Naming a baby isn’t going to be easy. I’m 11 weeks pregnant and already hitting a roadblock.
Just so you know, I’m not unreasonable. In fact, I’m fairly flexible. My guidelines for names are: They can’t be in the top 100 of the social security popular names list, it needs to sound pleasing and Jimmy must love it too.
Unfortunately, the last rule is the sugar in my engine. Sweet at first, but then stand back … it’s going to explode.
One Saturday morning while sitting at the table, I asked Jimmy, “What about Liam?”
“Liam?” Jimmy crossed his arms and frowned. “No way.”
What? “Why?” Liam was a great name. Solid, manly and likable.
“We’re not naming our kid after some hottie you like.”
Huh? “What are you talking about?”
“Liam Neeson?”
I sputtered. He was a great actor, but not my idea of a hunk of burning love.
Jimmy teased. “We could name a girl Jessica Alba Hinson.”
What a jokester. I couldn’t help myself and laughed. “I guess this means you don’t like Mariska.”
“What?” Jimmy looked horrified. “You want to name a daughter after Mariska Hargitay? There’s no way I could look at a baby girl and use that name.”
Sigh. He was right. The woman was hot, but I loved the name. Besides, it wasn’t like using a name of an actress was unheard of. My great-grandmother was named after two silent movie stars. I was named after her – it would be like carrying on a tradition. And I just really, really loved the name.
I decided to bide my time and went down the list of possibles. Jimmy vetoed every one.
Over the next two weeks I’d create a list of names for both sexes and emailed them. Jimmy vetoed those as well.
Gone were Asher, Zane, Avery, Lyra, Ainsley, Saige, Riley and about 50 others.
A few days later, I sent another list that included Archer, Ansel and Ian. Jimmy replied, “Hate, hate, hate.”
However, he did make a few suggestions. “What about Zoe?”
Zoe was great. I loved it … and then remembered it was the name of my friend’s cat.
He emailed later, “How about Aiden.”
Another wonderful name but it was listed among the top ten popular names of 2007.
During dinner one night he said, “What do you think of Rain?”
My response? “That’s so 80s.”
We were at a standstill, but I wasn’t discouraged. I kept surfing and searching. I emailed list after list. Finally, we both agreed we liked the name Tabitha and Andrew.
Only I wasn’t really thrilled over either.
Andrew was likeable, but a top 20 popular name. I ran Tabitha past a few family members and was met with a lukewarm response.
Last night I gave it another shot with Irena or Eirena. I was very excited to discover it. The name was a variation of my mother-in-law’s middle name and Jimmy’s great-grandmothers name: Irene. I thought it was a nice twist and would continue a family tradition.
Only Jimmy wasn’t having it. He gave it an immediate, and resounding, no.
I was burnt. “That’s it. I’m done.”
“Done with what?”
“Looking up baby names. It’s your turn now.”
Jimmy laughed.
“I’m serious. Unless you come up with something I like, we’re naming this kid Baby.” (Oddly enough, that’s actually listed on the baby name site.)
Jimmy doesn’t believe me. I know he thinks in a few days I’ll cave and start searching again – but I’m done. I’m ending this baby name game before it turns into a baby name war.
Besides, I’ve exhausted every name possible – what else is there?
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Genevieve Hinson is a social media coordinator for Children's Hospital Central California. She's also a writer, wife and mom to two boys and a girl. The opinions she expresses here are her own, as is her obsession for coffee.
This post took a while for me to read, because once you mentioned Liam I went straight to Neeson and then had to have a long daydream about him rocking my world. Not a hunk of burning love, you say? Good, then I get him all to myself.
Now, re the names, it really is a daunting responsibility. I think all the names you listed are lovely. If you’re really stuck, try the Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator ( http://politsk.blogspot.com/2008/09/sarah_13.html ) and see what comes up. Have fun!
My daughter has a very popular name (Isabelle) but that doesn’t matter. Her 7 year old brother has called her BABY since she came home from the hospital. She is 3 1/2 and he still calls her baby. He’ll probably call her BABY when she goes off to school, college, gets married etc. We all laugh because it is like the girl from Dirty Dancing.
I love the name Irena. It’s beautiful and it’s a family heritage. Perfect! But only if its a girl. : )
I think 11 weeks in is a little soon to give in. we got time baby, baby? hmm baby it is then. ;p
Wow! I didn’t realize you were pregnant! Congratulations! How wonderful! Names are so hard, but I am sure you will find the right one.
Eleven weeks is still really early in the process..you have time.
T.
Zod. Jen wouldn’t let me use it, but no reason you can’t.
I forgot to mention two things: One, I’m glad none of your ideas included fruit names, adjectives, or Zod (sorry, Jeff, but ew.) And two, I just gave you a blog award! Come over and get it. It’s purty.
Get “The Baby Name Wizard.” It’s a great baby name book. It’s doesn’t have, like, 10,000 ridiculous names.
Nothing’s wrong with “Liam.” Why not name him “William” and use Liam as a nickname?
Name shopping is part of the fun of having a baby. Enjoy the process
Jimmy saved you from violating your own rule, Liam is now in the top 100 of the SSA list.
http://nametrends.net is a great visualization of the SSA data that lets you track the trends in names to know that your #200 name today is likely to be top 100 in a couple years.
I also found the regional popularity useful when choosing a baby name — Liam is only popular across the Northmost parts of the U.S., particularly NE.
Use mine. Feel free. It is a good one.
Zella Irene.
Hey, where have I been? Congrats!! My dad wanted to name me Mariska. My dad’s parents are Hungarian, and my mom’s name is Mary. My mom vetoed though.
Agreeing on names is tough… luckily ya’ll still have time though
You never know, some of those names that are off the list now may make a comeback. With our youngest dh came up with the name early on and at first I liked it but didn’t think it sounded good with the middle name we’d already picked (yeah, I know we were weird and had the middle name picked first). So we picked out another name… and about a month before he was born I decided I liked dh’s first suggestion better so we changed it toward the end
. I’m glad b/c his name totally fits him!
Oddly enough from someone who steadfastly remains childless, if you want some Scottish names I’ve got loads, including Scots Gaelic variations!
I sorta like Liam…it’s short for William, which is lovely too. What about Euan? Too McGreggorish?
JenXX
I just arrived here via your New Year’s resolutions post. When I was pregnant with my first child we had names picked out well in advance, which was good, as he arrived early. With the second, we couldn’t agree and he was named only after arrival. Just don’t give in to names you know your child will regret: My dad wanted to name me Gertrude “because it would be funny” but my mom vetoed that. They used to say it was their first and only fight, which my mom would cap by saying that she made sure she won it. Thanks, Mom!!!!
My favorite site about names is http://www.behindthename.com/. I did a search there for Irene, discovered that it means Peace, and looked for names with that meaning: http://www.behindthename.com/php/search.php?terms=peace&nmd=m&gender=both&operator=or. I kinda like Geoffrey for a boy’s name.
Or, if you’re looking for girls names similar to Marishka, you might like Maritsa (pronounced Mar-eet-sa, by the woman I know with this name) or Marina. Miruna is not far from that and is on the Peace list.
You might also find this site interesting, if you’re looking for unusual names: http://www.namestatistics.com/. Based on US Census data, rather than the Social Security lists, you can use it to check how common a name is.