What are your naming preferences?

[ottertails]

I figured it would be interesting to see where we each stand on aspects of naming. This is about the names you like and how you would decide to go about naming. I made a table for the things that seem to come up the most often. The table is general, so you can get more specific in your answers if you’d like (e.g., what you consider word names, different answer depending on girl or boy, exceptions) and skip anything you don’t want to answer.

The purpose is to illustrate our similarities and differences; we all come to naming with different past experiences, environments, and beliefs so no one is right or wrong. That means please no arguing.

Formal fn	Nickname fn	Combo fn (previous diminutives that work on their own)
Hyphenated/double names	No hyphenated/double names	…
Sexually ambiguous/unisex names	Sex-specific names	Opposite sex names
Use nicknames as much or more than fn	Use endearments (fn used the majority of the time)	No nicknames (go by given name only)
Use a name that has nn possibilities you don’t like	Avoid names with nns you don’t like	…
Occupation names/surnames as fn/mn	Occupation names/surnames as fn/mn only if it honors	No occupation names/surnames as fn/mn
Mythological/pop culture/literary names	No mythological/pop culture/literary names	…
Word names	No word names	…
Recently made-up names	Names with a history of use only	…
Name meaning is very important	Name meaning is considered, but not enough of a reason to remove a name	Name meaning doesn’t matter
Original spellings	Legitimate alternate spellings	Creative spellings
Associations are very important	Associations are considered, but I’d only consider removing a name if it’s especially bad	Associations don’t matter
Popularity is important	Popularity is considered, but not enough to remove a name over	Popularity doesn’t matter
Initials are important	Initials only matter if they spell something bad	Initials don’t matter
Flow of the names is important	Flow is considered	Flow doesn’t matter
Obvious theme names for sibset/twins	Only subtle theme names	Avoid theme names
Using a (non-sacred) name from a religion or culture that you aren’t apart of (includes agnostic/atheist using biblical names)	Stick only to names of your religion or culture	Avoid religious and/or cultural names
0-1 mn	2 mns	3+ mns
[name_f]Honor[/name_f] names are a must	[name_f]Honor[/name_f] names if you like the name	No honoring
MN can be anything	MN related to family tradition (may or may not be honoring)	MN must be a saint/religious’s name
Okay with/enjoy Alliteration FN-MN	Okay with/enjoy Alliteration FN-LN	No alliteration
Test your names out on family/friends	Only test the names out on an online forum	[name_m]Don[/name_m]'t tell anyone the names
You’d be okay with your child sharing a name with a cousin/close friend’s child	You’d be okay with your child having a name that sounds similar to a cousin/close friend’s child	The names shouldn’t be similar
Any name is up for grabs	“Name stealing” can happen	…
Wait to name child until birth (based on the name you feel is right/think they look like)	Have a name already picked out (they will grow to fit the name)	For those in countries that allow this: wait a couple of weeks/months to decide

[kinyonga]

I haven’t got any diminutives on my list without a formal name, but I would consider it under certain circumstances, such as if I could simply not cherish the full form of the name, and was sure that the diminutive would carry my child well through life.

In most cases I find double first names too much of a mouthful.

I have no rule against androgynous names, but most of the names on my lists are clearly sex-specific.

This depends. I have a complete mix of all three on my name lists; or rather, names that I have a planned nn that I would call a child who got the name, and names that I have nothing planned for, but whom would no doubt get pet-names as well, but in this case be used interchangeably with their given name.

I would only consider sacrificing a name I love on account of a possible nickname I don’t like if the nickname was truly inevitable and that was what the child was bound to end up getting called by everybody no matter whether s/he likes it or not.

There doesn’t seem to be any surnames that I really love as given names, but I have no problem with them.

I really love names that have roots in myths and legends, and literary connections as well.

Again, I have no problem with word names, but they only seem to be on my lists as potential middles.

I seem to only gravitate towards names that are founded in years of use. But then, I’m a serious retrophile with a love of old traditions and history, which explains it; I have no problem with recently-invented names, especially if the parents invent it themselves rather than just using the name of the current invented name fad that has no real meaning for them.

The name meaning is very important to me. I like meanings to be poetic and meaningful, and not negative.

I’m fine with legitimate alternative spellings.

Negative associations would prevent me from using a name.

I would take popularity into account, but it alone would not rule out a name.

Innitials do not matter, except in the obvious cases of Beatrix Anne Dales and noticeably negative cases of that sort.

I consider the flow, but I wouldn’t discard a name just because of it. It’s not too important.

I would probably either avoid themes or only use very subtle ones.

I would avoid names that are very strongly linked to a culture I have no connection to. But by a connection I’m not just referring to my bloodline and my family tree; I have always felt a pull to Romanian culture, for example, even though I have no Romanian blood at all, and I would have no problem using a Romanian name to pass on something that is important to me to my child.

Can we say 0-5 middle names? It depends on surnames and married names and all kinds of other factors that are undecided for the moment in my case. :3

[name_f]Honour[/name_f] names are extremely important to me, but not really in the sense that I am set on naming children after relatives, although there are many such names on my lists. It’s more about passing on a little bit of tradition from a side of their family that is equally significant in their ancestral make-up, but the surname of which they will not be carrying, or even just the flavour of something that is dear to me.

The middle name can be anything, although it is a bonus point if it does have a family or religious connection.

I love alliteration!

I would discuss the names I love with my very close family, but only share The Name when we were absolutely definite.

I’d be fine with having a child with a name similar to that of a cousin or close friend’s child.

In most cases any name is up for grabs.

I would not choose the name until the child was in my arms. If I didn’t have a good enough sense of who this little person was yet even then to be sure that I had found the right name, I wouldn’t have a problem with waiting a number of months to choose a name.

Bearing in mind, though, that I am still years away from having children and any of these things might change once it draws nearer.

[maimouse]

This is interesting! Let’s see…

I think I prefer “formal” names and combo names (if we count [name_f]Minnie[/name_f] as a combo name, since it was used on it’s own regularly around 100 years ago). I usually don’t like names that are very nickname-y, mostly because I would like them to have some history of use. I do like combo names ([name_f]Minnie[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f], etc) and also “formal” names, as long as they aren’t too long.

I don’t care for hyphenated names and double names.

I like my names to be sex-specific.

I would use endearments, but I’m very much a “name your child what you’re going to call them”-person. [name_m]Hence[/name_m] why I like combo names ([name_f]Eliza[/name_f] over [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] for example). I would probably still shorten names sometimes, but most of the time I would call my child by their actual name.

I would avoid names with nn possibilities I don’t like, but it’s not an issue for me since most of my names don’t really need a nn. The names you could shorten however, I’m fine with. ([name_u]Olly[/name_u] for [name_m]Oliver[/name_m] for example).

I don’t really care for occupation names, but maybe in the middle spot? I don’t really have a strong opinion on them.

I love mythological/pop culture/literary names! It’s nice if a name has some connection I like.

Again, not super opinionated on word names either. Maybe in the middle spot?

Names with a history of use only!

A nice meaning is a bonus, but not something I care too much about.

Usually original spellings, but sometimes legitimate alternative spellings if it’s an honor name or something.

Associations are important! I wish they weren’t, but just like I like nice connections to mythology/literature, a bad connection can ruin a name for me

Popularity is considered, but the name would have to be very popular to be removed from my list only based on that.

Initials only matter if they spell something bad.

Flow of the names is important to be, but not the most important thing when it comes down to it.

Subtle name themes! For me I like short-to-medium length names, all with a vintage vibe.

Names from other religions and cultures are fine, as long as I won’t offend anyone by using them.

I only use honor names if I like the name tbh.

MN can be anything!

No alliteration for me, I think, though I have seen combos with it that I like.

The last few questions I don’t really know, probably because I’m still a while away from actually having children!
But this was interesting, thanks

[SparkleNinja18]

Most of my names are pretty formal. As for nicknames as full names, I do enjoy [name_f]Lux[/name_f] on its own, as well as [name_f]Sadie[/name_f] and [name_u]Nico[/name_u]. I dislike [name_f]Sarah[/name_f] or [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] so I’d definitely use [name_f]Sadie[/name_f] and [name_u]Nico[/name_u] on their own. I don’t mind nickname names as full names, although I find that some work better than others. I love [name_f]Elsie[/name_f] but, honestly, I could see it on a little girl and an old woman, but not on a woman in her thirties or forties.

I have [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] on my girls’ list. It’s a family name, and my combo is [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u]. I do consider [name_f]Etta[/name_f] [name_f]Mae[/name_f] to be the “first name” and [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] as the “middle”; not that [name_f]Etta[/name_f] is the first name, [name_f]Mae[/name_f] is the first middle, and [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] as the second.

I like a few unisex/boy names for girls. [name_u]Reilly[/name_u], [name_u]Ryan[/name_u], and [name_u]Adair[/name_u] are ones I love for girls. I probably wouldn’t use [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] since it is a popular boy name but [name_u]Reilly[/name_u] and [name_u]Adair[/name_u] I’d use easily. I don’t like [name_u]Ryan[/name_u] or [name_u]Adair[/name_u] for boys, but I don’t mind [name_u]Riley[/name_u]. For boys, I love [name_u]Rory[/name_u], [name_u]August[/name_u], and [name_u]Charlie[/name_u] but I don’t like them for girls.

I only have set nicknames for a few of my favorites. Most of my boys don’t have nicknames, but with my girls I have [name_f]Lucia[/name_f] “[name_f]Lux[/name_f]”, [name_f]Bianca[/name_f] “Bia”, and [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f] “[name_f]Emmy[/name_f]”. I’d probably only call them by those if they want something shorter, though.

