The answer is YES, you can and should take part in the process of selecting your child's name. Because you're part of this new generation of fathers who don't throw their parenting responsibilities into mom's lap. You'll be involved in choosing your baby's name... just like me. Believe me, it won't be easy.
Choosing a child's name takes 9 months
I'm actively involved in choosing our baby's name. After 31 weeks of pregnancy, one name is at the top of the list. I love it, she loves it. It was one of the first suggestions put forward, and nothing else has come up since. But it's not official yet, and we're sure we'll keep on searching until the very end!
Mom and Dad's infernal brainstorming
We don't make our chosen name official because... Mom is afraid. Afraid that our name will become too popular, or that we won't like it as much, or that a couple of friends will shootgun it before we do, or that our child won't like it. She's afraid that the name will evaporate and we'll have to find a plan B by cutting the cord, that we'll be uninspired and our child will end up being called Bobby because his parents were too irresponsible to foresee the catastrophe. Scary, huh?
To avoid this nightmarish situation, Mom's solution is to brainstorm. All the time. And I'm actively involved in choosing the name we'll give our baby ... Fa'que on brainstorme.
Breakfast and dinner, getting up and going to bed. We do top 10s on the phone. We share articles on Facebook.
She wakes me up at night and says, "Noah, do you like it?
If Noah makes a habit of scrapping my nights like his mother, no, I don't like it, Noah.
The meaning of baby names
We went so far as to read the meanings of first names on the Internet. Because it's a well-known fact that Antonies are all rational and Mathis all creative.
I'm telling you guys, that chaotic moment when your girlfriend lies down with the tablet in bed to read you your child's temperament according to its first name won't be the most pleasant part of pregnancy. You'll have to vary the intonation of your "Hmmm hmmm!" so that she doesn't notice your disinterest. If your acting betrays you, you'll be in for some serious reproaches about your involvement in the process. 3, 2, 1, Action!
First name selection criteria
She asked me to make a list of 5 other potential names:
- Carey, Wayne, Sidney, Jaromir, PK.
She didn't take any of my suggestions on board, telling me that field hockey players were to be avoided. Oh, don't think that's the only criterion!
Take notes:
- It takes a French name that pronounces well in English
- no compound first names, this isn't 1995
- the nickname must be cool and short
- the first name must be original but not too fancy
- the first name must be different from that of the children in the family or of our close and semi-close friends
- it can't rhyme with the family name
- no -y or -a endings.
(This list is subject to change without notice, depending on your spouse's trimester, fatigue level and Internet reading.)
Calling your child baby
With the mountain of projects we have to finish before our child is born, I find it hard to believe that so much energy is being spent looking for a detailed list of all the names we could possibly like, in case we don't like the name we like anymore.
In a few months, I'll be able to cradle my child and tell him how Mom and Dad went through a long and complicated process to finally select his name. You'll love this story, my beautiful Victor.
