I'm going to be a daddy
 

My wife and I are expecting a baby on June 1st, and we just found out it's going to be a baby girl. Don't worry, neither of us is stupid enough to bring a screaming baby to work, a nice restaurant, a movie, or other such nonsense.

I'm trying to come up with some names. I had a few really good names picked out for a boy, but the girl took me by surprise because my whole family has boys.

Non-offensive suggestions without insults attached to them would be nice.

I was reading in a baby name book that when your last name starts with a vowel, it's not a good idea to choose a name that ends in one so it flows better and is easier to pronounce.

Right now I'm leaning toward Nina as a first name, but it breaks the vowel rule.

Mia Shannon

0r Shannon Mia

How funny--I was going to suggest Nina, before I read the last line of your post. Sophie or Sophia is also one of my favorites, but they break the vowel rule too, of course.

That's great news. Congratulations, Radar/Paul!

As far as names go, it's a really personal choice. One thing I would suggest is to go the the Social Security website and look at the names (sorted by popularity) of all the kids born in the last year or two. You may or may not care if your child has the same name as every other kid on your block, but this will help you choose if you do have an opinion about that. Can't tell you how many Emmas and Emilys there are running around here, but it's a lot.

I think that vowel rule is a bit silly; it depends on the last name as to how it flows.

I would suggest giving her a middle name that isn't a "typical" middle name like everyone has: ann, nicole, marie, sue. I have an unusual middle name and when I was younger I didn't like it but now I think it sets me apart. Especially since my married name (which I kept) is pretty common.

My personal favorite girl name is Sarah. But that violates the vowel rule too.

How about Colleen? Another favorite of mine and no vowel problem.

I was thinking, Nina Michelle Ireland flows pretty well.

I've got awhile to think about it though. My wife likes Nina because it is easy for Vietnamese people to pronounce unlike names with R's and S's.

Rachel is a nice name too.

Actually, since name popularity changes over the years, the names you listed are very unusual for babies born today. There were something like 200 Susans born in the entire country last year. It's a very unusual name now.

Radar, this is an awesome site for listing baby names and their popularity over the years. It's got a cool graphical interface.

I'm talking MIDDLE name Glatt...everyone I know has one of those middle names. Of course, my niece's middle names are Kate, Kristine, and Kathleen...

I just like unusual.

That website is cool!

First off - congratulations. You lucky dog.

Don't worry too much about rules - just saying the name and surname over and over will show how easily it can be pronounced and understood. With both my maiden and my married name I've always had to insert a significant pause between the two - they "flow" far too well and teachers/ shop assistants/ people on the phone can't work out which is which!

Great suggestions from Glatt re checking for peaking names & Shawnee re having an unusual middle name.

My personal favourite girls names:
Beatrice
Cecilia
Dodie
Edith
Esme
Grace
Hester
Lily
Madelaine
Odile
Rose (or any variation thereof!)
Ruby
Theodora

Yes, I like old-fashioned names, it's true. Sadly these are all really popular now - must be everyone else my age having babies

(oh and the list was to hand because we had a chat about this in the office a couple of months ago - I don't have babies' names and wedding dress swatches lying around just in case!)

and finally - if you end up picking a name just because you like it do try to work out a cover story. Almost everyone I know ended up in a class exercise of "Where did your name come from" and the kids without a story felt really left out. Still, they were better off than Peter who was named after a budgie and burst into tears when everyone laughed at this.

Congratulations. Sounds like your little girl is already Nina to you ;)

That reminds me of the movie "Top Secret" when Nick Rivers (Val Kilmer) was talking to someone and they asked what his name means. He said he didn't know, but his father thought of it while he was shaving.

Pretty much, but if something else jumps out at me, that will be it... assuming I can convince my wife to do it.

Sure, I know what you meant. I was just pointing out that our generation's ideas about what names are old/unusual and what names are typical/modern is really incorrect. Your examples proved my point. The names you think of as typical are not typical at all for kids today. They are very unusual.

Radar, Nina is a nice name. I like it.

Congratulations!!