I have the problem of potential nicknames I dislike with [name_f]Calista[/name_f]. I knew a rotten girl named [name_f]Callie[/name_f], so that one is out. [name_u]Lisa[/name_u]/[name_f]Lissa[/name_f] are too dated for me. [name_f]Calla[/name_f] only reminds me of [name_f]Callie[/name_f]. Lissy is okay, but not my favorite. My only idea is Cista (pn. with a hard C) which some days I find spunky and cute, but sometimes only makes me think “kissed a”.

I don’t mind occupation names. [name_u]Carter[/name_u] was my number 1 boys name for years. I obviously have [name_m]Archer[/name_m] on my favorites list (although that one honors). For girls, I have [name_u]Piper[/name_u] on my long list.

I love mythological names. [name_f]Athena[/name_f], [name_f]Iris[/name_f], [name_f]Thalia[/name_f], [name_f]Juno[/name_f], [name_m]Magnus[/name_m], [name_u]Memphis[/name_u], [name_m]Apollo[/name_m], [name_f]Aurora[/name_f], [name_f]Luna[/name_f], [name_u]Zephyr[/name_u], [name_f]Maia[/name_f], [name_m]Caspian[/name_m], [name_m]Castor[/name_m], [name_u]Orion[/name_u], [name_m]Osiris[/name_m], [name_m]Frey/name_ma, and [name_u]Phoenix[/name_u] are all on my extended lists.

Again, I love word names. But, only more “normal” word names. I still can’t get behind ones like Cloudberry, Foxglove, or Honeysuckle. [name_f]Tamer[/name_f] ones like [name_u]Fable[/name_u], [name_f]Sonnet[/name_f], and [name_m]Archer[/name_m], I enjoy.

With history, I’m fine either way. I don’t like popular names so most of my favorites don’t have the same history that [name_m]William[/name_m], [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], and [name_f]Victoria[/name_f] have. As long as the name is legitimate, I’m good. I mean, I had to have heard the name from somewhere, so the name is technically, at least, in my history, if it’s not in someone else’s. For example, I have a friend named [name_u]Laken[/name_u] so the name has history to me, even if it doesn’t for someone who has never heard of the name [name_u]Laken[/name_u] before.

I don’t really care about meaning. I can appreciate a pretty meaning, but if the meaning isn’t that great, my love of the name is more important.

Typically, I go for either original or legitimate alternative spellings. I prefer [name_u]Reilly[/name_u] over [name_u]Riley[/name_u] (for girls, at least), Freyja over [name_f]Freya[/name_f], [name_f]Lilja[/name_f] over [name_f]Lilia[/name_f], [name_f]Thalia[/name_f] over [name_f]Talia[/name_f], [name_f]Reyna[/name_f] over [name_f]Raina[/name_f], and [name_u]Rhys[/name_u] over [name_u]Reese[/name_u]. The only exception is Saela, but I’m a sucker for anything with “ae” in it. Plus, since there is a berry with a daughter named Saela, I have seen the name before, so it technically has some history to me (see the comment about history).

Sometimes associations ruin names for me (see [name_f]Callie[/name_f] comment). As for historical namesakes, as long as the name isn’t along the lines of [name_m]Adolf[/name_m] or Stalin, associations don’t matter to me.

Oh boy, popularity. I’ve explained myself on this countless times on this site, on other sites, in real life. In a nutshell, I hate that my name is so popular. I hate sharing my name with two other girls in my tap class, despite the fact that the class only has 8 people in it. I hate that people meet me and already have their own associations of other Abbys already lined up. I hate that the response when I meet someone is them telling me all the other Abbys they know. I hate being called [name_u]Abby[/name_u] W. or [name_u]Abby[/name_u]-blonde or [name_u]Abby[/name_u]-blue shirt. I hate not knowing if someone is talking to me when they call out my name. I hate feeling like I have to be the “alpha [name_u]Abby[/name_u]” every time I meet another one. I don’t want that for my kids.

Initials only matter if they spell something bad. I don’t known what surname I’ll have to work with someday, so I don’t think about that right now.

Flow is very important for me right now, really the only thing I consider. I’m not picking names for my kids, I’m finding names I like. If the name I find honors, great! Gives it bonus points. If it only sounds nice, that’s okay!

I love [name_f]Iris[/name_f] and [name_f]Juno[/name_f] for twin girls. Absolutely adore the combo. They share subtle connections through mythology, number of letters, and syllables without them being super close. I also love [name_m]Torin[/name_m], [name_m]Nolan[/name_m], and [name_f]Moira[/name_f] for BBG triplets. All the names come from the [name_f]Emerald[/name_f] [name_f]Isle[/name_f] and all are two syllables without them being too close. So, I guess I like subtle connections without the names being too close. Except, I have a crush on [name_f]Lila[/name_f], [name_f]Luna[/name_f], and [name_f]Lyra[/name_f] for triplet girls. Not that I’d ever use them.

I’m [name_m]Christian[/name_m] but I don’t only stick with [name_m]Christian[/name_m] names. I’m under the impression that if a person loves a name and respects its usage (ie. boy or girl name), then isn’t that cultural appreciation and isn’t that a good thing? I am on the side that says [name_m]Cohen[/name_m], for example, is a bad idea if you’re not Jewish. If the name has the potential to offend someone, and has been proven to do so in the past, I’m honestly stunned that people would still use it.

I’ve played around with two middles but people in my family only have one, so I will probably stick with that.

See the comment from before about flow. If the name I find honors, great! Bonus points. If it only sounds nice, that’s fine too! I’m only collecting for now, after all.

I think alliteration is fine sometimes. I love [name_f]Seraphina[/name_f] [name_u]Sage[/name_u] as a combo. I think some people make too big a fuss about it. I grew up with girls named [name_u]Taylor[/name_u] T@bor and [name_f]Michaela[/name_f] McC@be, and no one gave them any trouble.

Right now, I’ll discuss names with anyone who wants to talk! Which, of course, is almost no one. But, when I’m pregnant, I probably won’t talk to anyone except online. My mom had issues with people (cough cough my grandmother) giving her nasty opinions about my name before I was born.

See my comment about popularity. I don’t want my kid to share their name with anyone in their classes, so I definitely don’t want them sharing a name with anyone in my family!

“Name stealing” can happen, but only in some circumstances. If someone is pregnant with a boy and they’ve mentioned how much they love the name [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] for him, if their sister-in-law turns around and names her newborn son [name_m]Frederick[/name_m], that is name stealing. However, if this individual isn’t pregnant or is expecting a girl, I think [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] is up for grabs. Right now, if someone in my family or friend group has a child and wants to name them [name_u]August[/name_u] or [name_f]Iris[/name_f], I can’t stop them and won’t, since I’m not pregnant.

It depends. If my future DH and I can agree on a name beforehand, I definitely will name them then. I love personalized things so I’d love to order blankets and clothes with the name on it, or paint the name in fancy letters in the nursery. If we can’t agree, I want a list of names to take to the hospital.

[lovemysweeties]

I adore names in all three categories.

I personally do not care for smooshed or hyphentated double name. I do have some combos were I would use the first name only and also the first name and first middle name. [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] would be called [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] and [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f], [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f] [name_u]Vesper[/name_u] would be called [name_f]Lily[/name_f] and [name_f]Lily[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f], [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f] [name_f]Magnolia[/name_f] would be called [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] and [name_f]Eliza[/name_f] [name_f]Jane[/name_f], …

I would say I adore many unisex names. For example [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] is a top middle name choice for us and it used to be a boys name. Same With [name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]. I also adore [name_m]Lachlan[/name_m], [name_u]Gray[/name_u], [name_u]Rowan[/name_u], and [name_u]Addison[/name_u] for boys but people consider them unisex…I feel they are very masculine.

My son has never gone by a nickname or pet name. I am not much of a nicknamer. I would call [name_u]Eloise[/name_u] [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] [name_f]Birdie[/name_f], [name_f]Birdie[/name_f], because [name_f]Birdie[/name_f] is VERY special to us. It was my late mom’s nickname given by my dad. My other favorites would most likely not get a nickname.

I will not avoid a full name I adore, even if it has a nickname I do not care for. The parents and the child are the ones that choose the name. If people choose to try to name the child something else, simply tell them it isn’t their/my name. It would be very hard to try to think of all the nickname possibilities people could come up with related to every name…even those that you think do not have one. For example [name_m]Grant[/name_m] can become G-[name_m]Man[/name_m] or G-String. If people want to create nickname they will.

I have nothing against surnames, occupation names, mythological names, literary names, pop culture names, or word names. I personally have some on my lists. I personally prefer many of these names in the middle name spot. Related to surnames, in reality lots and lots of names are also surnames. This has been something I have found kind of funny. I have seen many people that preach loudly how much they hate surnames, have several surnames in their signature. I love word and nature names. The ones I use honor and/or have special meaning to the family.

I will not boldly say I do not like made-up names because there are situations that would make that untrue. I made-up Anneline. [name_f]Anna[/name_f] honors my late sister and we adore [name_f]Emmeline[/name_f], [name_f]Madeline[/name_f], and [name_f]Adeline[/name_f]. So I created Anneline. I think it’s beautiful. As a whole, I am not too fond of made-up names.

To a degree the meanings of names matter. For example I adore [name_f]Anneliese[/name_f]. Not only because the name honors my late sisters full name ([name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f]) but the meaning of [name_f]Anna[/name_f] and [name_f]Liese[/name_f] makes it that much more special.

I prefer the original spelling. But like made-up names, there are situations that would make me consider a creative spelling. For example the original spelling of [name_f]Mabry[/name_f]. Years ago I decided I preferred the more charming spelling of Maebry.

I almost allowed an undisciplined, unruly child (I cared for this child) to make me turn away from the name we chose for our son. I am thankful that my husband opened up my eyes to the fact that a person or a few people should not ruin a name that you absolutely adore.

