baby name rank

[JDAZ11]

Our last name is rarely pronounced correctly by anyone who doesn't know the family...

We kind of made sure that the kids had easy first names to counter-balance the whackadoodle last name.

I feel this way about my DF's last name, and have recently realized that very traditional names could be the way to go for us. (I always felt bad for those kids that had to constantly correct teachers etc).

I have a common first name (I think there were 5 of us in my high school class of 102), and a last name that no one ever screwed up until recently (I'm not sure why they started). Anyway, I tend to get a little annoyed at the constant mispronunciation of DF's last name... so much so that I'm apprehensive about about changing my name in few months. I think one hard to pronounce name should be enough for our (hypothetical) kids to deal with.

I just looked at that nameberry sight after seeing this post and realized that nearly ever name I like is in the top 150 or so... I'm surprised! I don't spend much time around little kids, so I am pretty oblivious to the current trends (well maybe that's untrue - I do read about 50 facebook birth announcements per week). Maybe if I wait a little longer some of my favs will plummet in the rankings! I do weirdly get a little annoyed when one of my friends ends up naming their baby one of my "top" names. I guess it shouldn't bother me, since apparently MANY other people choose these names too!

[diggitydot]

I never paid any attention to those lists until my sister pointed out that all of our kids' names became wildly popular about 5 years after they were born.

[Vanquisher]

Other unsolicited naming advice:

Do not name your kids something that you have no intention of calling them! DH and his brother are both named after their uncles. Neither boy was going to be called those names. DH's brother, Sean Michael, is named after his uncle Michael. His first name is unique in the family, though, to him. Chad is named after his uncle David. Chad is actually David Chad. He has never gone by David. It is a GIANT PITA. If we knew then, what we know now, when we got married, dh would have changed his name to Chad David. MIL thought that the two d's together sounded bad. Ummmm, how often do people even use middle names? Well, OFTEN if it's the freaking name you go by. It's ridiculous, and I can't even possibly tell you what a pain it is. Every freaking thing is a question of which name. D. Chad, David, Chad, David Chad, David C.? Beyond stupid for a stupid reason.

[JDAZ11]

Other unsolicited naming advice:

Do not name your kids something that you have no intention of calling them! DH and his brother are both named after their uncles. Neither boy was going to be called those names. DH's brother, Sean Michael, is named after his uncle Michael. His first name is unique in the family, though, to him. Chad is named after his uncle David. Chad is actually David Chad. He has never gone by David. It is a GIANT PITA. If we knew then, what we know now, when we got married, dh would have changed his name to Chad David. MIL thought that the two d's together sounded bad. Ummmm, how often do people even use middle names? Well, OFTEN if it's the freaking name you go by. It's ridiculous, and I can't even possibly tell you what a pain it is. Every freaking thing is a question of which name. D. Chad, David, Chad, David Chad, David C.? Beyond stupid for a stupid reason.

I grew up with a Jack that had no idea his name was actually John (at least on some documentation - I believe it was his social security card). Apparently there was some issue with the catholic church they belonged to refusing to baptize him unless he had a saints name (I dont remember the exact details), so his parents changed some things to John. Anyhow, the kid had no idea that John was on any official documentation and so filled out the name section of SATs as if his name was Jack. He apparently did amazingly well, but then there was some huge issue with them validating the score. I wish I remembered the specifics - he ended up at an Ivy, so apparently they worked it all out. So I guess if you don't take the above advice... it's also a good idea for your kid to actually know what their legal name is, lol!

[MissCrabette]

Other unsolicited naming advice:

Do not name your kids something that you have no intention of calling them! DH and his brother are both named after their uncles. Neither boy was going to be called those names. DH's brother, Sean Michael, is named after his uncle Michael. His first name is unique in the family, though, to him. Chad is named after his uncle David. Chad is actually David Chad. He has never gone by David. It is a GIANT PITA. If we knew then, what we know now, when we got married, dh would have changed his name to Chad David. MIL thought that the two d's together sounded bad. Ummmm, how often do people even use middle names? Well, OFTEN if it's the freaking name you go by. It's ridiculous, and I can't even possibly tell you what a pain it is. Every freaking thing is a question of which name. D. Chad, David, Chad, David Chad, David C.? Beyond stupid for a stupid reason.

Oh, God, YES! This is me, and it's made everything so damn confusing for everyone. It's like I have an official name, and then a secret name just for those who know me. Often times I have to think about which name to use depending on the situation. On the phone with a bank, for example, I use my first name. With my insurance agent? I'd normally use my first name, but do I really want her to address me that way time and time again? Probably not, so off I go with my explanation about how she should call me something else. I can't tell you how many times I've had people ask me, "Who's X?" Well, funny you should ask. That's also me.

[diggitydot]

My cousin's name is Michael Scott. We, his family, have always called him Scott because his dad's name is also Michael. Now that Scott is in the military, all of his friends and wife (also from the military) call him Mike. It's weird. Every time his wife starts talking about Mike, I think she's talking about older Mike, not cousin Scott.

[SuzySunshine]

When my grandparents died last year the person going through all of their stuff found my youngest uncle's birth certificate (they had 10 kids), his name was John or Jack or something like that on the certificate - know what we've always known him as and called him? Danny! His middle name is not Danny or Daniel! I'll have to ask my dad, I never did hear what the outcome of all of that was.

