re: How to choose a baby name

*LOL* I was shocked to realize Micah was a girls name. We plan on naming our child this. We love the name Micah and if we have a boy will name him this. His middle name is going to be James. I've never seen a girl with the name Micah (pronounced Mike-uh) and was surprised when somone told me I was naming our child a girls name. Micah I've always associated as a boys name. To me it's like naming a girl Michael with that spelling (but if it fits use it). Kathryn is my grandmothers name (though she spelled it Katherine) and Alice is my mom in laws name. However we didn't like Alice as a name for our child so thought of Alise or Elise. We decided that Elise just looked better. I think unique spellings are great, but think there are some that go overboard and my brothers name is Shane Jerome. I do not see a problem with ethnic names. I also think that if the mom and dad love the name they should name their child what they love, but realize that sometimes kids are cruel with names no matter what the name. I had a friend named Jack and people always had to be mean and call him (a donkey to put it nicely) things that aren't nice. He was the opposite but they thought it was funny. Of course with names there are always those who are mean anyway. I think the overall thing is whether you like them. We all have our opinions, and some people think the name Kathryn is to old, but we love our picked names and would not change it because a few people think "it's an old name or a name is an associated gender". Everyone has their opinions. My brother was named after one of my moms best friends. No one makes fun of his name. I think names should show the persons individuality. Some people feel better naming their child a John or Luke. However, with that said, I know a person that named their child Shithead (pronounced shith thead). Now I would say that pushes it with the names. She would get in trouble because they thought she was joking. There are a few names (and I mean very few) that I would not name my child personally, but it's their child. She like the pronunciation but not the spelling so kept the name and changed the spelling legally. I have to say I do not blame her.




It's official. Our baby is a girl! Kathryn Elise it is.

i am half black and it is abolutely proven true that people with names like dejames marion and delatonka do NOT getting interviewed for college education requisite jobs. those resumes get thrown out. i am not saying a person should be able to name their kid ANYTHING they want, but if they thought a little farther than "oh, my child is going to have the most interesting name to everyone they meet" and think maybe about the struggles it will cause to give them an impossibly spelled name or ridiculous sounding name. i have a unique enough name, but it's based in reality. not a bunch of weird little sounds, or a wildly spelled version of georgia.
they have done lots of studies on the futures of brittneys, kayleees, and ambers and they are the same as delatonka, latreasEes, and destineiees. low income, low education!
someone said it hear earlier to think about giving your child the most possibilites. dr or artist or plumber. it is true that school kids are going to find a way to tease a child, but if the teacher is laughing too, you've got yourself to blame. i am not conservative at all, but the name should be a legacy for your child, not about YOU getting to express yourself finally. get a skectch pad or diary and leave your kid's name out of it.

Creativity is awesome, but my husband works as a 911 telecommunicator and he has run into some awful names. Example one: Female (fem-all-ee) as a first name because momma said "that's what her crib card said at the hospital, I thought they named her for me"!!! Example two: Shi-thead (shi-THead) as a first name. Who hated that kid enough to name them that!?!?!
Now, I'll admit I named my son Connor after the movie Highlander. My daughter's name is Anastasia and I just found out I'm pregnant again.

edea1976 wrote: Creativity is awesome, but my husband works as a 911 telecommunicator and he has run into some awful names. Example one: Female (fem-all-ee) as a first name because momma said "that's what her crib card said at the hospital, I thought they named her for me"!!! Example two: Shi-thead (shi-THead) as a first name. Who hated that kid enough to name them that!?!?!
Now, I'll admit I named my son Connor after the movie Highlander. My daughter's name is Anastasia and I just found out I'm pregnant again.

Nobody really knows people with those names.

Those are urban legends.

C.

My hubby and I went "old fashioned" with the names we chose. Our 6 year old is Krystina Rose and our soon to be will be Emilee Claire. The only thing we did was "tweak" the spelling of the first names. They are unique in look but easy to pronounce. My only "problem" with unique names is not the name itself, it's the parents or caregivers getting irritated if I can't pronounce it.

Quote: Nobody really knows people with those names.

Those are urban legends.
Actually carysehlwinn I went to school with someone named Shi-thead. I'm still in contact with him and he is currently in the process of a name change.

See, being a "Jessica", I love more unique names--I've always envied them. There were always at least five "Jessica"s in any given grade at school while I was growing up. I eventually stopped responding when someone yelled "Jessica" or "Jessie" in the hallway, because I just assumed they were talking to one of the more popular versions. Granted, my mom just took three very popular 80's names for my siblings and I--Christopher, Jessica, and Nichole. She thought she was being clever, with that little H in Nichole--turns out, that was the more popular way to spell it at the time--and my sister still has so many awards and certificates spelled incorrectly because of people not paying attention to that crazy little H--I think it really bothered her, like in elementary school, before she understood people just didn't look while typing/writing.

There's got to be some sort of balance. I won't name my child some crazy mix up of hyphens and syllables that's going to need a multi-lingual textbook to pronouce, but I want my child to feel at least a little unique. Names are really special to me and can really effect a child--I spent so much of my daydreaming as kid just wishing for different name--So I think you should take a long time to think about, discuss, and rethink each name. I also agree with the "you might change your mind when you meet your baby" statement... That's why there are those people who are always told "John? You don't look like a John, to me.. You look more like a Larry." or some such thing.

