Baby Names

Anyone have trouble getting their dh to participate in the naming process? I'm anticipating big trouble here and would like to learn from those of you who have husbands like mine! It's still early for me: we'll hopefully be learning the gender Friday and then I'd like to start the process of choosing a name.

He's the type to simply reserve the right to reject, on any subject. From where we are going to eat dinner, to what to get his mother for Christmas, to where to go on vacation, he's just more likely to defer until I make a suggestion (or even a decision, if it gets too late) and then inform me that he doesn't like my choice.

And he's a huge jokester about everything so he has already declared that he'll be calling our kid "little sh*t". So this is the sense of humor I married, even though it isn't exactly my own style, so resigned to it more than complaining about it.

I know I run the risk of torturing him to death and making him crazy on the subject, if I handle it wrong, which will just make it worse.

Anyone else have experience getting a dh like mine to take naming seriously? How did you get there eventually? At what stage in the pregnancy? All ideas welcome!

Once you all find out whether your new little one will be a little girl or boy maybe he'll participate more. But....Shoot I'd take full advantage! I say pick three names first and middle that you would love calling your child and tell him he can reject two!

My husband was similar.. he was jokingly calling our son "SEVEN" up until the day I had him.. he thought it was HILAROUS.  Men!

Here is my suggestions:

1. Make a list of about 10 - 15 names that you actually like.. and keep 'em to yourself.

2. Come up with a name that you know your DH will totally hate.. something like "Analeestara Bridgeteena Maryellen"... and just tell him how much you like the name. 

3. When he objects (and he will.. quickly) ask him to come up with a list of about 10 - 15 names that he likes. 

4. If he refuses to do this, continue to refer to the baby as "Analeestara Bridgeteena Maryellen" or whatever.  When she kicks you.. when she's moving around, etc... just tell your husband how cute it is that baby Analeestara is moving. :)

5. Eventually just to make you stop saying the horrendous name, your husband will hopefully come up with 10 - 15 names that he's somewhat fond of.

6.  Then you show him your "other" top names... see if there are any that are on the both lists.  Those become top contenders.

7. If there are no names that are the same on either list.. play Veto.  He gets to cross off one of your names, you get to cross of one of his.

8. When you finally whittle it down to your top two names each.. see if a compromise can be negotiated.. you pick the first name, he picks the middle name.  Or you get to name this baby, and he gets to name the next one.. etc.

Good Luck! 

My husband is the vetoer as well.  Always has been.  For DD#1, I came up with some names that I liked, he said no to most of them.  He finally said okay to her name: Audrey Katelyn.  I also chose her bedding, stroller, car seat, all the other baby gear, and room color and decorations.

Fastforward to DD#2 - he still retains the veto power, and he proudly tells people this.  He has never given a suggestion once.  I have a list of names that I like, I throw them out there, and he says either 1. NO or 2. FINE.  I gave him a list of first names that I loved.  I would have been happy with any of them.  He did his veto thing, and I chose her first name from the remainder of the list.  We ended up with Tessa.

Then just last week I sent him a list of 8 middle names to choose from (wrote each one out), and he vetoed all but 3.  So I chose from the remaining 3.  So her name will be Tessa Claire.

He was the same with her bedding, car seat, and stroller.  He leaves it up to me.  If he absolutely hates it, he says so.  Otherwise, it's all FINE or PRETTY.  You would think that this would be great instead of having that very opinionated hubby!!  But I think it's just as much pressure!

Good luck.  If you give him names, only go with those you really like.  There's bound to be one that works!

Make a pregnancy ticker

My DH still gives me the business that I named all three girls (he helped a lot more with our DS).  This is how it happened.  I suggested the name Keelin, He said " is that a name I don't like it"  I said what about Claire?  He says " Eh"  I say a few days later what about Molly?  He says not bad. I like Molly.  I spent a few days working on middle names.  I came to Molly Claire, Molly Erin and something else I can't remember.  He said I still am not a fan of CLaire...so Molly Erin it was (fits her to a tee)

Same kind of process with DD#2.  We are pregnant with DD#3...he made a suggestion...after vetoeing all kinds of names...I told him I didn't love the two names together so I would be happy to use the first name only, the middle name only or even switching the order...he said you named the other girls I get no say...then his mom got involved which made his suggestions even worse as she was pushy about them and clearly wasn't listening to me that I didn't like the name combo...that both names were great separately etc...he then started messing with me...Amanda Lynn was his next suggestion...knowing that I hear words in people's names...I instantly thought of " A    mandolin"  you know that little guitar.?  He finally agreed to my original first choice...but he still teases me that I pressured him etc...I then feel the need to tell the story how that isn't what happened etc...

I love the veto list idea.  You each get to make a list with your favorite 3-5names .  Each month that remains of the pregnancy you each get to veto a name...with one chance to put a name back on the list...at the end you have two names...you work with what flows the best...If he really isn't interested in the process he will just give you the power...if he is invested he will take it seriously