How/Why did you choose your babies name?

I have a colleague who is writing a story on baby names, and she's interested to know how/why people chose their babies names, and what resources they used (books, websites etc.)

So how did you choose your baby's name?

Samuel is named after Samuel Vimes the Watch Commander from the Terry Pratchett Discworld series of books.

The two/three latest books that have Samuel Vimes in them talk about how he has a son called Samuel.

These books are a particular favourite of mine and DPs, and we really like the name so that's his name!

Also, Sam turned into a kneeling breech and when I had a scan at 38 weeks it showed his hands up by his face in a praying position. It turns out Samuel means 'Heard by god' and I really think it's something special.

Oh Oh I have more to add! Sams middle name is Lee, which is my fathers first name and my mothers middle name. They are divorced so I thought it would be a nice way of including them both.

Edited by neeandsam

Xanthe Dawn - was named after Xanthe White, the nz gardener who at the time was on the tv show groundforce. she was blonde and according to dh "hot" so he agreed. i thought she was the type of woman i want my girl to be - strong, feminine and making a name for herself. Dawn is a family name that me, my mum, and her mum all have, so is pretty special.

Jordis Lilly - was named after Jordis Unga from the tv show rockstar inxs (see the pattern here????) when dh and i were on our honeymoon we talked about baby names and came up with jordis as our girl name. we never got round to a boy name. Jordis Unga is also a woman i would like my girl to be like - strong, funky and fearless. and i decided on lilly as it goes beautifully with jordis and is also a nickname of mine, so she has something from me too.

Both times i knew what my girls names would be, i had picked xanthe years before i had a baby. i had also picked my boys name (HAHA from a MOVIE character!) but as we are stopping i wont get to use it. maybe i should use it on a dog

DW and I made lists. We went through the name book we have (The Name Book by Dorothy Astoria) and we made a separate list each. We didnt look at each other's list. But choosing each kids' names have been different processes each time.

DW and I believe in God, and so put a lot of stock in Him supplying us a name. (God of the Bible, Jesus His Son etc...) We also put a lot of stock on the meanings of names. I know what my ones mean and for me it's been a blessing in my life. I won't speak for DW but I think she feels the same.

1st:      Hannah                                                         Abigail
Gracious/Compassionate,        My Father rejoices/Cherished of God.
We did our list thing. One night I sat bolt upright in the middle of the night from a dead sleep and said "Hannah Abigail" then feel back asleep. I told DW what had happened (or something...she might have told me... can't remember all that well. I DO remember sitting bolt upright.) We checked and found that Hannah, and Abigail was on both our lists. Then we found out what they meant. We liked the meanings so it stuck.

2nd:    Briona                                Stacey                                      Ruth
Mighty/God's Power   Resurrection/Strengthened   Companion/Faithful

DW had a feeling that bub would be strong and faithful. so this time, (and I can never remember who did what at this stage) So we did the list thing again. I searched for the names that meant those and DW searched for the names based on if it 'tasted' right or fit the baby. (or vice-versa, I'll ask DW to correct me) I was wanting an unsual name like Oni (based off one of my fav playstation games.) DW was having NONE OF THAT THANK YOU VERY MUCH! We compared lists again, and this time they were very different. We combined our lists to a single list of 'names on both lists' All three names were on both lists so that was interesting. We chose first name. then second. then DW pointed out that bub's initials spells B.R.A. She was adamant that we put another name in there. I didn't see the problem with the first spelling. but she won .... So we put Stacey in there as well, since it was on both lists and kinda meant strength. aaaahhh fun.

3rd:        Krystiana                                 Elise
Follower of Christ/Joyful     Oath of God/Dedicated

DW felt that bub would be a "bringer of Joy" This time we did the list thing but it was reversed. Whoever did the feeling/tastes right last time, swapped into the meaning this time and vice-versa.

Actually after saying all that, I think we used a different name book because the some of the meanings aren't the same as what I remember them meaning when we chose the names. I'll ask DW to confirm all this stuff. But that's basically (or not) our process for getting names. It's usually based on the feeling of what this child will be (and that is usually from DW.) We pick about an even number for boys and girls put it on a list and compare.

Interestingly, I don't think we planned it but all our girls first names so far, end in "a" at the end. And on a final side note, ALL the girls have lived up to their names. Hannah is very gracious, graceful and compassionate. She's very kind and gentle. Briona is quite strong willed (dear God what have we done?!?! but shes very loyal too. I've personally seen God work through her life, and I know "God's mighty power" is at work in her every day. She could've easily died at birth. We had to have an emergency Ceasarean ( i think it was Briona, I'll ask DW to confirm.)

Krys's probably a bit too young to see her personality come through, but she's certainly brought me joy.)

Edited by Chovynz

We choose Cooper after hearing it on a movie and deciding that it was a good "University name"! (I have high hopes for my future son!)

With "Coop" as the nick name.

And we are big NRL fans, and there is a prominant player by DH and I like, Cooper Kronk. So now everytime we hear it it cements the name a bit more.

Jake was named after jake on the Blues Brothers. Was going to be Jake Elwood, but we changed our minds. His middle name is walter which is from my deceased grandfather.

taine is from Taine randell - neither of us huge fans but like the name and his middle name is Jason, from Lewis' best mate

we went through loads of baby books, and while I was preggers with Jake the olympics were on, so my gf was constantly sending "helpful suggestions"

If b3 is a girl (whenever we decide to do a b3) we'll probably all her Leah Mei (mei is from the bnestest kids movie in the world - My neighbour Totoro), and if a boy, perhaps Luke or Lucas (NOT from home and away -stupid programme stealing my baby names)

Pete chose Alan I did not know what his name was to be till he was born.  To be honest did not really like it to start with, but grew on me it  is Pete Grandfather's name his middle name is william pete Dad middle name and pete little bro middle name.  Michael I chose  And Mikey Middle name is Joab pete little bro's first name and Michael is pete's Dad'd first name.  Wow that sound's confussing now.  For our next baby if it is a boy it will be Henry John after my Dad.  and a girl will be Elizabeth Karen.  Elizabeth is after our M/W and we love the name and Karen is Pete's mum's middle name.

Brae- is Scottish, meaning Hill or Famous Warrior. Chosen b/c my stomach was the size of a hill, we lived on a hill & the meaning of the town name, near where we lived is "the narrowing of the hills" Random aye?
WE choose Yule as his Second name because of Christmas time, being born xmas eve & it was his great grandmothers(dec.) maiden name.

Kalyx- is a bit more unusual & am not to sure of the origin but thinking its Scottish or more possibly Greek, meaning- part of a flower feminine i know- but meh!!!My natures treasure or gift!! Flowers will start to bloom from now!!
Angelo Is from Angela, my Mother who passed away this time last year.

We used the list method for the first names, where i composed a list of 5 names for DP to choose from. And had them picked just after 20wks, when we knew the sex
Second names were in memory of relatives that recently passed.
I looked in lots of baby name books & Internet.

I chose Christopher when I was a little girl and my grandmother told me the story of St Christopher. I loved the story so much and told everyone that I was going to name my first son Christopher. His second name is George and it is a tradition in my dad's family that the first born son of the first borns second name is George. It's been going for generations in my dad's family.

Noah was the first name that DH and I both agreed on for a son. We looked at the meaning and really liked it (Hebrew for Peaceful) so went with it. Alexander is after hubbys grandfather.

I chose Alyssa because it's a name I always loved back from years of watching "whose the boss?" and thinking Alyssa Milano was so cool and pretty!!

Middle name Cherie was picked out from a baby book as we were trying to find a name that flowed well with Alyssa as the first name...