How did you pick your baby’s name?
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Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=24665
Printed Date: 10 September 2025 at 10:09pm
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Topic: How did you pick your baby’s name?
Posted By: Maya
Subject: How did you pick your baby’s name?
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 12:52pm
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I'm updating our baby names section and I'd love to include some tips on how you chose your baby's name. So how did you pick it? Did you name your baby before they were born, or wait to see which name 'fit' best after he or she was born? -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Replies:
Posted By: myfullhouse
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 1:01pm
 I had a boys and girls name picked about 10yrs ago, before kids were even a twinkle in DH (back then BF) and my eyes!
If I remember correctly I stuck with the original boys name: Jack (which I just liked but was also what my mat. grandfather was called) Antony (DH's name) Ferdinand (my Dad's middle name). DH and I agreed on this name before Jack was born. The girl's name changed a bit but luckily we had a boy and didn't have to leave a girl nameless while we decided. With this baby I have pretty much decided on a boys name, not sure about the girls name yet. Again the 2 middle names are family names. DH doesn't want to discuss it yet so I might just decide  ------------- Lindsey 
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Posted By: kebakat
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 1:38pm
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DH and I each wrote down up to 10 names that we liked for a boy and then put them in a hat and picked each one out and watched for inital reactions. Any that either of us immediately disliked we gave to the dog to tear up lol.. we ended up with a shortlist of 3 names. It was cool because we had both chosen a couple of the same names. Then we waited until he was here before we decided on the actual name from our shortlist.
We'll do it again for this one once we know the sex :) |
Posted By: Shezamumof3
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 1:48pm
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We searched the net for names that we liked and then we did a list, then matched them up with the middle name we chose and we would read them back over and over again until one of them stuck and we liked it!
So, Caden Alexander Raynes it was! and it suits him to a T! ------------- |
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 2:12pm
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DH and I both agreed easily on a boys name, so of course we had a girl! We had a shortlist of about 10, then gradually cut that down to 2 or 3. We did wait to see what the baby looked like before telling everyone what name we had picked.....funny, because I had always envisaged 'Natalie' as being a dark-haired thing, and that's exactly how she came out! We did um and ah over the middle name to make sure the names ran together ok, and the initials didn't make any bad words! For a couple of months during the pregnancy, Natalie was actually called another girls name, but it just didn't stick!
I always thought that babies would grow into their names, rather than the other way around, but I now think that some can arrive already suiting a name, and sometimes it is best to meet them first before picking! -------------  
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 2:46pm
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We picked our top 3 names and then waited until he came out to see which one would suit him best. I think that Oliver was our favourite, so it was lucky that it seemed to suit him. His middle name is a family name, we had always wanted to use it, but decided to use it as a middle name in the end, as there were too many boys with it as a first name. If / When we have number 2 and if it is a girl - we will have a whole lot of challenges - I like really unusual names and DH likes quite plain names!!! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kabe
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 3:31pm
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We both came up with a list each, then swapped them and deleted the names we each didn't like. We then narrowed it down to a couple of names and chose one once we saw her. The middle name is my deceased MIL's first name. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 3:32pm
Kelly did a thread on this not too long ago - might have been while you were computerless Emma 
http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23279 - here tis ------------- 
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: my2angels
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 7:32pm
| Kelly (caitlynsmygirl) from Oh baby gave me Addisons name and hubby and I picked Kobes. He would have been that boy or girl just spelt different and with both names we knew as soon as we heard them. I had both names before they were born. |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 8:44pm
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we read through a baby name book - Lew wrote the ones he liked, i wrote the ones I liked. we swapped lists and crossed the other's list out. all the while saying things like "are you seriuos?" at the time. we then had about five girls names and two boys names.