Oh, well. So long as your baby is happy, healthy, and well-loved, I guess it doesn't matter much what you name it--they can always change it later, if they hate it.  

Specs06 wrote: I agree with all those they're right on! One thing I'd like to add:

* giving your little girl a boy's name is a horrible thing to do.

I went to middle school with a girl named Jordann. And at the age of 13 she was flat as can be. Most girls developed something sometime in grade six or seven. But she was flat until sometime in high school, and was modestly endowed, which goes without saying. Anyway for at least two years everyone used to make fun of her and say "Gee, what's HE doing in here." When she came into the gym locker room. Not to mention other forms of teasing to do with her name and her body.
And also if they're larger boned too. A girl named Kendra, Ken for short, who was tall, muscular, and heavy. Used to get called "Ken my Man" needless to say she didn't really like it.

So think about it all you parents to be who think Addison (means Son of Adam) or Jackson (Son of Jack) are just the cutest names for your girls... You're wrong.
And icky made up names like Davilyn are just as bad UCK! Those types of names tell me the parents were so sure the baby was going to be a boy they started to write David on the birth certificate and then realised OMG no penis! Davi- ... ummm .... ummm what do we do now...? -lyn

Also not trying to make anyone too upset but a lot of those "African American" names are really out there. A rule of thumb is if you don't have to explain the spelling when you type it to an educated, litterate member of your family over the age of thirty-five you're good. But, there has been a study that these types of names make it harder for them to get a job latter in life. I guess I'm reinforcing the aformentioned "Is it a flexible name with possibilities in any line of work?" DeLaTonka Raya-Rae (huge exageration meant to be comical) might be a great model but most people probably wouldn't trust her alone in/cleaning their house or while they're on the operating table.

Spellings.... UGH spell it right!!! If later in elementary or middle school your child wants to spell their name different, let THEM. Don't do it for them from birth. It might not be their style. Not to mention it's a poor model for the English language and could cause some confusion. Ethnic spellings are okay if you're of THAT ethnicity. Say people of Eastern European decent could call their daughter Viktoria. Or Japanese may call their daughter Kimi,(really a Japanese name) instead of Kimberly. There's nothing worse than a misleading name. Or one that makes them sound like a moron ei: JezziKah for Jessica.

Pleasant, thoughtful, naming,

---------- Ash

Addison was my dads last name...lol, I could never think of it as a first name for a girl.
Want to hear something creepy? My dad died a few months before I got pregnant with my son Adam. I chose the name Adam before I knew of its relationship to the name Addison....one book said that "Addison was a common version of the name Adam"... Once I realized it, I felt creeped out, because I'm not religious or spiritual, but in a way I felt like my dad was with me....I dunno.

Ladies, CHILL OUT!pregnancy hormones are obviously getting to you! specs was only expressing her opinion which she is entitiled to do. Those were her views and you are totally shouting her down en mass. names are always a touchy subject as what one person loves, another might hate but thats what makes us all different. Now get a grip and see this forum for what it is; a bit of fun.

Hmm well my mum didn't do well with my name lol, she originally wanted to call me Holly but as my last name is Wood, she thought I'd get it ripped out of me foe being called Holly Wood, so she names me Rebecca instead.... Ugh yeah big mistake... My nickname as a result of this? Rebecca Woodpecker ... oooh the ryming..

Think before you name your kids, don't for something so outrageous everyone will take the piss, it might sound like a beautiful name to you but as someone stated kids can and will be cruel, and as it's not you who would have the name THINK about how you little girl/boy would be able to cope with the stupid childish comments thrown at them for it, also think how it will sound once they are an adult, Lola for a little girl is a gorgeous name... but once she hits 20-30 she'll hate you for it lol.

TWICEBLESSED - I can believe about your friend Shi-Thead... When I was in Secondry school (equivalent of highschool) I was in the same math class as a boy called Richard Head - everyone knows Dick is the shortend version of Richard and to be called Dick Head day in day out really got to him and he ended up having home tuition 'cause of the bullying, His mum obviously didn't realise kids would know Dick was another version, or was so ignorant to her childs needs she didn't once take into consideration how it might affect him once he came across the older meaner kids.

I cant believe some people can be so narrow minded my names Belinda i get sooo sick of the every say 5th person i meet haveing my name id rather be unique with my name i only wish my mum had at least varried the spelling to Belynda at least its a little different.....My kids names are
Destiney May girl ofcorse
Kodey John simple name with a different spelling
and Kaspa Edwin
i look at my kids and know they are unique and wont often come across another with the same name or at least the same spelling im pregnant and if its a girl it will b
Khandii Elizabeth after a relative names candice i dont care wat others have to say bout my kids names they were named with love!!!!!!



belle

i just wanted to say something about how people are saying you shouldnt change the spelling of a common name. well being German-American, i want my baby to have a german name and sometimes different cultures change the spellings of names to make it fit their language. For instance Bernard might be spelled Barnhard or Laura might be spelled Lorah. im just saying dont assume people are just changing the spelling b/c they want to, its sometimes more about heritage.