[TulipsAndSunscreen]

Other unsolicited naming advice:

Do not name your kids something that you have no intention of calling them! DH and his brother are both named after their uncles. Neither boy was going to be called those names. DH's brother, Sean Michael, is named after his uncle Michael. His first name is unique in the family, though, to him. Chad is named after his uncle David. Chad is actually David Chad. He has never gone by David. It is a GIANT PITA. If we knew then, what we know now, when we got married, dh would have changed his name to Chad David. MIL thought that the two d's together sounded bad. Ummmm, how often do people even use middle names? Well, OFTEN if it's the freaking name you go by. It's ridiculous, and I can't even possibly tell you what a pain it is. Every freaking thing is a question of which name. D. Chad, David, Chad, David Chad, David C.? Beyond stupid for a stupid reason.

If we have a boy, we're totally doing this to him. He'll go by his middle name. DH's sister does it and hasn't minded it at all. She says you just have to follow the same pattern every time. She's always K. Rose [Last Name] but goes by Rose. We have to keep the initials for family reasons but we vastly prefer the middle name we've chosen.

[niener]

One of DS' classmates' mom does this. Her son's name is Benjamin and she becomes irrationally livid when someone calls him Ben. "I named him BenJAMIN! Not Ben!"

Whatever, Crazy Name-Nazi Lady. No one gives a shit.

This was my mom. "If I wanted her to be called _____, I would have NAMED her _____!!" Of course over 50% of people I know now call me that.

[Vanquisher]

If we have a boy, we're totally doing this to him. He'll go by his middle name. DH's sister does it and hasn't minded it at all. She says you just have to follow the same pattern every time. She's always K. Rose [Last Name] but goes by Rose. We have to keep the initials for family reasons but we vastly prefer the middle name we've chosen.

Don't do it!!!!! Really. It's worse than you think.

[MDPhDWife]

If we have a boy, we're totally doing this to him. He'll go by his middle name. DH's sister does it and hasn't minded it at all. She says you just have to follow the same pattern every time. She's always K. Rose [Last Name] but goes by Rose. We have to keep the initials for family reasons but we vastly prefer the middle name we've chosen.

We did this with Gracie. We always preferred the name Gracie over Gabriella, but Gracie Gabriella doesn't flow so we named her Gabriella Grace, but always called her Gracie. Yes, very confusing! I sometimes regret it, but it's rarely an issue. It actually came in handy this year when there was another Gabriella in her class this year as well as a Graciela, so she just continues to go by Gracie.

I looked up my name because growing up I never thought it was common and never ran into anyone with my same name. Turns out it was # 248 the year I was born. Weirdly, both my first and current husband have a niece with m my name though. Still not a big deal since I've always been called Charly as a nickname.

[Phoebe]

We have friends with four boys. The dad prefers very formal names like Ezekiel Barron aka Zeke and Charles Jacob aka Jake. The dad is Charles Todd and goes by Todd. My BiL has kids with all nicknames Victoria-Tori, Alaina-Allie, Zachary-Zeke and Joseph- Joe. They have never gone by their given names.

I think it is a little easier in schools now because I have noticed on most school forms ask for the given name and what the child goes by on another line. I agree that if parents are so adamant about what their kids are called them don't name them something that can be shortened or let the kid decide.

[Vanquisher]

No, seriously. Don't. It wasn't that big of a deal when DH was young. As a physician, however, it's a huge, huge deal. I don't think I can possible convey how much of a pain it is. Every little thing is a huge deal. It's not as easy as always being D. Chad. It's really, really not. DH wasn't bothered by it much when he was young, but because of the "official" way things are done in medicine with degrees, credentialing, insurances, etc., it's not THAT easy. DH hates it now, but it's too late. He has to deal with this EVERY day. Really. I'm trying to help your future kids. It won't affect you, but, when they get pissed off about it in adulthood, remember I told you so.

[MissCrabette]

If we have a boy, we're totally doing this to him. He'll go by his middle name. DH's sister does it and hasn't minded it at all. She says you just have to follow the same pattern every time. She's always K. Rose [Last Name] but goes by Rose. We have to keep the initials for family reasons but we vastly prefer the middle name we've chosen.

T+S, just as one example, changing my address with the USPS was... um, interesting. I had to think of all the name combinations I had, especially since I was still getting mail in my maiden name. You think it's easy and that you follow the same pattern, but it can also spiral out of control. You can't always keep your business and personal lives separate.

Your DH's sister seems to have found a good system, but that's a very mature way of approaching it. Can you picture a young kid in school being questioned by his or her teacher about the full name? Maybe some kids will stand their ground about how they want to be addressed, but some will not. Maybe I had some asshole teachers, but some told me that my parents gave me a first name for a reason and refused to call me by my middle name. I know it's a silly thing, but I was shy, and it caused me some anxiety every time I was faced with having to explain it to yet another adult. In the end I just gave up.

[Thirteen]

Eh, I sound like a pot-stir here, but I don't like the assumed nickname for my kid.
In fact, I almost did not name him the name we chose because I knew people would shorten it. I'm not an ass about it when people do shorten his name, but I also do not refer to him as "nickname."
He has his own nickname that we gave him while he was in-utero, and that's the one I use all the time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk