I’m not planning on starting a family for another couple of years, but of course, I’m already thinking about future childrens’ names.
I’ve been reading stories on how people choose their baby names based on the child’s personality in utero, the dreams they had while pregnant, gut feelings, or just waiting to meet the baby. This sort of intuitive naming style is very attractive for me, because I try to live my life through intuitive guidance.
I was wondering if any parents out there decided to do this. I’m interested to hear how your intuition guided you to picking your child’s name, whether it came as a feeling or a dream or anything at all.
I’m also interested in hearing thoughts about intuitive naming in general.
I put a lot of thought and planning into my son’s name, so I don’t think I could call it intuitive, but there were a lot of names that just didn’t feel right. They are good names, and great on other kids, they just didn’t feel like the right name for my little one. With my son’s name, we had two names picked out, but we didn’t name him till the day after he was born. I was still torn between our two names till I was holding him one time and a new nickname that I hadn’t considered just hit me. When I said it, it felt so perfect to my husband and me that we knew which name to use. We used our other top pick as the middle name because it had more meaning to us than any of the filler middle names that flowed better.
I dreamt I gave birth and named my son [name]Joshua[/name] [name]Sam[/name]. It seemed like a sign but we’re having a girl so something didn’t quite work there!
I don’t think I picked up any clues about my children’s personalities while they were in utero. [name]One[/name] was more active than the other, but that’s as far as it went.
With my second (a girl) we brought a short list into the hospital and she wasn’t named until about 12 hours after birth. I kept staring at her trying to see if she looked or felt more like a [name]Penelope[/name] or a [name]Virginia[/name]. Thing was, she could have suited either. In the end, I picked the name I was most drawn to at that moment in time.
Interesting… I don’t think you have to be pregnant already to choose a name or at least develop a bond with some names. Guidance could come in all sorts of ways. It could come in the form of people on earth too! (Your future childs spirit could be hinting from various sources-don’t name ME that! Or random people might come up with names you have never considered-they have been guided to tell you).
Ha! Funny you should write this, I’ve had some interesting dreams in which my future daughter is adamant about not being named [name]Maeve[/name]. Maybe that’s what gotten me so interested in the idea of intuitive naming, though I don’t know if that is the most appropriate term.
whit32–I love that it “felt so perfect”. That’s exactly what I hope will happen for me and my husband in the future.
johnpicky-- That dream is too funny. Joshua Sam is a nice combo though. Props to your subconscious for that! Congratulations on the girl!
snacktress-- Thanks for sharing your story. I really like that you met your daughter before deciding, though both those names are so lovely, I can see why you had some trouble deciding.
We had decided when we went into the hospital that we would be leaving with either a [name]Lincoln[/name], or an [name]Oliver[/name]…two very differnt names, but the only ones we could agree on. But fate decided differently, and when our son was born we knew he was neither of those names. We tossed around a few other possibilities until suddenly my husband said, “[name]Evan[/name]. He is an [name]Evan[/name].” And he was. So we went with our gut…although we hadnt planned to!
While I was pregnant I dreamed I had a little girl named [name]Nina[/name] and she was beautiful with long auburn hair and running around in the sunshine…I told this to my [name]SIL[/name] and she had a girl 3 months before me and named her [name]Nina[/name] (same last name as mine)…I was devastated but in the end I picked a different name that I loved and it is perfect for my daughter (who happens to have reddish hair and will probably run around in the sunshine!)
My friend’s baby’s dad dreamed that their son was supposed to be named Nazariah…she was not into that even a little, but they settled on [name]Isaiah[/name] which had a similar ‘feel’ to it.
I think it’s good to spend a little time and see if the baby seems like a _____. You don’t want to just tack a name on someone without making sure it feels right. But in my experience I was pretty hormonal and I don’t think it would have been good for me to give birth without a few ideas.
I also have a friend who was named [name]Stephanie[/name] for a few weeks until her mom realized she had made a terrible mistake and her daughter wasn’t a [name]Stephanie[/name], she was a [name]Christina[/name]!
As for learning about personality in utero, my baby was so active that we called her Taz and [name]Kiki[/name] (variation on Kicky / Kicker)…by the end of my pregnancy my family really was attached to the name [name]Kiki[/name] and I think they were sad we didn’t name her [name]Kirsten[/name] or something!
My 12 year old brother had a dream that a little girl we knew kept insisting her name was Ambeth. [name]Ever[/name] since then he’s said that he’s going to name his daughter that. I find it cute.
My friend dreamed I had a little blonde-haired daughter I was calling [name]Cassidy[/name] [name]Lynn[/name] when I was pregnant with my daughter. We did not choose that name though and I am glad we didn’t. [name]Delaney[/name] [name]Mae[/name] is the perfect name for my DARK-HAIRED very much looks like daddy baby girl. However I am “secretly” hoping that there is a little blonde [name]Cassidy[/name] [name]Lynn[/name] in the future, be it a little girl or a little boy (I would use this name for either).
I also had a dream while I was pregnant that I named my daughter [name]Dennis[/name] and I thought it was just the most beautiful name in the universe! Those hormones will make you think some crazy things!!
Hmmmm. I dreamed pretty early in my pregnancy that I was having a boy to be called [name]Sawyer[/name], but it turned out I am having a girl. So far no name feels.right for her, but alas she is coming Friday so hopefully we will know when we meet her!!!
I am a big believer in “intuitive” naming. It took DH and I til about the 8th month to come up with the names of our boys. Lots of names either of us liked just wouldn’t feel like the baby’s name. I do think you can sense a lot about your baby’s personality in utero. I had a strong feeling that my first son was an old soul and sure enough, he really is. I could tell my second son was going to be a little spitfire and he definitely is. The names we gave them are not names that were ever on my radar before I was pregnant with either one of them. I find it interesting when so many people on these boards select the names for their future children long before they are pregnant. I don’t think I could do that. A name I like today may not be right for the baby I want to give it to someday.