Popularity should not matter at all. I will choose a name because I absolutely adore the name and can see myself still absolutely adoring it 40, 50, 60 years later. I do not care if the street has a couple dozen people with the name, or if I have never met/known a person with the name. Those things change as life moves on. What you do not want to change is your adoration of a name.

I normally do not worry about initials. Although I would not want initials to offend someone. I might debate a combo if it created initials like A&S but something like BAD, [name_m]ADD[/name_m], COD would not bother me.

My first priority is creating combos that honor loved ones and that I honor certain loved ones together in a combo. A bonus would be a flow that sounds good to my ears. All of my combos, so far, flow very well to my ears. Related to flow. People hear things differently and pronounce names differently (not only because of accents) so a flow of a combo will be different for everyone.

I think you should use the names you adore. I would not name Twins (triplets, etc) any different than I would name siblings. Children are all individuals.

My son has one middle name. I would give future children two middle names. I think one or two middle names are perfectly acceptable. Three plus middle names start sounding like a list of names to me. Two middle names can sound the same to me. I have had to really think through my combos. Which is made harder because I am using honor names and names that are special ([name_f]EVERY[/name_f] name on my short list, first and middle names) and wanting to name certain loved ones together in the same combos.

Honoring is very important to me.

Alliterations are perfectly fine.

I tell certain close family and friends my favorite names/combos.

Names are not owned by anyone. I would not be upset if every boy and man on our street (city, state, etc) had my son’s name. It would definitely make things interesting. Everyone has the right to name their own child what they adore. As long as it fits the laws of where you live.

There is no such thing as name stealing! If there was we all would have been jailed or in prison (or stoned, hung, be-headed etc) as soon as every name was used once. I am chuckling imagining a person calling the police and stating that their best friend just stole their baby name.

We had our son’s name picked out. We would do the same for any future children.

[bellaczh]

Formal FN
No hyphenated/double names
Sex-specific names
Use nicknames for family but use given names only for everyone else.
May use a name that is nickname possibilities you don’t like
No occupation names/surnames as FN/MN unless it is a surname of some family member you would like to pass down.
Some mythological/pop culture/literary names are usable.
No word names
Names with a history of use only
Name meaning is considered and is enough of a reason to remove a name if the meaning is awful
Original spellings and Legitimate alternate spellings
Associations are considered, but I’d only consider removing a name if it’s especially bad[/td]
Associations don’t matter
Popularity is considered, but not enough to remove a name over
Initials only matter if they spell something bad
Flow is considered
May use a non-sacred name from a religion or culture that you aren’t a part of if it is widely used in your culture.
Anywhere between one to three middle names is fine with a particular preference for two.
May use honour names if you like the name and the family member you are honouring is fine with it.
Middle names should be as acceptable as first names (If the name is too ridiculous for a first name, it is too ridiculous for a middle name)
Alliteration is accepting, even FN-MN-LN
Test the names out on an online forum but may share with a few selected family/friends
Children should not have similar/same names as their cousins.
If “name stealing”, you should check with the parents of the child whose name you are “stealing” first unless your relationship with the parents is worthless to you.
Parents should have a name already picked out but better to take your time naming your child than making a mistake.

[vc2013]

This is so cool, thanks for creating that table! I’m totally going to indulge here while LO naps

I tend to like first names that stand on their own, without an obvious nickname. Eg., I really like [name_f]Alexandria[/name_f] but feel like we’d just end up with an [name_u]Alex[/name_u]. So I tend to look for names that don’t scream “Abbreviate me.”

No hyphenated or double names for me.

The unisex thing is interesting. I definitely do love unisex names. Sex-specific names are rather hard to find for me.

We use endearments, with the fn used the majority of the time.

I do not care for the occupational name trend. We’ve used a surname as a second mn to honor a family member. But I would not consider a surname as a first name.

I do love mythological names and other ancient names, deities etc. It has to be done right so the name doesn’t appear stuffy or overly nerdy. I generally avoid pop culture references. [name_f]Do[/name_f] not care much for literary names.
Something that really bothers me is when a child is named after a movie character. When I consider a name, I try to check with current pop culture and movie / tv stuff to make sure no character is running around with that name right now. If I should discover eg. a name I’m currently considering is featured in something like Game of Thrones, I would strongly reconsider. I know a lot of people who are the opposite with that one.

Word names are cool if done right (like most things.) We’ve used a word name for our son.

On the made-up vs. names with history, I can actually go both ways. I love a name with a long history, AND I can also get behind, say, a name that a parent just made up. It has to be done right of course, it has to work. I think it can help to know a few other languages, so one has a basic understanding eg. of how a Latin name works.
I strongly dislike names that are made up to sound a certain way in English and that at the same time demonstrate an ignorance of another language, or a name that is a mashup of two different names, or where one letter is randomly replaced, as well as the very common z and ee and x sounds that don’t really belong in the name in question.

Meaning: Name meaning is one of my top priorities. I would never consider a name with a bad or irrelevant or “eh” meaning. There are some names that I really like by their sound and look, but have crossed off my list due to their (lack of) meaning. [name_m]Phineas[/name_m] and [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f] are two examples.

Spelling: Regarding the spelling of a name, I try to stick with the original spelling, down to the accents if a name comes with one. Legitimate alternate or creative spellings can be considered, but it can’t be random and it can’t show (see above) my lack of knowledge of the name’s origin or meaning, or the rules of another language.

Popularity: I tend to like obscure, rare, uncommon and foreign names, but if I love a name and it happens to be popular, it is not a reason for me to reconsider. [name_f]Sophie[/name_f] and [name_u]Elias[/name_u] are examples of popular names that I love.

Initials: Need to be considered. They don’t need to spell something awesome, as long as they don’t spell something bad.

Flow: Is considered, but not my top priority. If I’ve found names that I absolutely love and there’s a little hiccup in the flow of all of them together, I can accept that.

Themes: I’m not sure if this counts as “theme,” but absolute YES to having names coordinate in subtle ways! This one is very hard to do right. I’ve mused about this somewhere else, when naming more than one person, I like to have the names COMPLEMENT each other. They should make each other shine when said together. [name_f]Every[/name_f] name that gets added to the pool should EXPAND the theme a bit, instead of narrowing it down.
As an example, I can use one modern nature name, and the next person gets an ancient name with spiritual undertones. Taken together, it just works in a magical sort of way. I would be careful not to use two names from the same category (not use two nature names, or two names from Greek mythology.)

Other religions / cultures: Good question. I consider everything, but do feel a little weird when a name outside of my own cultural / religious background moves up on my list. One name I love I had to cross off my list: [name_f]Sioux[/name_f]. I have no Native American ties. I also tend to like a lot of Nordic names (Icelandic and Finnish in particular,) but so far, none of them have made the cut because at some point in the process I always get a little hesitant to actually use a name that’s completely outside of my own cultural background.
At the same time though, I have a super hard time finding such names that are WITHIN my own culture.

Middle names: We do two, although I sometimes feel like we should have done a third one. We’re not going to have enough kids for me to use all the names I want to use. I wonder whether it would be ok to give our next kid three mns if DS1 only has two?

[name_f]Honor[/name_f] names: We do them as a second mn. If there’s no one to honor, then no honoring. It’s not expected from us certainly, no outside pressure. But as it stands, there are more people to be honored than children we could possibly have, so we will likely continue with this.

Middle names II: We do two - first mn is a love-love-love name that might be too obscure to use as a fn. It is a spiritual or inspired name that is supposed to serve as a kind of guidance in life for the child. The second mn is a family or honor name tying back to the family tree.

Alliteration: Okay with it, but not sought out. Our son’s fn and first mn alliterate, and that just happened because we loved both names so much.
I’m actually noticing that the vast majority of names I love begin with S. So it is likely we’ll have some unintentional alliteration going on in the future sibset.

Test-driving: I sometimes get feedback on a name from strangers online, but generally don’t share with family or friends beforehand. But if I find a really rare name I really love, I tend to not share that.

Sharing: I’d be okay with my child sharing a name with a cousin or a close friend’s child. This hasn’t happened yet though.

Stealing: No name stealing. Hasn’t happened yet, either.

Waiting: With our son, we had most of the name picked out based on it feeling “right for this child.” The first mn however was decided after birth. We went to the hospital with two options and chose after having seen our baby for a day and a half.

This was so much fun!

[eireann]

I don’t have an opinion on whether I want a formal first name or one that is a nickname. It just depends on what I like most or if I find the nickname first name to be too childish. I live in [name_f]England[/name_f] where nickname names are a very common thing to see so it’d have to be something extremely cutesy, like [name_f]Fifi[/name_f], where I’d pick the formal (in this case, [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f], but I do prefer [name_f]Phoebe[/name_f] to [name_f]Fifi[/name_f] so it’s no contest really).

I don’t like hyphenated/double names for my own children, but I don’t see an issue for anyone else’s. It just feels unnecessary for me. I like the hyphenated name [name_f]Anna[/name_f]-[name_f]Rose[/name_f], but I would never use it because I just don’t like them, but I would love to see it on someone else’s child. This probably sounds really confusing, it’s more of a GP than anything practical.

I am neutral on names that are painfully obvious which sex they’re placed on. I love unisex names, I love overly feminine names, I love tough, not-so-obviously feminine names, I love soft masculine names and I love strong masculine names.

With nicknames, I really want to be able to use them on my future children. Not all of the time, but interchangeably. They could get their nickname one day, and then their full day the next, just whatever comes out of my mouth. My name cannot be shortened so it never has been, but I wish I had a name which could be just because it’s there to use if I wanted to.

I would use a name even if the nicknames available were ones I didn’t like. We can never assume what someone will be nicknamed once they’re around friends, in school, what nickname they choose themselves, so I don’t worry too much about it. If the name has a nickname I adore, great, but if it doesn’t, it’s no big deal as the former might not even want to use the nickname I adore.