we then read credits on tv shows and looked at those. About six months in we had names. And then we watched the Blues Brothers and both said "Jake!". that was it. With Taine we "knew" it was a girl, so hauled out the last girl list. and then didn't like them. Lewis suggested Leah and i said no. then said okay. Then we thought we better have a boy's name Just in case. I think the rugby world cup might have been on? and we all bitched about Taine randall - and voila! we had Taine. what was not helpful: the Olympics was on and gf sapphira sent me russian gymnast names constanlty - Sventlanka anyone? |
Posted By: Kellz
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 8:45pm
| I searched countless sites and name books, I would say out loud to DH the ones I liked, and so would he. I read "Isla" and thought"Oh I love that", said the name to DH and he had the same reaction, so we decided on the spot. Named her a few months before she was born but told no-one til she was born. |
Posted By: Chickoin
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 8:56pm
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We had boys names picked out but we could never agree on a girls' name. We knew we wanted Nena as a middle name (my lovely grandmother's name) but we didn't decide on a first name until I was overdue. I was just lying on the bed in the nursery gazing at the bassinette when the name Jody came to me. I texted DH and he loved it!
Our lovely Jody was born a few days later so no one had a chance to know the latest name idea until after she was named so no one could say it was awful! -------------   
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Posted By: Daizy
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 8:56pm
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Keira's name just came to us one night while watching Pirates of the Carribean - ha! Both DH and I loved the name and it was easy. We told a few people before she was born we liked the name but as we wernt entirely sure of the sex we kept it pretty quiet. When she was born it fit her perfectly and that was that.
I guess with Maddi we were hoping the same thing would happen.... nothing. We eventually decided to try the boring way of writing lists and lists and lists of names we (I) liked. We just could not agree on a name, until one day came out and said he quite like Maddi (a name he had already crossed off the list) I have to admit it wasn't top of my list but very quickly she grew into it. We began referring to the baby in my tummy by name at about 6 months so most people figured it out. Deciding whether it was short for Madison or Madelyn happened very last minute, and dont get me started in the spelling....we still argue on that one 
I love the fact that she already had a name when she was born, it felt like we already knew her pretty well. And it was great for Keira getting used to the fact I was actually having a real baby. ------------- 
 
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Posted By: tishy
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 9:49pm
After we got a BFP, and before we had the 12 week scan , DH and I casually agreed on our fav boy and girl names. Once we found out it was twins we thought ' as long as it's one of each we're sorted' 
20 week scan showed 2 girls so we (I) had to think up of names to go with the girls name we'd already picked. DH didn't really want to discuss it too much until closer to d-day so I would randomly throw names at him every so often. Our scope was limited though as we wanted to use Irish names. We pretty much had it down to 3 names and it was over coffee (him coffee, me nothing) the morning of the c-section that we committed to 2 girls names (neither were the original name). We already had an interpretation of the girls personalities and we matched those to the names we thought suited them best. And I have to say the names match them perfectly. 
ETA: Second names, Old Irish tradition, first born daughter/son after paternal grandmother/grandfather, second born daughter/son after maternal grandmother/grandfather, third born after parents. Second names were decided on long before the first names
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Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 19 February 2009 at 10:39pm
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Thomas is DH's middle name and there are a LOT in his family (one in just about every generation). It is also Tom's great great grandfathers first name. Jack was my Dad's middle name and TJ are initials that go back with all the Thomases in DH's family.
James was my Pops name and I have always liked the possibility of Jamie (but I think we will either stick to James or go with Jimmy). Jimmy was one of DH's uncles so that ties in on his side too. DH thinks he is named after his uncle...but we all know better
Guess we did the middle names back to front Tishy. Maternal grandparents then Paternal grandparent.
For a girl we would have had my Nana's first name and DH's mothers middle name (so got the middle name order right there).
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Posted By: pepsi
Date Posted: 20 February 2009 at 9:52am
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I watch too much tv and got both girls names from there..
