What would you do...

[girlsteve.livejournal.com]

I was chatting to a friend, who is still some way off from having kids, about baby names. She was saying it was probably a good thing because she and her current partner have totally different ideas on a good name and she wasn't sure they'd ever be able to compromise.

At first, I thought 'there must be one name in the whole world that you agree on' but talking to her, she and he clearly have totally different naming styles. Everything she likes he hates and vice verca. She likes what she calls 'classic' names and he calls 'old fashioned' names. He likes what he calls 'unusual' names and what she calls 'weird for the sake of weird'.

So, what would you do? Do you try and find a compromise name that neither of you really like, do you accept that one of you will just hate your childs name, do you let one pick the first name and one the middle?

If it helps put this in to context, her first choice names were Elizabeth Katherine and Michael Dylan, and his were Shaunice McKenzie and Caine. I can see why this mightbe difficult to navigate...

Comments

[silvergirl22.livejournal.com]

Caine doesn't sound too weird, but the other one....yikes! =o/

[kaoriz.livejournal.com]

It's my personal opinion that the mother should always have the final say in the name.

...And Shaunice?! Really, now?

[tiphanism.livejournal.com]

We once wrote out a list of names hoping we'd come up with one that was on both our lists. There was some overlap but not much... hoping that by the time we have children we'll have changed our minds a bit and there will be names we both like even if they're not first choices for either of us.

[pythianlegume7.livejournal.com]

there has GOT to be one name in the world that they both like. I say compromise, its no good if one parent doesn't like the name.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

Compromise, compromise, compromise... if me and my hypothetical husband couldn't agree on a name, we'd just have to keep trying to find one that we both liked, or at least didn't mind. Out of the millions of names out there, there would have to be ONE that we could agree on. It might be hard to find, but it'd happen.

[indicinderelly.livejournal.com]

It doesn't sound weird but it looked like Canine at first =/

[miss-tee.livejournal.com]

I agree

[awoodnymph.livejournal.com]

Shaunice? Eww.

I'd try to find some classic names that are also pretty unique (i.e. not used frequently). Like Evelynn, Estelle, Anastacia, and what not. Like these: http://babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com/forum/topic16898.html

[laminy.livejournal.com]

My mom picked the name if they had a girl, my dad picked them name if they had a boy. My dad didn't actually like the name that my mom chose for me, he made fun of it before I was born; I don't know how she felt about his choice.

I really think that there has to be at least one name that they both like. All the names in all the world, and they have different opinions on every one? They should buy a baby book and go through it, page by page, making a list of the ones they like then compare.

I always say that I hope I don't end up with a guy who likes names really different than the ones I do. I don't buy into the whole idea that the final decision is the mother's, so there has to be some kind of compromise. One person really shouldn't hate the whole name.

[love-in-war.livejournal.com]

they need to keep looking... and if they cant find one they both like then compromise... one picks the first name and one picks the middle or she names the first kid and he names the second. When the time comes and they are pregnant Im sure things will be a little different and they will be able to find something they like

[kilobites.livejournal.com]

I think it's either going to have to be a compromise, or they'll have to find a name that both of them like. There are tons of names in the world, if they go through a baby name book there are bound to be some that they both like. If not, they'll have to compromise where one picks the first or one picks the middle or something. I don't believe that the mother should just get to unilaterally decide, unless the father isn't in the life of the kid at all. It really should be a joint effort. It would suck if one person hated the name.

[mrssubee.livejournal.com]

my husband and I have completely different taste in names and eventually agreed for my daughter's name we chose Laila- we both thought it was pretty and may not have been my first choice- or even top ten...but, I really like it now (my daughter's 2) and I guess we had to agree -although I feel that since I did most of the work- it would've been fair if I got to pick the name on my own

[adamant-turtle.livejournal.com]

Reminds me of that one-hit wonder singer in the early '90s..."I Love Your Smile," LOL

[snoglobel.livejournal.com]

My parents couldn't come together, so for me my dad named my first name, and my mom the middle - then for my brother my dad got the middle name and my mom the first. It worked out kind of well I guess. I am glad my dad choose my name though, I don't like my mom's choices.

[daydream11.livejournal.com]

Well, I always say that Mom has the last say and veto power as long as Dad doesn't hate the name, but I'm also big on compromise. I suggest buying the biggest, most accurate name book(s) (Oxford Names Companion, Concise Dictionary of First Names) and going through it until they find some names they both can agree on.

[autophoblamb.livejournal.com]

I'm really into 'classic' names and I don't think I could ever name my kid something like Shaunice D: And by the way I can't STAND the name McKenzie!

[modified-life.livejournal.com]

It reminds me of Cain and Abel.