I also like occupation and surname names, I am not against using them at all. Some of them are lovely, my long-term favourite has been [name_u]Bailey[/name_u]. I am a HUGE pop culture junkie so a lot of my names are geared towards it in some way. I also like some mythological names and my favourite literary name, [name_f]Alaska[/name_f] (Looking For [name_f]Alaska[/name_f]), is something I would consider using in the future. Same goes with word names, I love those too. But I am not a fan of newly made up names, like [name_f]Khaleesi[/name_f], they just make me cringe. The names are going to die out very quickly and everyone knows just where you got the name from, something that doesn’t sit right with me for some unknown reason. Name associations do not bother me either, unless you’re wanting to name your child after said bad association. Then there’s a problem.

Meanings of names aren’t important to me. I tried to delve into that side of names and conjure up a list of names with great meanings, but they didn’t make me love the name. Names with bad meanings don’t make me not want to use the name. Meanings are just a nice bonus, like with [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]. A name I loved anyway but her meaning was a great bonus.

I used to care about spellings because I have an alternative spelled name, but I am not fazed anymore unless the spellings are overly creative. They’re not my kids they’re naming so I shouldn’t care, my input won’t change their minds if they want to name little [name_u]Avery[/name_u] something like Avareigh. Could be worse.

And with popularity, initials and flow, they’re considered but they are not at all important. Especially popularity, I don’t care if they’re going to share their name with someone in their class. I don’t care if their initials spell out a peculiar word, unless it’s got high teasing potential (I’m looking at you, curse words and bodily fluids). Flow can be an issue but I have a choppy name and it has never, not once, bothered me. With matching twin names, unless the names are so close you’ll confuse the kids, then I have no issue. I wouldn’t do it myself, I love names too much to restrict myself, but whatever goes. With middle names, one has always been the norm for me, and I find more than one quite pretentious, but that’s just my input.

I don’t get this whole “not from your religion/culture, not your name” malarkey. There are exceptions, like [name_m]Cohen[/name_m], [name_u]Messiah[/name_u], [name_m]Bishop[/name_m], Pope, but otherwise I don’t see why it’s such a big deal if an atheist names their child [name_u]Noah[/name_u].

[name_f]Honour[/name_f] names aren’t a must for me, although I have two people I would love to honour. Me and my sisters all got honour middle names, and my nephew’s middle name is his daddy’s name, so I will probably continue it out of it being the ‘norm’, but I am not going to make sure I do. The middle name is where I like to go wild so unless I suddenly decide against it, then I probably won’t. And I think FNs and MNs that are alliterated are cute, they’re my guilty pleasure.

I have learnt to keep my favourite names to myself and my sister hasn’t told anyone what my niece (due in 6 days) is going to be called, and I like the element of surprise. We also have no chance to voice an opinion until we see what little face it’s going to belong to, and I like that. My taste would definitely garner some opinions that I’d rather not hear.

I also don’t mind if a family friend has the same name I’ll call my child, but nobody in their close family (inc. first cousins). My cousin has a name I want to use but I find this okay as she’s my cousin, not my child-to-be’s. Any name is up for grabs in my opinion, no one can ‘hold onto’ a name. I learnt that the hard way lol. I hope to have two names to take to the hospital and to pick from one depending on what suits, I am a big planner but that’s something I want to not plan.

[easterbunny]

I like formal first names, but I definitely use nicknames - just not as the formal name. I have some old diminutives on my list that are now seen as ‘formal’ names, such as [name_f]Annette[/name_f] and [name_f]Mia[/name_f].

I’m generally not a fan of hyphenated or double names.

My preference is for gender-specific names; not intentionally, but I can’t think of unisex names that stand out to me.

Nicknaming is very much part of my culture and I use them regularly.

If a name has nickname possibilities I don’t like, I come up with a nickname I do like and will push for that instead.

I generally prefer not to use occupation names or surnames.

Many of my favourite names are literary names; however, the only intentional literary reference is Biblical names. The rest is simply a coincidence that it is literary.

I like word names, particularly floral word names - although I also have some other word names, such as [name_f]Dawn[/name_f] and [name_f]Opal[/name_f]. I tend to prefer word names for girls.

I prefer names with a history of use, although it may be obscure, very ‘old’ names.

Name meaning is considered, but not enough of a reason to remove a name. It might make me like a name a little bit more or less, but not substantially.

I prefer original spellings, or at least common alternate spellings (i.e. [name_f]Gwendolen[/name_f]/[name_f]Gwendolyn[/name_f], [name_m]Zacchaeus[/name_m]/[name_m]Zaccheus[/name_m])

Associations are considered, but I’d only consider removing a name if it’s especially bad (or strong!)

Popularity is considered, but not enough to remove a name over.

Initials only matter if they spell something bad.

Flow of the names is important. I generally prefer longer first names with shorter middle names.

I avoid theme names generally, although I lean toward biblical boys names and floral or vintage girls names, so some themes are created.

It’s ok to use non-sacred names from other religions or cultures as long as the association is not very strong. Agnostics & atheists can use biblical names, but a non-Chinese Australian using an obviously Chinese name is appropriation.

I like one middle name.

I like honour names but would only use a name, or a variation of a name, if I liked it.

Middle names can be anything, but if I haven’t used an honour first name I would probably use an honour middle.

I don’t really like alliteration but some combinations work well.

I won’t tell anyone I know the names, but online forums for strangers is ok.

I’d be okay with my child having a similar sounding name to a cousin or close friend’s child, but not the same name unless it’s a middle name or family name.

Anyone can choose any name.

I will have a name already picked out for either gender.

[luneth]

Formal FN, for sure. I am a fan of longer names with many nickname possibilities. There are shorter names on my list, but they are pretty rare and exactly nicknamey either.

No hyphen. I am against it as it looks kinda confusing to me. Double middle names are great, but I don’t want a double first name.

Sex specific. I love frilly feminine names and hadsome masculine ones. I am not against gender neutral names, it’s just there aren’t many that I genuinely like enough to use on my own child.

I plan to use both nn and full name, probably almost equally.

I prefer to avoid names with nn that I don’t like, but it isn’t a deal breaker, imo. If I really love the name I’ll simply insist on using another nickname.

No occupation names, I find it a bit weird, tbh. What if [name_u]Sailor[/name_u] actually doesn’t like sailing?

Yes, yes, yes. My list is full of mythological and literary names. FULL of them. 8)

Yes for word names, but only if I really like them only. There aren’t many though.

I prefer something with a history. But if the recent made-up has a personal significance and sounds good anyway, I don’t really mind.

Meaning is very important to me. Neutral meaning is fine, but I don’t want anything bad. [name_m]Cassius[/name_m], for example, is one of my favourite boy names, but it means hollow, which has a very unfortunate association to me. I can’t imagine naming a kid that and his siblings get for example [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] “bringer of good news” or [name_f]Valentina[/name_f] “brave”.

Original spellings and legitimate alternate are for fine. I love both [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] and [name_f]Catalina[/name_f], but not Kathaerynne.

In between, I think? Association is important to me, but unless it’s a bad one it stays on the list. I do notice, however, that names with personal significance climb higher up on my list.

Popularity is considered. I generally avoid overly popular names, BUT if I really love it I can accept its popularity and just pair it with more unusual middle name(s).

Initials only matter if they spell something bad.

Flow of the names is pretty important

Obvious theme names for sibset/twins Only subtle theme names Avoid theme names - Can’t answer because I honestly don’t mind. I’ll just use the names I love and if they sound good for the twins, they’re gonna be used. Themey or nor, it’s ok.

I have names like [name_f]Evangeline[/name_f] on my short list, and they’re there becuase I genuinely love them and they have personal significance to me. I won’t use names like [name_m]Jesus[/name_m] or [name_m]Muhammad[/name_m] though. Culture is flexible, imo, though I prefer the first name to works internationally.

1-2 mns, depending on what me and my future partner (if any) agree on.

[name_f]Honor[/name_f] names if I like the name. My family doesn’t really have an honoring tradition anyway, so it feels weird to use the name I don’t love.

MN can be anything that I love.

Okay with/enjoy Alliteration FN-LN

Test your names out on family/friends Only test the names out on an online forum [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t tell anyone the names - haven’t decided yet.

The names shouldn’t be similar. At least not too similar, especially if we’re close.

No name stealing.

Wait to name child until birth (based on the name you feel is right/think they look like) Have a name already picked out (they will grow to fit the name) For those in countries that allow this: wait a couple of weeks/months to decide - haven’t decided yet.

[southern.maple]

I don’t have a rule for this. If I love a diminutive more than its full form, I add the diminutive to my list. For example, I love [name_m]Ron[/name_m] and [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] but not [name_m]Ronald[/name_m] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f], so [name_m]Ron[/name_m] and [name_f]Betsy[/name_f] are the names on my list.

I have no problem with double or hyphenated names.

I prefer sex-specific first names, although there are probably more than a few names on my boys’ and girls’ lists that others might consider unisex.

When it comes to nicknames and pet names, I prefer to let them come naturally.

That depends on how much I dislike the nicknames. Generally, if I just absolutely loved the given name, I would use the given name and hope that my kid doesn’t decide they like the despised nickname later.

I don’t have a problem with occupation or surname names as first names.

A positive mythological/pop culture/literary association is always a plus for me.

I try to avoid talking about word names completely. It’s a bit of a slippery subject.

I prefer names with a long history of use.

Name meaning is important to me, but a personal meaning can easily trump a name’s etymology.

I can be flexible on spellings. Sometimes. I’m probably in the “legitimate alternate spellings” camp.

Associations are important to me.

Popularity doesn’t matter.

Initials only matter if they spell something bad.

Flow is considered, but I think meaning is much more important.

I don’t care about themes one way or the other.

I usually stick to names from my own religious and cultural background.

One middle name is enough for me, but I would consider two.

