What's in a name?
Wednesday 29th of January 2014 | Category: Opinion | Written by: Jocelyn ReadingNaming your child is a privilege. It's exciting, it's important and it's kind of a big deal!
We had a little list of names we liked during each of my pregnancies, and I liked flicking through my name book, the husband taking inspiration from reading the credits at the end of TV shows - it was fun. We really struggled with a girls name, as we wanted something a little bit different, but not overly odd - my name's a little unusual and it can get old spelling it out everywhere I go! And then I had that lightning bolt moment when it came to me and I loved it. I shared it with the husband and he loved it. Sorted. And so she arrived and was duly given that name.
It was a little different with my son, as we'd had a boy's name that we'd always wanted, and then we went off it when I was around 6 months pregnant. We searched around and found another that we adored. Quite traditional, strong, and went well with his sister's name, too, we thought. So yes, he was sorted and was then duly named.
I suppose my question to other parents isn't really what makes you choose a name, as we're all so different and like different things. My question is what makes you unable to make this decision sooner? Let me explain...
My friend was telling me her niece had arrived. 'Oh, that's lovely news, what's her name?' I enquired. She hasn't got one yet. She didn't get one until she was 7 weeks old. Why?
I heard of another birth at the weekend. And now, 4 days later, he's still unnamed. Why?
Parents will have had weeks, months to ponder this decision. It's not as though baby arrives, the midwife asks about a name, and this is a sudden, trick question. You'd have known it was coming! I've never really understood the 'we'll wait and see whether it looks like a...' It'll look like a baby, and will grow into the name that you give it, won't it? Though I know many, many people say this, so am I in the minority?
I genuinely don't understand why a baby cannot be named on arrival, or at least within a day or two, but I know it's not uncommon, so I'm hoping someone will shed some light on it for me. Why does it take so long? Help me to understand!
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