My first born was named from years of watching "Whose the boss?" and always liking Alyssa Milano's name. Kayla was decided while watching an episode of "Life of Ryan"..this was the name of his girlfriend. Both were deided before they were born.. |
Posted By: .Mel
Date Posted: 20 February 2009 at 10:52am
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I didn't have to worry about discussing names with Conor's father as he was out of the picture.
I used to work with a guy who's surname was Connor. I also loved The Highlander movie (Conor McLeod). I didn't like the spelling with 2 N's so I did some research and found the spelling with one n. My Grandmother died when I was pregnant with Conor, so in her honour I decided to use my late grandfather's middle name Alexander. For awhile Nyah was Emily, then she was Zoe. We were watching Mission Impossible 2 and Thandie Newtons character was Nyah and I said to DH that I really liked that name, so she was Nyah from about 7mths... we couldn't decide on a middle name though, she was Nyah Grace, Nyah Emily and finally Nyah Zoe. With Cooper he was Nixon for ages, then I came up with the name Cooper Wade (yes from the league players Cooper Cronk and Wade McKinnon). I broached the name with DH halfheartedly thinking he wouldn't like it.. and when Cooper was born, and the mw asked what we were going to call him, DH told her Cooper Wade, so I was stoked! ------------- Mr Mellow (16) Miss Attitude (8) Destructa Kid (3) 
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Posted By: MonicaMouse
Date Posted: 20 February 2009 at 11:44am
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We definatley chose names back to front. For a long time I said that if I had a son and was going to bring a family name thru then Samuel would be that name. (Samuel is my Grandfathers middle name, and was my great-grandfathers middle name)DH wasn't convinced, but agreed to it as a middle name. For a long time it looked like bubs was going to be Matthew Samuel, until SH got name hunting, and polled another forum we belong to using Nathan as his main choice - a name I wasn't keen on. About 3 weeks out from due date we both independentaly came up with the name Blair. In theatre after delivery they asked if we had a name picked out, as Blair was the only one we agreeed on, he became Blair, but decided that he couldn't have the initals BS (or BSC) so he got the Nathan in there as a first middle name too.
As it turned out, DH's grandfather (or great grandfather was named Samuel John, and my grandfather is John Samuel, so it's nice that our boy has Samuel in there. As for this bubs, we've only had one round of name eliminations. I keep going back to one particular name, but when I said it aloud yesterday in front of Blair I got a heavy shake of the head NO!------------- 
Blair 15/10/2007 Daniel 30/07/2009 |
Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 20 February 2009 at 4:48pm
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Mostly on what sounds nice, but I like to research name meanings and get ones that I feel work together. Also, if the name means something which is stupid (IMO) then I cross it right off the list! ------------- |
Posted By: weegee
Date Posted: 20 February 2009 at 5:20pm
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I know what you mean busymum! I have always hated the fact that Rachael means "ewe"! I mean really! (Guess that's why I'm not very sheep-like, lol) -------------
Mum to JJ, 4 July 2008 & Addie, 28 July 2010 |
Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 20 February 2009 at 10:00pm
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We got so sick of sitting there with the name book and talking about names that I made up a chart and put it on the fridge. It had 5 columns, one for boys first names, boys second names, girls first names and girls second names, and a no way, not ever, over my dead body column. We would use post-its and put names in the appropriate column and then if DH or I didn't like it, it got moved to either the second name column (if you could live with it but not for a first name) or into the no way column. The most popular name would always be at the top of the list. With Dominic we didn't know what his gender was so we came up with two boys names and two girls names and decided to choose once we had met him. His middle name was always going to be Antony, my compromise to DH as he really loved the name and I didn't. He came out looking like a Dominic. With Isobelle we knew she was a girl and so just picked out a few girls names. The middle name was always going to be Victoria, same reason as for Dominic's middle name.
We still meant a lot of time discussing names as it was important to us that the name had a special meaning as well but we weren't up late at night glaring at the name book and arguing. |
Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 20 February 2009 at 10:48pm
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No chart for us - I got to come up with the names, and DH would say if he liked them or not. Mostly he liked them.