[name_f]Honor[/name_f] names are a must.

I think pretty much anything goes in the middle spot, but I prefer a family name or something with personal significance.

Alliteration is fine.

I might ask for opinions online, but I wouldn’t share with family and friends before the birth.

I don’t think this is important in the slightest.

There is no such thing as name stealing.

I would probably have a name picked out and then wait to see if it fits.

[Myosotis]

I have both diminutives and formal names on my list. In a few cases I have both. If I love the name, and it’s not unusual in the real world by being too much of a nn (which is rare) I’ll add it.

I don’t mind hyphenated firsts, but I only have one on my list ([name_f]Luna[/name_f]-[name_f]Fae[/name_f]). That’s because I absolutely love the names together, and it’s seven letters long so I could use it with my favourite girls’ name. I have a thing about having sibsets with the same number of letters.

I probably lean towards sex specific. Where I do have unisex names, I tend to prefer them on boys. I have quite a few unisex names on my boys list, that I consider only as boys’ names, and very few unisex names on my girls’ list. I can usually only see a name on one gender, including unisex ones.

Endearments pretty much describes what I think will happen, although I’d try to use the full name as much as possible. I love the names I’ve picked, and I’d want to say them all the time. But if pet names or nicknames arise then that’s fine, but I’d only use them sometimes. I enjoy thinking up nicknames for fun, and getting a bit creative. Some of my favourite names coincidentally have possible nicknames I love too that are lower down on my list, so I wouldn’t be adverse to using them occasionally.

I wouldn’t avoid names with nns I didn’t like, but I’d carefully consider actually using them, and how likely the nickname is to arise, and if I could deal with it if it did.

I don’t really haves rules for and against occupation names. They’re not exactly my style, so I don’t have many (just [name_m]Archer[/name_m] I think), but I’m not bothered either way.

I love mythological names! [name_m]Even[/name_m] though the myths aren’t always great, I’ve resigned myself to that fact, and I think they just add to the name. Characters are often the reason I fall in love with a name, and I see a brilliant character association, no matter how strong, as a huge plus. [name_m]Just[/name_m] now that I’ve been watching for too much TV I’ve started to love [name_u]Kit[/name_u], [name_u]Abby[/name_u], and [name_f]Ziva[/name_f].

I love history, and I love names with some history of use. I think it’s great when there’s a story, even just for the meaning or origin behind a name. It helps add substance and personality, as well as something for a child to explore for themselves.

I definitely consider name meaning, but a bad one wouldn’t make me remove a name I loved. [name_m]Ptolemy[/name_m], for example, is one of my top names that I’d use for a second son, but the meaning isn’t great. I’d still gladly use it though. The only place I really worry about meaning is my favourite girls’ name, as I want it to have a really good meaning throughout the combo. Sometimes a good meaning can persuade me to add a name.

I usually try to stick to original spellings, but I’d go for legitimate alternate spellings if I preferred it.

I think associations are important for firsts. I wouldn’t like to Google my name and come up with some horrific figure or event. But I’m a bit more relaxed with middles, and I think it depends on the individual name or circumstance.

Popularity is very, very important to me. I worry about it a lot. I really want my kids to have names that stand out, but in a good way. I love the idea of people thinking wow, that’s a cool, different, unusual name I haven’t heard before, but that they probably wouldn’t be brave enough to use. I have quite an unusual name for where I live, and I absolutely love it! I’ll still add popular names to my list, but I wouldn’t consider actually using them.

I’m not really bothered about initials unless they’re really bad. E.g. I don’t think [name_f]CAT[/name_f] is a problem it’s kind of cute.

If I were to name twins, I would just use the same names I’d use if I were naming singletons. But I don’t mind a subtle theme with twins. Obvious themes are a bit much, but if I loved or liked both names I’d probably be more okay with it.

I do have quite a lot of names from other cultures on my list, and I think that’s okay, as long as they’re well researched and checked. If I was actually going to use them, I’d check they weren’t offensive or that others wouldn’t take offence if I used a particular name or if it would be inappropriate for me to use. I’m not religious (agnostic) but I do have some biblical names on my list. Again, I think it’s a matter of appreciation, and I’d do further research if it actually came to using them, and make sure I respect where the name comes from.

I have so many names I want to use, I’d ideally have as many middles as possible. But that’s a bit overkill, so I stick to just 2. I don’t think I could be satisfied with just one middle, or none at all!

I think names need to have meaning, but I don’t think that always means honour names for family and friends. [name_m]Just[/name_m] loving a name since you were a teenager and using it ten years later is meaning enough in my opinion. As is using a name to honour a character, or band, or actor/actress who is really important to you. I definitely think if you’re going to honour family/friends you have to love the name of its for a first, and at least like the name in the middle. For me, I think it can get a bit messy once you start with family names, but I’ve tried, and went quite abstract with ‘honouring’ in some cases.

I think middles can be anything. It might be a good spot for honouring, if you don’t love a name, or for some more out there options.

I’ve so far avoided fn/mn sound alliteration, as I’m not a big fan, but it’s not so bad with another middle to separate similar initial sounds. I’d consider a fn/ln alliteration if I really loved the first, and there weren’t too many other repeating sounds.

I can barely ask for opinions online, and very rarely do. It’s not that I don’t want them, but I think I’d just get really irritated by any criticisms, so I don’t ask for them. I have slipped a few name comments to my mum and friends, but nothing detailed. My family especially would think I’m crazy for thinking about baby names now! I must admit I feel a bit better about [name_f]Pandora[/name_f] after mentioning to my mum that it’s my favourite name, and she only commented about the book character, which is good for her.

Going back to the popularity thing, I’d be quite put out if a friend or cousin’s child had the same name as my own. I wouldn’t mind if they had a similar name, say I had a [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f], and they had a [name_f]Georgina[/name_f], but the same name would bug me.

The sensible angel side says any name is up for grabs. You can’t own or have dibs on names. The irrational devil fuelled by fears of rising popularity says it’s completely unfair to use the name I wanted to use, just because you had the chance before me, especially if I already said I wanted to use it. I took time to find the perfect name that would catch people’s attention, and you just took it.

I’d probably have ‘the name’ that I’d most likely use. But I would still have several options and see which fits best, if the first choice just isn’t right. And I’d try it out as much as possible before committing it to paper, to make sure it’s perfect.

[jenni_lynn91]

~The names on my list are formal names, but I don’t mind when people give their kids “nicknames” as their names. My nephew is named [name_m]Jake[/name_m], not [name_m]Jacob[/name_m], and my brother is [name_u]Vinny[/name_u], not [name_m]Vincent[/name_m].

~I personally don’t care for hyphenated/double names.

~I wouldn’t give any of my kids unisex names. I like girl names for girls and boy names for boys.

~I call my daughter by her first name most of the time, but when I don’t, I call her “sweetie” or “princess” or another name like that. She ended up with the nickname [name_f]Mimi[/name_f], which is easier for her cousins to say. Her dad and his family also call her by her middle name sometimes.

~I don’t care for occupation names or surname names in general. The only surname I have considered for a boy is [name_u]Owen[/name_u], which is the last name of my friend who passed away. It would be a middle name if I used it at all.

~Some word names I like, such as names of flowers. My daughter’s middle name, [name_f]Xochitl[/name_f] is the word flower in another language.

~All of the names on my list have history behind them, but I don’t mind some names that are made up that I hear on children I work with. It depends on the sound of the name. My one niece actually has a made up name, Loremy.

~I always look up the meaning of names when I hear a name I like. If it has a negative meaning, I usually don’t add it to my list.

~The only name I have considered changing the spelling of is [name_m]Zenon[/name_m]. I am going back and forth between [name_m]Zenon[/name_m] and Cenon because of a movie association and to help with pronunciation. I think if the spelling is just changed a little, it is alright, like my best friend has a daughter named [name_f]Alivia[/name_f]. But sometimes people overdo it with creatively spelling names. I won’t put any examples, but I have seen some very differently spelled names at work.

~I only care if a name has a bad association.

~Popularity of a name is very important because I am named [name_f]Jennifer[/name_f] [name_u]Lynn[/name_u] with a very common maiden name, born in 1991. If a name is too popular, I will take it off my list, or only use it as a middle name if I really liked it. [name_f]Noemi[/name_f]’s name was somewhere in the 500s on the popularity list the year I was looking for her name.

~I did look at the initials before I chose our daughter’s name. I avoided A names because her middle and last names were already decided, and her initials would have been [name_m]AXE[/name_m], which isn’t that bad, but kind of weird.

~My daughter doesn’t have any names that honor anyone in the family, but our next child, girl or boy, will have a name to honor my grandpa, [name_m]Joseph[/name_m]. If we have a boy, his first name will be [name_m]Zenon[/name_m], which was my husband’s grandfather.

~I did tell my family members what my daughter’s name would be, but I didn’t consider their opinions. No one in my family liked [name_f]Xochitl[/name_f].

~I like to have the names picked out before I give birth, otherwise I would worry about it too much.

