Need Help with Figuring Out a Compromise on Baby Names

Updated on November 11, 2006
S.L. asks from Marshall, NC
25 answers

My husband and I do not agree on any girl names. What is the best way to compromise in choosing a name?

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J.M.

answers from Richmond on

I know just how you feel. My fiance' didn't like any of the names I suggested, and I didn't like the ones he did. So, what we did is I picked the first name, and he picked the middle name and we left it at that. You could also try it the other way around and see how that goes. If all else fails, maybe a family member can help you decide and come to an agreement.

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V.R.

answers from Charlotte on

My husband and I could not decide on a name. So we put all the names that we absolutely liked in a hat and my husband's cousin picked a name out. It was quick and easy and we were satisfied.

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D.E.

answers from Lynchburg on

My sister-in-law came up with a name that combined my brothers name and hers. You may want to try something like that. Congrats.

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W.H.

answers from Spartanburg on

What I did was give him a list of the girl names that I like and I asked him to choose his top 3 names. We decided on the name but one week before I was due, he asked if we could shorten the baby's first name. I agreed and I added that I got to change the spelling of the middle name. So, we came to a compromise....We have the most gorgeous baby girl named Alexa Teegan.

Who named the 2 year old? If he had more to do with her name perhaps he will let you name your baby girl...

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T.B.

answers from Asheville on

YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND HAVE TO REALIZE ONE THING....A BABY'S NAME IS PRETTY MUCH IRRELLIVENT AS LONG AS THE CHILD IS HEALTH!! I HAVE TWO OF THE BEST FRIENDS IN THE WORLD, THEY NEVER THOUGHT MUCH ABOUT WHAT TO NAME THEIR DAUGHTER AND SHE IS GORGOEUS BUT IT TURNS OUT THAT SHE WAS BORN WITH NOT ONE BUT TWO HOLES IN HER LITTLE HEART AND SHE HAS DOWN SYNDROME!!NOW, DO YOU REALLY NEED TO FIGHT OVER THE NAME OF YOUR CHILD? BY THE WAY HER NAME IS GRACIE ANN!!GOOD LUCK!!BUT I HOPE YOU GOT MY POINT!THE HEALTH OF A CHILD IS THE IMPORTANT ISSUE NOT THE NAME YOU COULD NAME HER CLAMIDY JANE AS LONG AS SHE WAS HEALTH YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND PROBALLY WOULDN'T CARE!!T.

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S.M.

answers from Huntsville on

Well what my husband and I done with all 3 of our chidren, was I pick the girls names and he picks the boys, that way there is no arguing and disagreeing. Luckly, I had 3 girls, so I got to name them all...lol, he was ok with that though, that was the way we worked it out.

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L.N.

answers from Montgomery on

Once you have your names picked out, put them all in a hat and have your 2 year pick.

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V.L.

answers from Norfolk on

Congratulations and good luck! Here's an idea - go somewhere neutral like Barnes & Noble or the library and look up names in books with the meanings described. Don't go for ordinary books! Look for eclectic books. Make a game out of it; for instance, make a list each in about 30 minutes and compare. (This is how my husband & I came up with our son's name!) Also in Europe they are making up their own (usually putting two names together.)

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L.G.

answers from Anniston on

My Husband and I also had the same problem deciding on a name for our little girl (who was born in June 05!). What we ended up doing is I went through the book and pick out all the names that I liked and sorta liked. I didn't let him see my list. then He went through the book and listed all the names that he liked and sorta liked. Then we compared our list. It really helped and gave us a good idea of what we both sorta liked. It took my husband forever to do it though. I hope this helps and wish you the best of luck finding a beautiful name for your little girl.

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L.W.

answers from Birmingham on

I looked and looked, I knew her middle name would be Evelyn and not alot goes with Evelyn, so I wrote down lots of names, went through the list with my husband, he told me ones he didn't like, so I finally narrowed it down between Gracie Evelyn and Sarah Evelyn, I liked both names so I told him to pick and he chose Sarah. I would do the list thing and say names together and see how they flow. Good Luck and Congratulations!!

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J.S.

answers from Richmond on

Too bad my husband isn't reading this post- he is the MASTER at the whole naming game. He actually keeps a running list on the computer and updates it now and then when he needs to make changes! We already have our daughter's name picked out, but he keeps the list going- just in case we decide to have a third!!

This is what we did...We each made a list of our favorite names. We then gave it to each other and crossed off the ones we would not even consider. Then he made a new list of top five names and had me rank-order them (I'm tell you, he's crazy!). After we each ranked them, he added them up and the lowest score won! It was silly, but fun at the same time.

Good luck!

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C.R.

answers from Spartanburg on

Hi S.:
I went thru the same thing with my son. However, I didn't know what I was going to have until the day he was born. My husband and I agreed on a girls name but not a boys. So this is what I done. I told him you choose one name and I will choose one name
and we will combine for the first and middle name. If you don't find one that way, then try you choosing one and him choosing another. If you like one of his then you choose one.
Compromise putting together the name for your baby and then she will have a name picked by both parent.

Good Luck!
C.

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J.K.

answers from Raleigh on

What my husband and I did was make a list of names. We went through each one and if one of us didn't like it we crossed it off the list. We did this through the entire pregnancy. by the 8th month I knew what her 1st name was going to be. Savannah. When she was born I decided on Brianne for the middle name because she looked axactly like her father whos name is Brianne. So just keep searching for names and if you can't decide keep a list with you. When I went into the hospital I actually had a list in my bag of names and Brianne was one of them. Don't worry you will figure it out.