I had a few rules: I wanted a name that most people know how to spell; it had to be shortish (I just prefer short names); not in the top 50 NZ baby names (although it turns out it was France's number 1); it had to have a good meaning; and I do like old-fashioned names. I went a bit obsessive over this, the closer it came to the birth (and we still hadn't decided - so the pressure was on!) - I pored over internet sites like http://www.nymbler.com/ - Nymbler for suggestions, and http://www.babynamewizard.com/voyager - Name Voyager to find names that were popular in the old days and are trending upwards again - but in the end we went back to a name that had popped into my head when I wasn't pregnant or intentionally thinking about baby names. People always ask me why 'Clara' and I'm not sure - I think it's from literature, probably from reading Heidi, or maybe the Nutcracker, but I just liked it. Now I keep a list of favourite names for baby number two - cos I think the best time to find a name is when you're not specifically looking
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Posted By: scribe
Date Posted: 20 February 2009 at 10:52pm
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Pepsi, my niece's name was chosen from 'Who's the Boss?' too. Except they already had a child's name beginning with A in the family so it's 'Elyssa' instead
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Posted By: Bumble
Date Posted: 21 February 2009 at 9:14pm
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When I found out I was pregnant with Ethan, I scoured through countless baby name books. We hadn't even found out the sex... when the only name that I liked was Ethan. I didn't even go into the scan with a female name in mind. It was pleasing to see that my instinct was right!
I remember ringing my SIL proudly exclaiming "we're having an Ethan!!!" With Micah, I couldn't find a name that I liked. I had picked out a girl's name early on (Chloe) but I was stuck trying to find a boys name. I didn't have that strong feeling that I had last time around. DH and I ended up looking through the Bible one evening searching for inspiration. Again, Micah was the only name that I liked! And now we have a Micah! |
Posted By: Millie1976
Date Posted: 22 February 2009 at 3:32pm
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We chose the name Olivier for our first son as I really liked it as we had a family friend with the same name and thought it would suit our boy.
While I was pregnant with our second child we advertised for a tradesperson to come and do some painting for us for one of our rental properties and a guy that replieds name was "Sebastien" and he was French - I really liked the way he pronounced his name on the phone ha ha. I had also heard the name on TV as there is a famous rally car driver called Sebastien Loeb (sp?) so we decided to go with that name. We love both our boys names ------------- Sebastien 2 years old Olivier 3 3/4 years old |
Posted By: Flutterby
Date Posted: 23 February 2009 at 11:47am
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We had a list of boys and girls names that we added to everytime we heard one that we liked, before we got pregnant. But once we got preg and found out what we were having we would have a fav name each week. In the end we decided on a name that we liked and that has stuck. So he already has a name Cody Quinn and now we are just waiting for him to pop on out. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Aprilfools
Date Posted: 23 February 2009 at 4:37pm
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We had a special girls name picked out years ago and really struggled to come up with something just as special for a boy. We went through the dictionary and took the first letter off each word as this is how DH had come up with our girls name. Eventually I got to the word sharper and thought perfect. I checked there weren't too many Harper's around. I also looked at people's last names to see if any of those would suit. I'm so happy with his name though. When he was born there was no doubt in our minds, it was just nice to put a face to the name at last. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 23 February 2009 at 11:39pm
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DP and I both came up with Sirius on our own. I chose it as I am very into space and astronomy, Dh as he is a skipper on a deep sea fishing boat and can use the stars to navigate. ------------- 
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 24 February 2009 at 1:57pm
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Thanks ladies!
You can find the finished product http://www.ohbaby.co.nz/article.aspx?ContentID=2883 - here . ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: pomikiwi
Date Posted: 24 February 2009 at 5:12pm
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With DD we had 2 of each sex picked out then waited until she was born to decide.
With this one, we've got a few for each but nothing really as certain this time. ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
DD-Carys Amelia 17.03.06 |