[HarderToBreathe]

I come from a Greek-American family, and being so, there are traditions with names that I can choose to follow or to not follow. Depending on the ridiculousness of the traditions and number of family members with certain names, I choose names.
Formal fn: I typically like names that are full, formal names. I like the versatility of them, and the ability for nicknames to be there if my child wants. My name is short with no intuitive nicknames, and I wish I had that because I don’t love my name. I’m not opposed to traditional diminutives as full names, as I have [name_u]Gus[/name_u] on my list, I prefer longer and more formal names.
No hyphenated/double names : I think having a hyphenated name would probably be annoying for all the forms a child will have to fill out in their lifetime. But really, I have no strong opinion on either. I probably wouldn’t use a double name, but I don’t see anything wrong with it. I think it sounds awkward, but I don’t dislike it.
Sex-specific names: I tend to like sex specific names. I know there is a lot of controversy of whether a child doesn’t identify with the gender in which their name is, but if that were to happen, I would allow them to change their name to suit their new gender. Personally, I’d hate to have confusion with gender in regards to name.
Use nicknames as much or more than fn: I like nicknames because it allows for versatility. I would only use nicknames for long names (such as [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f], I’d have the option of [name_f]Gigi[/name_f]/[name_u]Georgie[/name_u]) where they are intuitive (so not for short names like [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] or [name_m]Jonas[/name_m]). I’d probably use them interchangeably, so not more than their full name but not sparingly either.
Avoid names with nns you don’t like: if the name has an obvious nickname I don’t like, I probably wouldn’t choose it. I kind of see it as I should love everything about the name and if I don’t, what’s the point when there are so many beautiful names in the world.
Occupation names/surnames as fn/mn only if it honors: I don’t prefer occupation names, but if I like it and it honors someone, I’d put it on my list. Surnames aren’t really my thing, I’d probably pick something that sounds like a surname I want to honor (like [name_m]Cole[/name_m] sounds like my mom’s maiden name). You’ve already got a surname, why would I pick another one?
Mythological/pop culture/literary names: I love mythological names, I love mythology and history. But I’d only use ones that would work with my family traditions (for example I could use [name_f]Ariadne[/name_f], but not [name_m]Thor[/name_m]. I could use [name_f]Isidora[/name_f], but not [name_m]Horus[/name_m]). [name_u]Love[/name_u] literary names as well, as long as they are good role model or favorites of mine. I wouldn’t use [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] because I can’t stand [name_f]Lydia[/name_f] [name_m]Bennet[/name_m]. I have [name_f]Marta[/name_f] on my list partly because I love the Sound of [name_f]Music[/name_f]. I am less thrilled about pop culture. I wouldn’t choose a name that I thought was trendy/pop culture that is solely linked to that thing. Like [name_f]Katniss[/name_f] or Reneesme. They’re too linked to one thing. I’d feel comfortable using a name that is related to something pop culture, but it must have history or history of use (so [name_f]Hermione[/name_f] is a Greek saint, a mythology character, [name_m]Shakespeare[/name_m] character, in addition to being a HP character. It’s not like it was made up for the book).
No word names: for me, I wouldn’t use one as a first name. I wouldn’t want anyone to be confused. For middle, I think it’s fine. I think putting a word middle that has some sort of meaning to you or a virtue you hope the child has is great.
Names with a history of use only: I don’t want a name that is going to be considered trendy and dated later on in life. I want something classic.
Name meaning is considered, but not enough of a reason to remove a name: My name doesn’t have a definitive meaning and it hasn’t effected me. Unfavorable meanings, like [name_f]Cecily[/name_f] having blind as it’s meaning, could be turned in a positive light. It could mean blind faith or blind hope when you pair it right.
Original spellings: I prefer original spellings, but will accept legitimate alternative spellings as long as they are common enough to be known or are not confusing for pronunciations. For example, I am pretty neutral on whether I like [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] or [name_f]Elisabeth[/name_f] better, both are acceptable spellings, but I wouldn’t even think of using [name_f]Alizabeth[/name_f].
Associations are very important: people are judge-y. I wouldn’t choose a name that a child would be judged over. And family members can be the worst critics. Therefore, I wouldn’t use a name that would have a negative association in the family, within reason. For example, I would take it off the list if, “oh, my uncle is named that. He murdered someone.” but I wouldn’t for “oh, I had the worst student with that name, I can’t stand it”
Popularity is considered, but not enough to remove a name over: I think the feeling the name gives you is more important than what other people are choosing. But as someone who works with kids, if a name starts to feel boring if I hear it a lot. So, if the name becomes boring, I’ll take it off, but just because a name is popular doesn’t mean I don’t love it.
Initials don’t matter: to me, initials aren’t really important. Unless the name has really bad initials, I would still use it.
Flow of the names is important- I love names so much, that I want it to sound as great as it possibly can. Honoring family/culture is more important than flow, but I think flow is a major part of who/what gets honored.
Only subtle theme names: I don’t think theming name is important or something that I’d set out to do. Maybe for twins or multiples, but otherwise no. I think if I chose a word name for one child’s middle, I’d probably try to pick another word name for the next kid, but I wouldn’t be set on it. I think sibsets should have similar style or vibe, so not [name_f]Kate[/name_f] and [name_f]Persephone[/name_f] for example. My brothers both have english names, but I have a Greek name and I’ve always wished I had an english name that fit better with my bros names.
Stick only to names of your religion or culture: my Greek culture is super important to me, so I try to choose names that fit that. But if I really love a name from another culture, I’d try to make the name work for my culture. For example, I really like Egyptian mythology. But a name like [name_f]Isis[/name_f] would not work for my Greek family and religion. But [name_f]Isidora[/name_f] or [name_m]Isidore[/name_m] would work because they are Greek saints’ names. As long as I can make the name translate somehow into Greek, I can use it. But if I can’t I won’t use it. For example, I love the name [name_m]Frederick[/name_m], but I can’t find a name that I could translate it to, so I won’t use it.
0-1 mn: I am pro 1 middle name. I think 2 is probably more annoying than anything, but I see the appeal. My mom didn’t have a middle and it didn’t effect her, but I like carrying on culture/family through the middle.
[name_f]Honor[/name_f] names are a must- I think honoring family is important. To me, that doesn’t mean using a person’s exact name, but you can also use a variant of their name or something that honors their memory or even a name that they personally loved. For me, I consider [name_f]Marta[/name_f] an honor name because my mom loves The Sound of [name_f]Music[/name_f], it was the first movie she saw in theatres as a child and we both love it, even if it isn’t her name.
MN can be anything: preferably, I’d use something that honors family or tradition or my religion, but if I want to use a word middle or something different, I will.
Okay with/enjoy Alliteration with FN-MN: I would use alliteration as long as it isn’t too sing-songy, it has to flow right. I don’t like alliteration with first last because it starts to like [name_u]Pepper[/name_u] Pots or something. I’d use something like [name_f]Calliope[/name_f] [name_f]Catherine[/name_f] because I like the flow, but not [name_m]Jonas[/name_m] [name_u]James[/name_u], I don’t like the flow there. I wouldn’t intentionally seek it out either.
Test your names out on family/friends: ONLY WITH MY DH, MY MOM/DAD, MY MOTHER/FATHER IN [name_m]LAW[/name_m] (if I like them). I know parents won’t stear me wrong. I’d test out only by saying in passing “do you like X name”, not pouring over my lists together and telling them combos. I want to make the decision with only small input. I’d probably only ask the names I am unsure of. I think using online forums is a great way to get non-biased feedback if I need it.
The names shouldn’t be similar: I’d prefer to have individual names in my family. In Greek communities, names are used over and over and you know many people with the same name. It gets confusing. I don’t want the confusion with other cousins. But if, for example, my cousin used [name_m]William[/name_m] and I used [name_m]Basil[/name_m] (which are the same in Greek), I think I’d be okay with using it because we don’t talk to each other in Greek and [name_m]William[/name_m] and [name_m]Basil[/name_m] sound very different in English. But if my cousin used [name_f]Zoe[/name_f] and I wanted to use [name_f]Zoe[/name_f], I would let it go. You’re already going to be confused with other people in the Greek community “Are we talking about [name_f]Maria[/name_f] Kokkinos or [name_f]Maria[/name_f] Kostadis?” so I’d rather not have it within my own family.
Any name is up for grabs: Unless a person has specifically said to you, “I’m using this name for a future child,” and they are married/engaged/in a committed relationship, if someone else says a name and you fall in love with it, use it. If the person is in a state where logically, they could be starting a family and they tell you their favorite combo and you use it, that’s mean and shame on you (unless, by some huge coincidence it’s the same combo as your favorite name). You don’t know how much arguing might’ve gone into picking that name. But if the person is a fifteen year old cousin, and they tell you their favorite name and it happens to be yours too, I’d use it. Name styles change in weeks, let alone years in which this person will likely have a kid.
Wait to name child until birth (based on the name you feel is right/think they look like): I’d go to the hospital with a couple combos ready, no more than 3, and see which one suits the child best.

[ottertails]

I’m so glad to see participation and that some of you enjoyed it! I love reading through all of these.

I lean more towards the combo/diminutive names. I’d be more likely to use [name_f]Greta[/name_f] and [name_f]Margot[/name_f] over [name_f]Margaret[/name_f], [name_f]Tessa[/name_f] over [name_f]Theresa[/name_f], and [name_f]Nora[/name_f] over [name_f]Eleanor[/name_f]. I still like a lot of formal names, but I don’t think I could see myself as a mom to an [name_f]Araceli[/name_f] or [name_f]Victoria[/name_f].

No to hyphenated/double names

I prefer sex-specific names for fns, but I adore many combos with frilly fns with unisex middles. There’s something so energetic about them for me. I also tend to like girl names that have a nn option that leans more masculine in case they feel the name I gave them is too frilly (e.g., [name_f]Colette[/name_f] nn [name_m]Cole[/name_m], [name_f]Juliet[/name_f] nn [name_u]Jet[/name_u]).

I’m torn between using endearments and whether I’d nn. I tend to nn pets and refer to them by multiple things, so I feel like there’s a chance that I could be a big nicknamer. On the other hand, I always liked that my parents used things like “sweetie pie” and it’s equally as likely that I could go that route. It would probably depend on the name I pick. A name like [name_f]Freya[/name_f] with few nn options would receive endearments, while [name_m]Abram[/name_m] would get the nns since I like all of them.

I don’t actively avoid nns I don’t like, but I do place the names further down my lists. I really like [name_m]Alistair[/name_m] and [name_m]Alaric[/name_m], but I’d really dislike it if my child went by [name_m]Al[/name_m].

