The name game.

As baby fever gathers momentum, we've started to think about names.  Annie is part of a group, on Facebook, that is for people due to give birth in October 2012.  This is a common topic on there and has clear unwritten rules whereby prospective mothers don't actually divulge their true feelings towards each other's suggestions.  I think the purpose of this is so that you don't offend someone else's choices and in turn they won't make derogatory comments about your suggestions either.

Anyway, while we realise it's unlikely we'll decide on a name now and actually go all the way to birth with that name, it is nevertheless fun to have a think about it and get an idea of the sort of common ground that you share  in the naming arena.

I'm convinced that one of the biggest decisions you make in life is the naming of your child(ren).  It is something that sticks with them forever, it has an effect on how they and others view you and your child and most importantly they've got to like it when they're older.  It's good if it's not too common, but not so obscure that it's annoying (no-one likes the names of celebrity kids, do they?), it's probably nice if it can have a meaning that is also nice, and quite importantly it shouldn't remind you of someone unpleasant (you couldn't, for example, call your child Adolf - I'm aware he was more than unpleasant, but it makes a point).  It's also an added bonus if the name can be shortened (I know I often wanted a nickname when I was a kid and the best I ever got was Pezza, Pez or Pel.  Disappointing I think you'll agree, and I was never going to get a character name like "Tiny" as I'm not tall enough).  Another bonus is if you can pick a name that will suit a baby and will also will suit an adult.

Our main problem seems to be picking a name that isn't too upper or middle class (which we're not particularly) but I find it very difficult to think of many I like that aren't.  Another is that we'd rather not have a very Christian name (Stephen, David, Jesus etc.) as we're not religious and apart from anything it seems a little unfair on those that are.  Annie seems to find it harder to think of boys' names than girls' - which she has a lot of ideas for.

While not exactly a short list, we have had a few ideas, that Annie has written down in her pregnancy diary book.  Amongst others, for a girl: Zoë (I like this one because I think it's exotic and fun to have an umlaut in your name, Ivy (which I like because it's Earthy and not too common) and Katie (which I think just has a nice sound).  A few of the boy name ideas are: Oscar (maybe a bit posh), Hugo (one I liked but Annie went off) and Adrian (quite easily shortened to Ade.  We thought this might lead to people thinking of Ade Edmonson, but then thought that by the time the child is old enough to go to school few people would make such a connection).  One which was rather unfortunately ruled out was Robin (Robin Swift is just silly).

One area where you can be a little more expressive is middle names, as these are barely used.  I am still unsure as to whether to use the fact that my middle names are Francis Roland as reason to be kinder to my child or whether to exact vengeance by giving them a middle name (or names) that will be equally hilarious when read out at school.  I think I will avoid temptation and be lenient.  Middle names also seem a good opportunity to add a family name or two in there.  If we are to follow this route we have choices of: John, Colin and Raine from Annie's side of the family for a boy; Christopher, David, Francis and Reginald from mine.  If it is a girl, Marie, Florence and Jane on Annie's side; Sheila, Rose, Anne and Frances (again) on my side.

As you can see from this rambley entry, as per usual, it is definitely a minefield and not a task to be undertaken lightly.  I can only hope that we see our baby and a name immediately springs to mind, but for the moment while it is still in utero, Pip will do.