Picking a name for your baby must be like what people go through when deciding on a tattoo. There are so many to choose from and you want to pick something that you'll love forever. These days it seems like people are trying to pick a name that is somewhere between popular and unheard of. A little less than David. A little more than Rumplestiltskin. And while it might sound ridiculous now, had my parents named me Neil, as they were close to doing, I think my life would have ended up differently. Adams and Neils just don't take the same paths. You're looking to start your youngster out on the right foot. So Jeffrey Jefferson is probably out....
When I was sitting in a large meeting at work one day, I used my notepad originally designed for taking notes and jotted down every name I liked that came to my head. I think by the end of the meeting I had about 25 names. They were all girl names since those are the names my gut is telling me are going to matter. I went back to my desk excited to run them by Kelly to see how many she liked. What happened next was like shooting fish in a barrel.
Monica? No way, no one from TV shows
Carmen? Sounds like karma
Zoe? Too popular now
Gretchen? 4th grade bully
Lucy? She was mean to Charlie Brown
The trip from elated to deflated was a quick one. But I realized I was naive in my initial thinking. Picking a name can't be about one person convincing the other that it works. It has to be a name that both people give a chance and eventually grow to love together. The other day we took a walk and we had our first Name Fest And this time a few made it through the killing fields. Names that are sweet and easy, fresh and fun. Names that over the next six months might produce the one that makes it to end.
The name that changes it all. The name we give to our baby.
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