I was talking to my mom on the phone last night, and she was really keen on discussing baby names. Like, super focused. Every time I tried changing the subject, she veered right back to discussing whether we should name it Mason or Porter if it’s a boy (her picks) or Jayne if it’s a girl (the Y makes it hip and modern, she said). I think she’s concerned Jake and I will name the baby something really weird or out-there, like Cobalt or Shasta, or jump on the vintage name trend by bestowing a purposefully ugly Victorian moniker — something like Bertha or Agatha — in order to be edgy and different. She didn’t mince words. She was very adamant about us NOT naming the child something he or she will hate us for later in life, such as “Shannon” or “Leslie” if it’s a boy or “Audrey” if it’s a girl (”Everyone will call her AUD!” she said. “ODD!!!! You can’t do that to a little girl!”)
Rest assured, I know whatever name we go with, there’s a good chance my mom won’t approve. As a litmus test, I shared our current favorite girl’s name with her. (I won’t share it here because I’m superstitious about these things.)
She was silent for a minute. “Hmmm,” she said. “That’s…………….interesting.”
“Interesting.” Everyone knows that “interesting” is mom-speak for “THIS is how I raised you?”
I guess I can’t I blame her. This will be my mom’s first grandchild and she wants to make sure her baby our baby will be happy and healthy, which won’t be the case if it’s a boy named Sue.
Jake’s mom seems a little more chilled out about it. I think it’s because she already has six kids of her own and four grandkids and probably has a hard time remembering most of their names anyway. When ours finally comes along, she might be like, “Shasta who?”
UPDATE: My mom responds: “Those two words you crossed out in your [exaggerated] blog post need to be put back in. This first baby is mine. Any others beyond this one, you and Jake can have. But this one belongs to her Granny!!!”
I vote for Mason, boy or girl.
You are right about not sharing the name with anyone until the baby is born and the name is on the birth certificate. there will always be someone who will say “interesting…” or “I knew someone named ______, and they were ___________ (something not good).
Rest assured that whatever name you decide on, and keep a closely guarded secret, it will be the perfect name. And when the baby arrives and you say “Hello, ________”, you will think “how could I have ever thought about any other name than this one.”
Good luck with this, I have decided Religion, Polotics and baby names are equal when it comes to discussions. I love off beat names that are unique without being rediculous however I ended up with boy named Parker and a girl named Piper something we thought unique but apparently isn’t. There was so much controversy surrounding our name choices I was about to start naming my kids Thing one and thing two
First of all, you are correct. I cannot remember anyone’s name. I just go through the list til I hit the right one. Secondly, the only name you should be considering is Gale because, as I have pointed out on numerous occasions, it is TRULY perfect for a girl or a boy. And it is a lot better than the name Mason. Third, I am trusting that you and Jake will not pick out some ugly name that will be an embarrassment to everyone involved. Names like my aunt’s were blessed with–Ethel, Alma, Estelle and Edna– will not be appreciated by your child. Stick with names of people who gave birth to your husband and you and your child will be eternally blessed.
How is that for chilled??
It’s funny, in a warped sort of way, how our relationship with parents changes after that first baby. Beware! I really enjoy your bog.
We named our son Henry because I just loved the name (and yes, it happens to be my father-in-law’s name). One of my best friends refused to call him Henry at first because it was an “old man’s name.” She preferred Augustus, his middle name. We named Helen after Helen of Troy, and there were several great friends who swore we were cursing her for life. The greatgrandmother was concerned that her middle name, Aurelia, was an “ethnic” name. I preferred the associations with golden light and yes, that was also Caesar’s mother’s name. It didn’t take long (maybe 3 months) for all the fuss to fade away. Henry and Helen are fully themselves and I have no doubt that they will define their own names. I can’t wait to read your choice- it will be perfect.
Mom Wilson: Gale Jayne Barbara Wilson….does that work? ; ) JK
Laura: I love the name Henry! That’s one of my faves. And Helen is cool, too….it’s ripe for a comeback! JK
Jaimelee: It’s funny how you come up with names that feel unique and fresh only to find out those same names are percolating in other parents’ minds as well. Same goes for Zachary, Ruby and many others. A good name is a good name, I guess. JK
I am reading your blog from the beginning and as an AUDrey have to chime in even tho this was posted last year.
No one ever called me Aud. One friend tried, but it never caught on, same for ‘Drey. Nope, just doesn’t work.
Audrey is one of those names that just does not shorten well, for future reference. =)
Hi Audrey: My mom is kind of obsessed with the nickname part of names. She’s convinced that people can’t help but want to shorten the syllables as much as humanely possible. I tend not to agree with her. Especially when the nickname part of the name is stilted like ‘Aud.’ Glad no one calls you that! -JK