender appropriate....

You get the drift. Somehow, your choice of what you call your sweet arrival will have some sort of impact on someone else.

It doesn’t! But there can be people around you that will impress upon you, that it somehow cosmically effects their lives.

The best way to steer clear of these unneeded and unwanted nuggets of adobe or opinions...

Stay very tight lipped about any ideas suggestions or thoughts you have and hold them close. Or... say out right that the name game is only played by you and your partner in crime. It may be a hard pill to swallow for some, but eventually they will move on and it will make your life so much less stressful and focused on all the positives that are about to happen!

Ultimately it’s kind of funny that as your child grows, whatever the name you choose may be, it will most likely be shortened or nicknamed into something else.

But, in the meantime, enjoy this exciting and fun time of planning and decision making and remember, your choice will be absolutely perfect!!

Xx

The Ummum