What is a good way to spell a name pronounced Bree-Ann. It's comming from the name Brianna, but I don't want to shorten it to Brian cuz you know ppl will say the boy name Brian? I thought of Breann and even BreeAnn? Oh please help!

Air wrote:

Specs06 wrote: I agree with all those they're right on! One thing I'd like to add:

* giving your little girl a boy's name is a horrible thing to do.

I went to middle school with a girl named Jordann. And at the age of 13 she was flat as can be. Most girls developed something sometime in grade six or seven. But she was flat until sometime in high school, and was modestly endowed, which goes without saying. Anyway for at least two years everyone used to make fun of her and say "Gee, what's HE doing in here." When she came into the gym locker room. Not to mention other forms of teasing to do with her name and her body.
And also if they're larger boned too. A girl named Kendra, Ken for short, who was tall, muscular, and heavy. Used to get called "Ken my Man" needless to say she didn't really like it.

So think about it all you parents to be who think Addison (means Son of Adam) or Jackson (Son of Jack) are just the cutest names for your girls... You're wrong.
And icky made up names like Davilyn are just as bad UCK! Those types of names tell me the parents were so sure the baby was going to be a boy they started to write David on the birth certificate and then realised OMG no penis! Davi- ... ummm .... ummm what do we do now...? -lyn

Also not trying to make anyone too upset but a lot of those "African American" names are really out there. A rule of thumb is if you don't have to explain the spelling when you type it to an educated, litterate member of your family over the age of thirty-five you're good. But, there has been a study that these types of names make it harder for them to get a job latter in life. I guess I'm reinforcing the aformentioned "Is it a flexible name with possibilities in any line of work?" DeLaTonka Raya-Rae (huge exageration meant to be comical) might be a great model but most people probably wouldn't trust her alone in/cleaning their house or while they're on the operating table.

Spellings.... UGH spell it right!!! If later in elementary or middle school your child wants to spell their name different, let THEM. Don't do it for them from birth. It might not be their style. Not to mention it's a poor model for the English language and could cause some confusion. Ethnic spellings are okay if you're of THAT ethnicity. Say people of Eastern European decent could call their daughter Viktoria. Or Japanese may call their daughter Kimi,(really a Japanese name) instead of Kimberly. There's nothing worse than a misleading name. Or one that makes them sound like a moron ei: JezziKah for Jessica.

Pleasant, thoughtful, naming,

---------- Ash

I have to DISAGREE!!!
Frankly I have to say this is only my opinion as much as what you said was only your opinion and people should see it ONLY as that.

So what your saying is... any femine name that can be shortened into a derivitive of a boys name like Samantha (sam), Kendall ( ken), Nicole (nic), Josphine (joey), AND unisex names like Aaron, Adrian, Alex, Bailey, Cameron, and Shawn
Just shouldn't be used because some kids at your school growing up got teased?
*NEWS FLASH*
Kids can be cruel even if your name is as simple as ann, amber, or even John.

People that name there kids unique names or find different ways to spell old ones. Are people being creative and different, which I was taught are important qualitys to have. If everything in this world was red and everyones name was Elizabeth and James what a boring world this would be!

As for African American names that is an ethnic thing and there own tradition of naming there children. WHO ARE YOU TOO JUDGE?!? Just because they dont name what you ancestors named there slaves its not ok. NO SORRY, YOUR NOT OK!

Your views on nameing children are one sided and arogant. I bet this is your first child. If you had already had a child and one in contact with other children you would know, It doesn't matter what your parents name you, kids will always find something to tease them about. I find that children with different name's make them stand out and do make them different but, we live in 2006 not 1906! It's important to be different, creative, imaginative, and anything else that makes you special, makes you who you are.

You sound like a fool! I pray you dont choose to instill such ignorance and judgemental falues in your child. For it will be the one that suffers in the end not, someone with a different name!

OHHH AND BY THE WAY......

ASH if ASHLEY IS YOUR NAME ( WHICH I'M GUESSING IT IS )
ASHLEY STARTED AS A BOY'S NAME BEFORE IT WAS EVER A GIRLS!!!!!!!

I totally agree with you. I was shaking my head the whole time I was reading her post. My suggestion was to be unique with the names and to do some different spellings. Like Ashley is a common name but there's different ways to spell it like Ashlee, Ashlie, Ashleigh. Or Michaela can now be spelled Mikayla. Makayla. And combining names is cool like Ashlyn, I like it. Or Brooklyn.

Another thing to think of is nick names. Like Peter that's just a no now. And Max, we called a boy Maxi pad in middle school. Actually in hs There was a boy named Pad short for Padrick.

And I named my son Matthew Jaiden, I spelled Jaiden with the I because I thought it was different and I liked how it made the long A sound.

The key is to be unique but not crazy.

expectingangel wrote: What is a good way to spell a name pronounced Bree-Ann. It's comming from the name Brianna, but I don't want to shorten it to Brian cuz you know ppl will say the boy name Brian? I thought of Breann and even BreeAnn? Oh please help!

Brianne
BriAnn