Okay, a little silly -- do you really need a book for this? A quick Google search turns up all kinds of links about rock and roll baby names (like this, this, and this). But it's a topic that's near and dear to my heart. Here's why:
When we found out that we were expecting a girl, The Professor and I started brainstorming baby names at brunch 30 minutes later -- something we had been doing for weeks but not very seriously (mostly involving my husband coming up with names that rhymed with our last name, then laughing hysterically). Our favorite name website? Nymbler -- so much fun to enter different "favorites" and find out what else the site thought we might like as a result!
We generated a list of about 15 names, then decided to "sit on it" for a week. After our waiting period was over, we revisited the list and each picked out our top two favorites, then compared them. One name appeared on both -- and so we agreed that the decision-making was over! It's a name I've always liked with a great mythological connection and it's unique enough to be different, but not totally wacky.
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Little did I know that one of the main reasons it made my husband's "top picks" list was because there's a classic rock song with her name in it. At first, it sort of made me cringe (are we really going to be THOSE parents?!) but now I think it's pretty awesome. I always wanted a boy to be able to serenade me with a song that used my name, but Courtney doesn't seem to be a favorite amongst the power ballad set...
If we ever have another daughter, I'd seriously consider limiting our name choices to another one featured prominently in a song (Cecilia? Prudence? Valerie?). Otherwise, I tend to love names that are on the obscure side: Greer, Blythe, Siobhan, Maren. For boys, I've always loved the idea of naming a son after one of my favorite literary characters: either this one or this one (why are the only links about him on websites where you can buy pre-written term papers? I strongly disapprove and am going to have to write a tribute post at some point to improve his search engine results).
How about you? How did you pick your little one's name? What names are on your "if I ever have a baby" list (and are they the same ones you fantasized about in high school -- admit it, you totally had a list then too!)?
p.s. I really need to come up with a better abbreviation than "L" to use for my daughter -- maybe one of the nicknames we have for her? Or maybe I should just cave and start using her real name, privacy be damned...
We had the hardest time thinking of girl names-once we found out that we were having a boy, we narrowed it down to two pretty quickly, but we didn't make a final decision (okay, maybe I did) until Noah was born.
ReplyDeleteNow though, I feel like we need to think of names that fit with Noah (not that we're planning another one anytime soon). Names are hard because they're stuck with them forever!
It was terribly difficult picking boy names. I only knew I didn't want a chart topping name. In the end my husband had a little more weight in choosing Darwin (can you tell my husband is an ecologist?) because the middle name Lewis was sentimental to me (a family name on my mother's side.) I do hope we have a girl some day. I have some lovely names in mind!
ReplyDeleteWe didn't consult with anyone else while choosing a name and his name wasn't completely decided upon or revealed until his birth.
And now you've got me itching to know what your "L" stands for!
I love that you picked a name that has such meaning for you guys -- Darwin is super unique and very scholarly/manly. :)
DeleteThat's funny!! Maren has been hands down our #1, 100% agreed on girl baby name for years!! It's a great name and in some cultures means "wished for child." For us that's super appropriate.
ReplyDeleteI love finding new and interesting names, and I've kept a list going for years of ones that I love - complete with origin and name meaning info on each of them. I already had it going when I had both the boys - I don't think Parker was actually on it until we were considering it, but August was on there, thus why we used it! I figure it'll come in handy for any other future children, but also for pets. : ) Although, I already know what I would name my daughter or next son, should we decide to have one. Shay for my grandmother, or Braxton for another boy - another family name.
ReplyDeleteI also love the names Charlotte, Hattie, Knox, Reese and Jude. We considered Reese and Jude for August's name instead, but neither really fit that well with our last name.
P.S. Atticus is a fabulous name, too! : )
I would love to have that book even just for the novelty of it. I think it looks like fun. As for baby names, we won't decide until it comes, but B. really loves Adeline, which seems to be the subject of a few songs, one of which B. wrote himself!
ReplyDeleteI looooove the name Adeline! How sweet would that be?
DeleteWe had a pretty easy time coming up with girl names but it took us forever to agree on a boy name, thank goodness we had a girl! I love the name Willow and if we had a girl again that's what I would like to name her. Still not sure on boy names though lol.
ReplyDeleteOh and I am very curious to know what L stands for!
We didn't pick a name until Avery was born. HA! We had trouble agreeing on a name!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of that book as well, though I probably won't be buying it. I definitely have baby names on the brain, too, so we'll see how much time I can waste on Nymbler tonight. I almost forgot about that site! We chose Annabelle's name in a similar way to how you chose L's. We made list after list, and narrowed them down together, then each chose our favorites and looked at what each of lists had in common. It was really stinkin' hard to agree, and I don't see us settling on a name for this one until the very last minute.
ReplyDeleteAww. This is awesome. Craig and I were just talking about names the other night (we aren't thinking of having another one any time soon).
ReplyDeleteHe wanted Seamus. I wanted Aiden. We compromised and came up with Liam. He's still convinced that our next son is going to be named Seamus. Ha!
Also, I saw a link today with favorite songs about literature that made me think of you.
I love making lists, so baby names were absolutely included in my list making love. :) I, like you and your husband, did not want to be one of those parents who chose a name because it was a "rock star" or celebrity name... but then I became one of them. It was not with the mindset that I like so and so, therefore... I'm going to name my child after said person. Instead, I just really enjoyed the ring of the name. I never tired of saying it or hearing it, which was a big concern I had in choosing "the right" name for my little one. The middle name I chose was a breeze, but I didn't actually settle on the first name until I met my baby for the first time. I wanted to make sure the name "fit" the little person before me and my, oh my, did it fit. :) I love hearing (or reading) about how other parents decided upon their babe's name!
ReplyDeleteMy hubby and I have this conversation all the time, and we aren't trying for #2 yet either! We finally agreed on a girl's name...but the boys name...whew, that is a hard one. He likes very standard (boring) names...me, not so much! lol!
ReplyDelete♥ Kyna