The Name Game

I'm sure we all have our reasons behind the choice we make for our children's names. When I was pregnant with Lincoln we decided to be surprised on the sex, so we picked out two girls names and two boys names. Our girls names were Bridget and Kira and our boys names were Lincoln and Adam. We chose our girls names because they were the only two that both Gabe & I could agree on and we liked both names. Gabe had picked the name Lincoln long before we started trying to get pregnant. He heard it on a TV show and liked the short form of it, Link. He told me that if we ever had a son we were naming him Lincoln. I was fine with this, I liked the name as well. I picked out a second boys name because what if we did have a boy, but he didn't look like a Lincoln. So, we both agreed on Adam as a second boys name. When Lincoln was born I immediately started calling him by his name, which Gabe says surprised him a little. But I knew when he was born that Lincoln was his name and it does fit him.

When my mom was pregnant with me, she and my dad picked out quite a few names.They too had decided to be surprised on the sex of both their children. My mom liked the names Leslie and Caitlin for a girl and they both liked Dylan for a boy. But when I was born it was my dad who named me. He declared "it's our little Summer, it's our little Summer" when I was born. I'm not sure how they decided on my brother's name, Griffin. I do, however, know that they were going to give me the full first name of Summer Thyme. But they thought I would get teased too much, so they just gave me Summer as a first name. You know, which I never got teased for (insert sarcasm).

Gabe's mom picked out Gabe's first name and his sister's and their dad picked out their middle names. I really liked that they did this, because both parents got to give their child a name. Gabe's dad, Gabe himself, and Lincoln all have the same middle name. Gabe's dad started the custom of passing down his middle name to his son. Gabe wanted to continue this and we hope that if Lincoln ever has a son he chooses to continue this custom. We like the idea of having a family name in our children's names. If we ever have a girl we will use Gabe's grandmother's middle name for our daughter's middle name. I like this because it's like always having a piece of family with you.


When it comes to name a child I know that it can be a tough decision and some times it takes partners awhile to agree on a name. Sometimes I think that two people don't realize that they are naming a human being. That that is a person that will have to live with that name for the rest of their life. Unless of course they really hate their name and choose to legally change it. But I mean there are so pretty ridiculous names out there and I wonder what people were thinking (or rather not thinking) when they decided to name their child. Now, I just want to say for all of my friends that are reading this I am not talking about any of you. All of my friends that have children I feel that they gave their children names that fit them perfectly. I think we all know the people I'm talking about. Celebrities. There are some famous people that give their children perfectly normal names and then there are those that just go a little too far. I mean with some of these names what do you call the child for short. Or what do other children and parents think when they hear that child's name called out on the playground.

I know we all have our reasons for the names we choose for our children, but these are little people. Some day they will be grown adults and I don't anyone that wants to have to put the name Pilot Inspektor or Audio Science on their job application. Also, think of the comments they'll get from customers if they ever work a retail job. I used to get teased a lot for my name or people didn't believe that my name really is Summer. After a certain point hearing the same jokes about your name just gets annoying. I know that naming a child can be difficult, because not only do we have to think about if the name will fit them or not of it's too popular of a name but we also have to think of the connotations that go with some names. I recently learned that, apparently, I have a stripper name. Now when I think of names of strippers I do not think of Summer. I think of Bambi or Candi or Sauvignon Blanc (thank you Seth McFarlane for this one).

There are so many factors that go into naming a child and whatever name you choose for your child is fine. That's the name you and your partner like and you feel that it fits your child. That's what matters. A name is a very important thing. It's how a person is identified for their entire life. I think that is one big factor that should be considered when naming your child. But also pick something you like and you think will fit your child and their personality and something that you feel good about identifying them. I know that a name is not who some one is, but it is a very important part of who we are.


Blogly Question(s):

Did you and your partner have a hard time agreeing on a name for your child? Did anyone ever give you a hard time about the name you chose?