I don’t feel strongly about occupation names. Surnames are a whole different ball game. I have one I’d like to use as a mn for an honor. Beyond the honoring, I’ve found that I really like the sound of many surnames in the middle spot.

A big yes for mythological/pop culture/literary names.

There are some word names I like, and I tend to prefer them in the middle.

When it comes to recently made up names or ones with a history, I tend to prefer ones with a history. However, if the made up ones were created going by language rules and creating meaning then I like it (e.g., [name_f]Eowyn[/name_f]).

Name meaning is considered, but not enough of a reason to remove a name. I’d still consider [name_f]Cecilia[/name_f] or [name_m]Gideon[/name_m] despite the meaning.

Original spellings and legitimate alternate spellings are my preference.

Associations are considered, but I’d only consider removing a name if it’s especially bad. Popularity is considered, but not enough to remove a name over.

Initials only matter if they spell something bad.

Flow of the name is important to me, but associations and good meaning mean more.

I do like subtle themes between siblings, but I wouldn’t set out to make a theme. When it comes to twins, I think a subtle theme can be sweet.

Using a (non-sacred) name from a religion or culture that you aren’t apart of (includes agnostic/atheist using biblical names): I like a lot of nordic names, but I don’t have Scandinavian heritage. There’s also quite a few biblical names I like and would use.

I’d probably use 1 middle, but I have considered 2 in certain situations.

I’d really like to use honor names in the middle, but they are always names that I like. I wouldn’t use a name I dislike just because it honors.

For me, the MN can be almost anything.

I wouldn’t necessarily set out to make an alliterative combo, but I do like a lot of them. I do think they make a person more memorable (e.g., [name_m]Sebastian[/name_m] [name_m]Stan[/name_m], [name_f]Lucy[/name_f] [name_f]Lu[/name_f]), but there is a risk of sounding comic book-ish in some combo.

I’d probably test my names out on both. I do think it helps to hear different associations people might have about names. At the same time, family knows me well and their opinions are important to me.

You’d be okay with your child having a name that sounds similar to a cousin/close friend’s child/The names shouldn’t be similar. I hated growing up that my older family members had to go through all the names to get to mine because they sound too similar. I’d like to avoid that, but similarities like names with a particular ending sound would be fine.

“Name stealing” can happen: I think it really depends on the scenario and how close you are to the person. I have a friend who has had a name picked out since she was in elementary school, so if I were to use it I would definitely feel like I was stealing. However, if it was a coworker or an acquaintance I wouldn’t care about using the same name.

Have a name already picked out (they will grow to fit the name): I don’t think I could wait because it would drive me nuts to not have it already in place. I also think I would like it for bonding reasons. I also don’t think people “look” like certain names, so waiting wouldn’t help me at all.

[Laney916]

I prefer formal names, but I’d use a diminutive if I feel it can stand alone.

No hyphenated or double barrel first and middle names.

Gender specific. I don’t like boys’ names for girls and vice versa. Very few unisex names, though I like [name_u]Jesse[/name_u] as a middle name for a boy.

I like some nicknames, but if the name has nicknames I don’t like, I use the full name or go outside the box a bit.

No occupations/surnames as first names. Depends on the name if it’s in the middle, but most of them I don’t like.

I’m fine with some pop culture, mythological, and literary names.

Generally no word names. [name_f]Hope[/name_f] and [name_f]Joy[/name_f] are okay in the middle spot though.

No made up names.

I consider the name meaning.

I prefer the original spellings, but some alternate spellings are fine if they’re legitimate variants from other cultures (Lilija instead of [name_f]Lilia[/name_f] is one of my favorite alternate spellings. It is the Latvian form). No creative spellings.

I consider name associations. If they’re associated with someone I have trouble with, a character I can’t stand, or an evil person, it stays off my list.

Popularity is important. I’d rather not use a first name that is in the top 200, but would consider it for a middle name. I love [name_f]Audrey[/name_f] and [name_f]Olivia[/name_f], but they’re very popular. I had a very popular name growing up and there were almost always 2 or more other kids with the same first name as me, so I had to use my last initial too. I couldn’t do that to my kids.

Initials are somewhat important. If they spell out something like D.A.M. (pretty close to a certain mild swear word except for one letter) or P.I.G, then no way.

I avoid religious names because I am not religious, but I love names from various cultures. I tend to gravitate towards Slavic (especially Latvian and Russian) and Irish names though.

1 or 2 middle names. It depends on how long the names are and if they go well with the first and last name.

I like honor names, and I will use them if I like the name and I’m fairly close to that person.

Middle names can be pretty much anything. Not a fan of fillers, but I like [name_f]Rose[/name_f] and [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f].

Some alliteration is okay, but I don’t want the whole name to begin with the same letter.

I run names by family, friends, and baby name forums.

I’d prefer that my children’s names aren’t too similar to another family member or friend’s children’s names.

If name stealing happens, I will ignore it and simply pick a different name.

I don’t have any kids yet, but I’m most likely picking names ahead of time. My first daughter will be named [name_f]Lilia[/name_f]/Lilija [name_f]Genevieve[/name_f]. I’m still undecided for a boy.

[lu_brasil]

Formal fn: I normally prefer longer names with various nn options, so a more formal one is the way ([name_f]Georgiana[/name_f]: [name_m]George[/name_m], [name_u]Georgie[/name_u], [name_f]Gigi[/name_f], [name_f]Giana[/name_f], [name_f]Ana[/name_f], even [name_m]Johnny[/name_m]). However, I do like [name_f]Polly[/name_f] as a standalone name (it’s a nickname for [name_f]Mary[/name_f]), but for me, I would only use [name_f]Polly[/name_f] as a nn; I love [name_f]Lumi[/name_f], a formal name with a nickname vibe; and I [name_f]ADORE[/name_f] [name_f]Evita[/name_f] which is a nn for [name_f]Eva[/name_f]. While I’m comfortable with my child wearing such name, I think formal, nickname-y or wherever fn is ok.

Hyphenated/double names: everyone in my paternal family have a non-hyphenated double name, it’s something I’m used to it. In my list, most names are solo, but I have a crush on hyphenated names. Most of hyphenated names that I like don’t work in my language or are too childish (aka [name_f]Polly[/name_f]-[name_u]Blue[/name_u]), but I love them. One double name that I would probably use as a first is [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f] (eeh-vah).

Unisex, sex-specific and opposite sex names: I love them all. Because I want the fn to work in my native language (Portuguese), realistically talking, I would probably use sex-specific names (unisex names don’t exist in Portuguese). There is plenty of unisex names that I like, though, I prefer them on the opposite gender that you would expect: [name_u]Madison[/name_u], [name_u]Wren[/name_u] and [name_u]Quinn[/name_u] being boys while [name_u]Dylan[/name_u], [name_m]Clarke[/name_m], [name_u]Billie[/name_u] and [name_u]Logan[/name_u] are girls [adore [name_m]Clark[/name_m]/e for both genders actually]. In the opposite sex names category ([name_m]Clarke[/name_m] should be here, I think) my favorite name ever is [name_f]Eve[/name_f] for a boy. Unhappily, [name_f]Eve[/name_f] does not work in my language.

Normally, I call people “girl”, “boy”, “miss”, “sir”, “ma’am”, “kid”, “dude”, “dear”, “honey” or just plain “you” and after all these, I use the full given name of the person. With that in mind, I like to have one nn that I would feel comfortable using or introducing my child (some guys, NEED a nn to call you, so let’s facilitate things and choose one previously). For [name_f]Georgiana[/name_f], I would use [name_f]Giana[/name_f] or [name_m]Johnny[/name_m] because I don’t care for the others, though, I wouldn’t use a nn for [name_f]Elisa[/name_f], Sabá or [name_f]Lumi[/name_f] because I believe they don’t need one.

Use a name that has nn possibilities you don’t like/ Avoid names with nns you don’t like: it depends. I’m not a fan of [name_u]Cory[/name_u] for [name_f]Corona[/name_f], but then I imagine how would I feel if every relative and friend called her [name_u]Cory[/name_u] and only I used [name_f]Corona[/name_f] in daily basis. I would feel ok: [name_u]Cory[/name_u] is not my favorite nn for [name_f]Corona[/name_f] ([name_f]Cora[/name_f] or [name_u]Ronnie[/name_u] is), but I’m okay with it, I may start liking [name_u]Cory[/name_u] when my [name_u]Cory[/name_u] is here and growing or not. But there is [name_f]Angelina[/name_f]: doing the same test, I don’t like people using [name_u]Angie[/name_u] 100% of the time. So, I think you have to be ok (and do this little test) with the MAIN NN of the chosen one and then push for the full name of for an alternative nn (you love [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], but you have to be ok with people calling lil [name_f]Catherine[/name_f], [name_f]Cate[/name_f] sometimes. You can push for the full name, but as I said before, some people NEED a short form to call your children, so I recommend a different nn as [name_u]Kay[/name_u], [name_f]Cat[/name_f], [name_f]Rin[/name_f], [name_u]Terry[/name_u] or [name_f]Kitty[/name_f]).

Occupation names/surnames as fn/mn: I don’t care about meanings so I’m cool with it.

Mythological/pop culture/literary names: [name_u]LOVE[/name_u]. Names only have to be meaningful to me and my family and the most meaningful ones I take from these categories.

Word names: [name_u]LOVE[/name_u]. I adore word names from the normal ones ([name_f]Rosa[/name_f] and [name_f]Pearl[/name_f]) to downright weird such as [name_f]Tigerlily[/name_f], [name_f]Snowdrop[/name_f], Teardrop and [name_u]Pistol[/name_u].

Recently made-up names/ Names with a history of use only: I’m cool with both, but I don’t like when a name LOOKS made-up. [name_f]Margret[/name_f] may look made-up to some, but it’s a legit variation of [name_f]Margaret[/name_f] and #9 in Iceland (Margrét), while Auriana is apparently a creative variation of [name_f]Oriana[/name_f], but it looks like any other name full of history to me.