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S.

answers from Spartanburg on

Get a piece of paper for both of you and each one write down 10 names they like. Then switch papers and the other person gets to remove 5 from your list. Then you have to pick at least two from your partners list that you like. Either narrow it down, or put the 4 in a hat and draw, one will be the first name and the other the middle. It gives each of you the options to remove any that you absolutely hate and compromise together and each have a name that you like in your babies name.

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S.H.

answers from Spartanburg on

My husband and I have the same problem!! We named our son before we even knew he was a boy and we had another boy name picked out this time and low and behold it's a girl! If you find anything that works let me know, lol!!!

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A.S.

answers from Raleigh on

Hi S.,
Have you tried taking a few letters from a name your husband likes and a few letters from a name you like and making a name like that? Take for example, a friend of mine used the first two letters of her husband's name and the first two letters of her first name and created "Jaei" (pronounced Jay)...and used that as the baby's middle name (Alannah Jaei). There is also a great baby name book at Barnes and Noble called "Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana: What to Name Your Baby Now"
by Linda Rozenkrantz, Pamela Redmond Satran

Good Luck!
A.

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S.R.

answers from Norfolk on

I agree with that.. put the names in a hat that you mostly agree on... but just can't make that final decision and pick one. Whatever comes out will be the name, you must make the agreement that whatever name is picked is the name for your little one. But keep in mind you can go up until your delivery day you don't have to have a name, once he/she arrives you will know right away what to call her/him. Hope this helps.

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M.G.

answers from Gadsden on

Well you still have some time..maybe you will find one you both like..it took my husband and me forever to decide on one together. I have 3 girls savannah, kaylee, and morgan and I am due June 15th :P lol it is probably another girl! Congrats on your pregnancy! I am sure you will figure out a name you both like.
What my husband and I did last time was write down all the names we liked on a piece of paper separately, switched them and circled the ones we liked and then just kept narrowing them down. We haven't even started thinking of names yet lol....

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T.F.

answers from Charleston on

Hey S.

I have 2 little girls and what I did for the first was we both picked out the first name( more me then him) and he picked out the middle. It worked out that one of his name that he liked could be mixed with mine fav., so we put the names together. Then as luck would have it I had a another little girl who was born 11 months later and he picked her first name out. Of course non of his names were too bad. Is there any name that you have common ground on, that you both like? If it helps think about what nick names will come from the names that you pick and what her initials would be.

____@____.com- email anytime
A mother of 3 (4 if u count the hubby =) )

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S.H.

answers from Charlotte on

Give him the baby name bok and have him pick his 10 favorite names. Then you do the same. Neither of you look at the others till you are done. Then switch lists. Make him pick five from your list that he likes and you do the same. Whichever names the other picks are the first and middle name. Remember, you are on the same team and you both want a name your KID will want to live with.

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S.A.

answers from Huntsville on

When I was pregnant with my first daughter we thought it was going to be our last and we both had names we had loved forever. Only they were different. So we put the 1st names in a hat and drew and then the middle names. Made each other promise to be content with whatever came out. Luckily 17 mos later we got to use the other names ;) lol.

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A.C.

answers from Spartanburg on

Don't worry about it...when you are in delivery he will give you whatever you want! Go along with whatever he says now, but when you are giving birth to her you can tell him what you want and be sure to get it. Trust me, it's happened to 2 different friends of mine! Good luck with both babies!

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J.A.

answers from Lynchburg on

My husband and I are going through the same. We have two boys and are expecting another child the first of May. We have had little problem selecting a girl's name. However, we seem to have hit a brick wall where a boy's name is concerned. He likes a name that I don't and I like a name he doesn't. It seems that everytime either one of us suggests a name the other doesn't agree with it. So we are currently in the process of going through family names. Hopefully we will find a name there that we both like. So maybe you and your husband would find a girl's name that you both like going through your family tree.

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C.M.

answers from Dothan on

When I found out I was pregnant I wanted to name my Daughter Madilyn Claire! Well my husband didn't even pretend to like the name Madilyn! I was of course a little upset because I had always wanted to name my Daughter Madilyn Claire! Well we came up with a compromise that he would pick her first name and her middle name would still be Claire. So we ended up with Madison Claire :)

Just a thought :)

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K.C.

answers from Norfolk on

When we could not decide on a name for our second son we each made a list of our top 20 names. There was only one name we both had on our lists so we used that name. :D You can also do it like mentioned and make a list and then have the other cross out names that you really do not like. It is difficult when you can't agree. But we were lucky to find one name we both liked. Caleb. For the middle name Dh let me use my number one choice (Izaac).

We had an easier time with the first and last child because my husband chose our oldest child's name, He suggested Dylan and I was okay with it. I had agreed to let him choose the name as long as I could tolerate it. Dylan's middle name is the same as my husband's. With our daughter I knew right away her middle name would be Melinda (after my sister who passed away) and my husband agreed to let me choose her name though he had vetoing poewr if he absolutely hated something. (Like i did with our oldest child's name) So I chose Isabella. Who chose your oldest child's name? Maybe you could do something like that,

Any way you decide it is hard to agree. But once the baby has arrived and has been named even if you have to compromise you won't be able to imagine your child having any other name after awhile. Best of luck to you :)

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