Is there a way that you can bring both your and your wife's cultures into the naming? Something like Lynn Ann (Linh An) or May Lynn (Mei Lien), something like that?

Frankly, with the last name Ireland, picking any of the traditional Irish first names (Shelagh, Colleen, Shannon, and Erin is right out) is probably a bit much.

(I like Nina too, but I think you should have some other options)

Well, congratulations!

That's where middle names come in. Certainly don't rush. Let it incubate, and let it be something tasteful -- you've heard of idiot parents who name their girl Robin Banks and the like; bad news if Robin picks a career in finance, no? And it looks like you're steering clear of the Cleopatra Apostrophe Jones sort of thing, which is good. Home Grown Country names (usually perpetrated by city folk, huh) may be euphonious, but that's all they have to recommend them. I'm expecting some little black girl to show up toting the given name of Apostrophe any lustrum now... at least it's actually Greek...

congrats, radar! you strike me as someone who will be a great daddy.

I didn't know your last name was Ireland.

I've always loved the name Shannon though. Maybe I'll name a cat that someday. :p

How 'bout Ava?

Don't name her Shillelagh. Wolf, you are hinting naughtily! Or is that knottily...?

I went to elementary school with a girl named Shelagh. It's pronounced Sheila, and means you have more pretentious parents than the other three girls in your class named Sheila.

Unless your parents are actually Irish or of recent Irish descent. My Mum's parents (Doyles) specifically chose the English spelling to separate her from the other Shelaghs in the family! Personally I would have chosen another name....?

Funnily enough, Nan (English) liked the name because it couldn't be abbreviated. Famous last words of any parent I think. Granddad still calls her She or Sheel when he's not calling her gel.

The one that still rankles with me is Caitlin pronounced Kate-Lynn. I was at school with a coshleen and I can't hear it any other way in my head if I read it.

(feeling small and scared)

How are you supposed to say Caitlin?

One of my favorite names is Jennifer.

And congratulations, Radar! That's very exciting news!

I'm not being scary am I?
Don't worry - it's the after effect of the stroke if you think I am.

Caitlin was originally pronounced as I wrote it above - Coshleen. Real Gaelic speakers (of whom this girl's father was one) will pronounce it with a wetter sound in the middle, like they know consonants the rest of us haven't mastered yet, but Coshleen is close enough.

I know I'm in the minority now, and it's accepted as Kate-Lynn. It just doesn't sit right is all. Like finding out the American town of Cairo is pronounced Kay-Ro - it takes a twist of the brain to read it with that pronounciation in mind.

No, not scary. I just feel dense for not knowing! I went to school with a girl named Siobbohan (spelling?) and we pronounded it Sha-vohn. Is that right?

I love the Irish names...strange since I am a curious mix of Swiss and Native American et al.


Just...NO Soap Opera names (you know, the ones that all of a sudden everyone is naming their kid and they grow up in a classroom full of Tristans or Stones or Hedges or something.)

I do try not to be too strident about it, because there's no reason people should know Gaelic pronunciation of course....

It would have been Siobhan, and yes, Sha-vohn is exactly right. Although there probably are some Syob-hanns out there somewhere :worried:

I thought it was Chiffon...when you think it's butter, but it's not.

Congrats Radar. The vowell <> vowell rule is a general rule. I'd avoid names ending in A (as in Say) or Uh since moving from that sound to pronounce Ireland is sort of difficult. Names that end in EE are ok since that's an easy one.

My pick is Stephanie. Like Ireland, it has 3 syllables, its kind of regal (to me, anyway).

Coming in 2nd is Lee Ann - or, as a nod to your wife's heritage, Li An.

What a joy for you two. I'm happy for you guys.

Go through books and lists as a couple, its good fun and eventually something will grab you both. Nina is a great name for a pretty little girl.

I think you'd like my girls' names. :)

Thanks Jim. I'm going to try to be the best dad I can. I just hope I can be a good enough man to pull it off. Boys are certainly easier. I know I won't have the heart to spank a little girl if she's bad. My wife will have to be the punisher.

