When is a baby's name chosen in your culture?
By eden32
@eden32 (3973)
United States
August 11, 2007 11:11pm CST
I'm 29 weeks along with my fourth child. The other day something of a minor panic attack was started when I realize I have just over 10 weeks to go, and we haven't chosen a girl name yet. We have a boy name chosen that is more or less a definite; although occasionally we consider other boy names. But not a single girl suggestion has been agreed to after considering dozens.
I live in the US by the way, and I think it's pretty much the norm to have a name chosen long before the baby is due. I know with my other children, their names were picked very early- my daughter's was agreed to a couple years before she was even conceived.
My midwife, who's also a good friend of mine, helped me to relax & assured me the name would come to me. She also reminded me that many cultures do not chose names until after the baby is born. I guess I see some logic in that even though I can't imagine not calling your child by his/her name immediately after birth.
Where are you from and when are baby names usually chosen in your culture? Is there a reason for the delay if there is a delay? Is there a special observation or celebration when the name is picked and announced?
4 people like this
9 responses
@sunnyb73 (27)
• India
12 Aug 07
Hai, Iam from India. in our culture, we choose our baby's name only after it is born.We give him his name on 21st day from his birth date. It is so, because we note down the time of the birth,date of birth and place of birth of the child and a horoscope is made, the first letter of the baby is taken according to his horoscope, then we start searching for the name starting with the given first letter. But now a days it has become simply a ritual. we give him birth name according to the horoscope, but we can also give him another name, of our choice and can call him by it. thanks for shoeing interest in different cultures of the world.
2 people like this
@Far525 (37)
• China
12 Aug 07
I'm a Chinese girl.I agree with your midwife's idea. It is very common for Chinese people to pick a baby's name after it was born.At the same time, it is very important to choose the baby's name.His or her name will influence his or her future, in our traditional idea.In most cases, babies' names will be announced before their first birthday.
@Gemmygirl1 (2867)
• Australia
12 Aug 07
Here in Oz it just kinda happens when it happens i think :)
My partner & i had already chosen a girl's & boy's name WELL before we even conceived with our first, so we were confident that we'd use it even after how-ever many years.
I think some people wait until after the baby arived before deciding, some people might see their baby & things it looks like a definite 'Tom' or 'Sarah' - i think it just all depends on the person.
Us Australians are just very laid back, you decide on something you like & stick with it or you wait & see if the baby looks like the name you've picked out, if not, then you can pick one that you think suits!
I don't think it really matters though, just as long as it isn't too long after the baby is born, that you give him/her a name!
@raychill (6525)
• United States
12 Aug 07
Well I'm also from the U.S I think sometimes the name won't come to you until you see the baby for the first time.
My boss had a baby girl and had a name picked out for her. But once she saw her changed the name because she looked so much like her husbands family that she named the girl after her husbands mother. It fit much better than the other name.
Some people have baby names picked out before they even have the child. My grandmother wanted a boy named Daniel and a girl named Patricia. She had 4 boys before finally get her girl and through all that time she held on to the name Patricia that when she finally had her... she was still named Patricia, the name she'd picked out for a daughter at least 10 years prior.
I think it's perfectly ok if you don't have a name yet. It'll come to you when you need it!
2 people like this
@nikkiwith (1074)
• Australia
12 Aug 07
My daughter's name is Audrey Willow. Audrey means "noble strength" and Willow means "Willow Tree". Other girls names i like are; Anna Belle, Cleo, Gracie, Lolita, Elisabeth, and Holly. My name is Nicole and my sister is Natalie Sue, the rest of the females in my family are; Karin, Mardi, Betty, Reba, Noelene, Kelly, Kilani, Kiara, Isobella, Brody, Brittany, Cloe and Natasha. I've always liked the old fashioned names, they have more history and strength. Good luck with your 4th!
2 people like this
@maildumpster (3815)
• United States
16 Aug 07
Well I'm in the states and I think it really varies. I varied just in my timing for my kids.
My first was 2 days old by the time she got a name. Me and ex hubby couldn't agree to anything.
The second me and hubby picked boy and girl names almost from the beginning. My hubby wanted his child to have initials that would spell a word - for top scores in video games LOL!
The third we had a first name for a boy as soon as we found out we were having one. The middle name didn't come until after birth at the suggestion of a friend. Then again it may have been chosen before his birth but he was 3 months early so that kind of changed things.
1 person likes this
@agnescav (566)
• United States
12 Aug 07
One of my daughters, we had a name picked out for weeks, but changed it the day before she was born. there is no hurry. this may be a child you need to see to name.
i read about a woman whose nameis Robin. robin is six feet tall and the name does not fit her at all.
Relax.
1 person likes this
@limeng371 (32)
• China
12 Aug 07
Hi,you have a wonderful family.I am from China.In our country we choose the name of the baby before its born.China has the largest population in the world.So the goverment limits the number of baby.Evey family should only have one baby.If you have 2 bibies that you broke the law.So I think you have a happy family.You know how I wish to have my 2nd baby.
1 person likes this