Name meaning doesn’t matter: “the meaning of a name is always a plus and never a loss”. The meaning is good? Great. The meaning is bad? Ok.

Original spellings & Legitimate alternate spellings: original spellings are nice, but you have to keep in mind where you intend to raise your child. So if I was raising my kid in the USA, I would rather name my daughter [name_f]Aileen[/name_f] or [name_f]Eileen[/name_f] instead of [name_f]Eibhlin[/name_f]/ [name_f]Aibhilin[/name_f], just because it’s easier.

Associations are considered, but I’d only consider removing a name if it’s especially bad/ OR TOO OBVIOUS FOR ME: I like the name [name_m]Victor[/name_m] very much, but I had this schoolmate named [name_m]Victor[/name_m] who has VERY annoying. Sometimes, when I think about [name_m]Victor[/name_m], my first thought is about him and sometimes is not. I’m certain that if I ever have a child named [name_m]Victor[/name_m], I will completely forget about this guy from my past. Other name full of associations for me is [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]. I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the Arthurian legends and I have a good relationship with all the Arthurs that I know (all good guys), however I wouldn’t name my child [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] because all I can think about are the Arthurs that I met (it’s like I can’t use the name, because it already belong to them).

Popularity is considered, but not enough to remove a name over: I live in a place where popularity is serious business. If you chose a Top 10 name, your child will share her/his name with 2 or 3 (minimum) other classmates (I’m talking about a small class like 28 people). But if a Top 10 name is THE name, it is the name; don’t fight it.

Initials only matter if they spell something bad/ OR SOMETHING GOOD: BAD or LSD is ok, ASS isn’t. My initials spell the word for NERD in my language, I’m a little bothered by it, but it’s not the end of the world (be aware that I grew up in a time and place where nerd was still an insult). But I REALLY like when the initials spell another name such as [name_f]EVA[/name_f] or something fun as [name_m]FOX[/name_m]. If I had already chosen the fn and I noticed that if the mn start with some specific letter, the initials will form a word that I like, I would push for the desired initials, but I have to like the middle name or no deal. I like the idea of using your initials as a nn.

Flow is considered: I nice flow is great, but everyone (me and partner) liking the names individually and in the combo is more important. Combos that run together and combos that are hard to pronounce (and harsh sounding aka [name_f]Scarlett[/name_f] [name_f]Raga[/name_f]) can be quite charming.

Obvious theme names for TWINS: my ideal sibset style is “Chaos” and totally mismatched. [name_u]Madison[/name_u], [name_f]Raga[/name_f], [name_f]Marie[/name_f], Emilianina, [name_u]Billy[/name_u] and [name_m]Carlos[/name_m]: this BGGGBB sibset is perfect for me. However, I like the idea of having an obvious theme for twins such as both having Arthurian names or two girls named [name_f]Selene[/name_f] and [name_f]Luna[/name_f], though these thematic names will be on the middle name spot; or one thematic name is a fn ([name_f]Selene[/name_f] [name_u]Rae[/name_u]) and the other is a mn ([name_f]Teresa[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f]).

Stick only to names of your religion or culture: I’m a descendant of various immigrants of various origins so my culture is a big mix. My religion doesn’t have a name, it’s a bunch of beliefs and habits taken from Christianism, Judaism, Spiritism, Umbanda, Candomblé etc. I try to stick with cultures I identify with and names that don’t bring solely one culture to mind. Though, I think you can name your kid wherever you want and if the name in question is the name of someone you respect, I think you can use it not caring about your cultural background (you’re Japanese and you want to name your child [name_f]Cher[/name_f] or [name_m]Wagner[/name_m] feel free to do it).

In my country, we don’t have middle names, but I like the idea very much. 1 middle is enough for me, but I’m totally ok with 2. Mainly, if one is a honor and the other is simply a name that the parents like. I also like some double names as mn (aka [name_f]Eva[/name_f] [name_f]Luna[/name_f]) which gives the impression of 2 middles.

No honoring: I don’t like honoring AT ALL. I prefer names full of meanings to me (and a future partner) like using a very ethnic name to represent my culture (a part of it) or naming my kid after a character from a book I like and feel that is a great role model. But if a HAVE TO use a honor name, I prefer something generic e.g. in my family people have double names and most women are [name_f]Maria[/name_f] Something, so I would use [name_f]Maria[/name_f] or a variation of it instead of a name associated with only one person or I could use the name of the farm where generations of my family lived. Independently of the name, I would put the honor name in the middle spot (except [name_u]Marion[/name_u]).

MN can be anything: pretty much.

I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] alliteration, but I don’t make a combo thinking “this one needs to have alliteration”, it simply happens.

Only test the names out on an online forum: though, I don’t test them a lot.

You’d be okay with your child sharing a name with a cousin/ close friend’s child ONLY IF THAT’S SOMETHING I SHOULD EXPECT: [name_f]Angelina[/name_f] is #69 in United States so a cousin or a classmate sharing the same name is not surprising, the problem is when the parents choose a name because is unique and the kid will be the only one in the class with such name and then your [name_m]SIL[/name_m] choose the same name. I wouldn’t be happy about it, but it’s a great opportunity to use your child’s middle or a crazy nn.

Any name is up for grabs: you can name your child wherever you want. BUT if your cousin/ friend IS pregnant with a BOY and she says “I [name_u]LOVE[/name_u] the name [name_m]Theodore[/name_m]” and you also love the name [name_m]Theodore[/name_m] and you think it’s THE ONE, you have to give the girl a heads-up. And you have to be prepared to have 2 Theodores in your social circle. Actually, I think the same rule should be applied when this cousin/ friend is pregnant with the opposite gender (maybe she’s dealing with disappointment over her baby’s sex) or is TTC (she may have infertility issues idk).

Wait to name child until birth (based on the name you feel is right/ think they look like): I will do the same as my mother (probably). She had a name picked out and two backup names if I didn’t fit the original choice and to calm my parents (comparing the 2 alternatives, which they both agreed, to the main name, they were more confident with their choice).

[foreverharriet]

I have a mixture of formal and nickname first names on my list. There are more formal ones than nickname ones, but I don’t by any means think it’s necessary to have a formal official name to get to a nickname name.
I’m not usually a fan of hyphenated or double names, but I do really like the Spanish/Portuguese tradition of double names (e.g. [name_f]Maria[/name_f] [name_f]Constance[/name_f])
I like names that are both gender-specific and unisex. I wouldn’t rule out or immediately accept a name because of it.
I use nicknames all the time, but still use formal names fairly regularly.
I wouldn’t avoid names with nicknames I don’t like.
I don’t like occupational names.
I’m open to some literary names and some more conventional mythological names, but most pop culture names and most names that are too out-there I don’t like.
I don’t like word names
I don’t like names that don’t sound like names, so I tend not to like recently made-up names, but also older names that sound like they’re made-up.
The meaning of a name doesn’t matter to me. If it’s a nice meaning, then that’s a bonus.
I like looking at a name’s legitimate alternative spellings (like [name_f]Catherine[/name_f]/[name_f]Katherine[/name_f]) but absolutely nothing ‘kreativ’
Associations are mildly important. If it’s a strong association then I’d avoid the name
Popularity is not important.
Initials are only important if they spell out something bad.
The flow is important.
A theme is not particularly important – style matters more to me.
I’d avoid using names from other cultures or religions unless they are commonly used by other people outside those cultures (e.g. [name_f]Hannah[/name_f] – I know about ten Hannahs, and most if not all are not Jewish or [name_m]Christian[/name_m])
One middle name, perhaps two. I would want continuity with this – all kids would have the same number of middles.
I’d only use an honour name if the person I was honouring was dead or old or extremely important to me/SO.
Middle names would be names I like. If it was related to a family tradition that would be a coincidence (but I don’t think there is a family tradition so)
I really enjoy alliteration in the first and middle names, but it’s not an aim. For example, I love the combo [name_m]Lucas[/name_m] [name_m]Levi[/name_m] but paired them because I liked how they sounded together, not because of the alliteration.
I’d test out the top few names with close family and friends, but go with my gut.
I wouldn’t be okay with giving my child the name of a friend’s child or a cousin’s child.
I’d be a bit paranoid about name stealing but just wouldn’t share with people also expecting!
I’d go into the birth with a short list and give the one that fits best.

[OliviaSarah]

Formal fn	Nickname fn	Combo fn (previous diminutives that work on their own)
…	No hyphenated/double names	…
…	Sex-specific names	…
…	Use endearments (fn used the majority of the time)	…
Use a name that has nn possibilities you don’t like	…	…
…	Occupation names/surnames as fn/mn only if it honors	No occupation names/surnames as fn/mn
Mythological/pop culture/literary names	…	…
Word names	…	…
…	Names with a history of use only	…
Name meaning is very important	…	…
Original spellings	Legitimate alternate spellings	…
…	…	Associations don’t matter
…	Popularity is considered, but not enough to remove a name over	…
…	Initials only matter if they spell something bad	…
…	Flow is considered	…
…	…	Avoid theme names
…	Stick only to names of your religion or culture	…
0-1 mn	2 mns	…
[name_f]Honor[/name_f] names are a must	…	…
MN can be anything	MN related to family tradition (may or may not be honoring)	…
Okay with/enjoy Alliteration FN-MN	Okay with/enjoy Alliteration FN-LN	…
…	Only test the names out on an online forum	…
…	You’d be okay with your child having a name that sounds similar to a cousin/close friend’s child	The names shouldn’t be similar
…	“Name stealing” can happen	…
Wait to name child until birth (based on the name you feel is right/think they look like)	Have a name already picked out (they will grow to fit the name)	…