Thanks. I figured at almost 38 years old, I should have them while I'm still young enough to raise them well.

Hey, congrats Radar! The only name advice I can give you is once you've decided, keep it a secret until the baby's born. You will be surprised how many people will just tell you, "Ew, I HATE that name! How awful!" when you tell them the name you've picked, but once the kid's actually named no one ever says anything rude.

When is she due? Don't forget to post photos when it's time... [Edit: Duh, June 1st. I can read, I swear.]

Good advice. I'm one of them. I knew a woman who was thinking of naming her son "Dijon" as a combination of her name (Direthia) and her husband's name (John.) I was more gentle than most, but she took a lot of shit for that and ended up naming the kid John.

Whew, that kid would have a lifetime of everyone asking him if he had any Grey Poupon.

Huge, big fat congrats to you and your good lady radar! How completely wonderful and exciting :)

I am awful at names.....lessee.....Rachel, Danielle, Sinaed (sp) Winifred, Jennifer, Nash, Natasha.......

My friend named her new baby girl Reece. I like that.

I really like the name Madison too, but my wife won't go for it.

ooh, way too many Madisons around here. Blech. Plus, being in the upper midwest, I think people are talking about a city in Wisconsin all the time...

Oh, congrats Radar!!!! Hope the pregnancy is an easy one, and neither of you gain too much weight...

Had a cat named Madison. He got his name because he followed me and my ex home one night when we were walking home from the bar. He was such a sweetie but it was obvious he was in need of some care and attention. My husband said "we need to get him some medicine" to which I replied "That's it! We'll name him Madison!"
Middle name: Toto

How about Times Square? Bronx? Chelsea? Brooklyn? :-)

Radar, congratulations to you and Mrs Radar! Parenthood changes your life like nothing else ever can or will. Being a daddy is the surest way to know you're alive, bro.

Congratulations!
 

My little monkey is 3.5 months old. My wife and I are going on a real date to the movies tonight!

It's amazing and even a little pathetic how exciting going out to the movies is when you are a parent of little kids. I mean, on the one hand, it's just the movies. Big freakin' deal. But you and I both know it really is a big deal. Man, it's a movie! In a theater!

She's due on June 1st, but I don't think she'll make it that long. I'm still trying to figure out why the doctor said June 1st, since she's supposed to already be 4 and a half months which would take us to May 1st. Maybe my wife didn't understand the doctor.

It's too late for the weight gain. :)

The 9 months thing is a bit misleading. it's more like 10 really, when you take into account that they start counting from the date of your last period. It's 40 weeks, average.

Women are actually pregnant for more than 9 months. 40 weeks is considered full-term, and the big gender-determining sonogram is done at 20 weeks (i.e., about 4 1/2 months.) So she has about another 20 weeks from the date of the sonogram. I'm assuming that was recent, so June 1st sounds about right. First pregnancies are more often late than early anyway.

My son was born on May 31st last year (and I recall my sonogram was a couple of days after New Years too), so maybe they'll share a birthday.

Ireland has 3 syllables? :eyebrow:

In American dialects it usually does-- Eye-err-land.

Technically it's a dipthong, but we tend to stretch those out.

I feel ya
 

Ah. Maybe I never heard an American say it. Thanks. Weird, but thanks. :lol: We say Ire-land. Never occurred to me there was any other way, but it probably shoud have.

In which case I'd vote against a first name with 3 syllables. Too many over all.

Nina is perfect. As you were. ;)

Congrats, Radar....making voters, eh. ;)
I'm a little late to the party, but I'll throw in my 2c ents....make that 3 cents.
Forsythia
Baylyn
Graceanne

Not Baylyn...I hate names that start with a B...

oh, uh, er....sorry Bruce. ;)

You can't go wrong naming the kid after what you were drunk on when it was conceived ...

You can track the progress of a marriage that way -or so my kids Love, Chardonnay, Bud, Betty-Ford and Meths tell me.

My wife seems pretty attached to Nina Michelle Ireland. It's growing on me too.

Love it!!. Hope the ultrasound tech was right ;)