Name My Baby (Part Deux)
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A few important items of business.
First of all, thank you! When I posted my original Name My Baby piece, I didn’t know what to expect. What I did not expect though was 115 comments and the post climbing to become the absolute most popular one on this blog. It was funny because Mom called me the day I posted it and said she thought it would be a dud, that people wouldn’t really care about my search for a moniker. Mom – you were wrong, oh so wrong! This leaves me wondering: Why are people so into naming?
Second of all, thank you! We have decided upon a name! Husband and I both adore it. It is just what we were looking for – unusual but not wacky, unisex and charming. It also fits well with our other girls’ names and lends itself to a simple and endearing nickname. Victory! Sadly, for purposes of consistency and continued privacy with respect to my progeny, I will not be sharing the name here. I will say though that you guys – particularly the lovely Abby Sandel of Appellation Mountain — had a lot to do with our arriving at a name. While the name does not appear in any of the comments I got on that post, something in me, some kind of creative and contemplative spark was lit by the conversation, and shortly after – on our wedding anniversary of all days! – we picked the winner!!
So. Now. I need your help again. What to name my kiddos on this blog? Because Toddler? She is no longer a toddler; She is a growing girl. And Baby? Well, she’s a toddler. And, yup, we have that wee one arriving soon. So it seems I should be thinking about this. Help!!! (What’s up with all the exclamation points today? I blame ‘em on the weather.)
Here are some ideas:
1. Toddler, Baby & Newborn. Even though these labels aren’t accurate, I like them for a couple of reasons. Because aren’t our babies always our babies? I think it is kind of funny that one day I will have an eight year old Toddler. I also like this trio because it offers consistency and continuity; Blog readers – you guys – won’t be confused when I refer to one of my girls. You will know who I am talking about.
2. One, Two & Three (or First, Second, Third). Logical. Numeric. Practical. These labels makes sense. But also kind of boring, no?
3. Big, Middle & Little. Not outrageously inventive. But kind of cute. And appropriate. Because Toddler? She is the big sis and Baby? She is the middle gal. And the baby in my belly? She has no choice, but to be the little sister even if she is as big as that pesky ultrasound predicts.
4. Jennifer, Sally, and Jane. I could do it. I could give each of my girls utterly fictional names, normal and nice names that I would never choose because they are, well, so normal and so nice. I’m not sure how I feel about this route. Iffy at best.
Okay, so there you have it. Some options. The truth is that I am not feeling very clever or creative. And so I am turning to you. Because if you demonstrated anything on that now famous (in my own mind) Name My Baby post, it is that you are clever and creative. So, please. Help me. No ideas are bad ones.
It’s time to name my blog babies. Ready, set, go!
(Pretty please.)
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Why do you think so many of us are so interested in baby naming? Any naming strategies for my blog babes? Are you miffed that I will not reveal our chosen name?
Everyone struggles and...
Thanks for your kind words, Aidan!
Big, Middle, and Little popped into my head before I even read the options. It is sweet. And it won’t have to change when you’re writing about, say, Toddler taking the SAT. And there’s something lasting about being Big, Middle, or Little – I’m one the oldest of three girls and I’m still very much Big.
You could also consider using their first initials. I know a few bloggers who write about J., K., and G or L. and R.
I personally like “Big, Middle, and Little”, which is sweetly simple yet oddly accurate, no matter how old they get. I often refer to my three sons in a similar way when blogging, etc. Then again, I can understand about not quite wanting to lose the “baby” label. My baby is 4, and I don’t think that I will ever quite lose the urge to call him my baby.
One, Two, Three is very dull. I like Big Middle and Small (or variants thereupon). Fictitious names would be a bit strange and confusing for you, I imagine!
Not at all miffed that you don’t reveal chosen names. I was hesitant to have my real name associated with my blog for a while, and my blog has almost zero viewer traffic. But I won’t put hubby’s name there, nor would I put children’s names up. Although that is not a criticism of those bloggers who do, just that I wouldn’t be comfortable doing it.
Interest in baby naming – because it’s fun! As you saw from my reaction on your previous post, names affect us for life, and playing around with names is a way to experience that gift of identity without making the big decision yet!
(also I think some of us are compulsive labellers and we like to think of names for people and things! There’s a trend of naming bicycles sweeping around…)
I like Big, Middle and Little!
I like Big,Middle and Little!Good Luck choosing
Congrats, I was randomly wondering yesterday if you came up with a name:) I also vote for big, middle and little.
Marcia, Jan & Cindy?
My kids have never seen The Brady Bunch- they would never catch the reference. Kind of bizarre to me, but it is true.
I think we like to talk baby names because it’s something that most of us (parents or not) have thought about. I find it kind of amusing to think back on how my baby-naming tastes have changed over time. I love IEP’s name, and I hope that with future kids we pick names that I like just as much. (Ironically, one of my favorite girl names is Jane, although my husband isn’t on board.)
As for your girls’ pseudonyms, I like a particular variation of Big, Middle, and Little. I would make one addition: Girl. Big Girl, Middle Girl, and Little Girl. A bit more typing, perhaps, but more intuitive to new readers than simply Big, Middle, and Little.
I like fictitious names, myself. I use Joy and Grace on my blog – virtue names that represent some aspect of my girls’ characters.
Other than that, I like the idea of continuing to use Toddler, Baby, and Newborn, although it might be confusing to new readers at first, until they’ve figured it out.
And congratulations on settling on the name!
The names of Louise’ kids, Grace and Joy were in my brain before I saw her comment here. I also like the way Stacia names her kids: giggles, lollipop and bun.
I think it’s cool for kids to have blog names. I didn’t know Louise wasn’t using real names until I asked about the names.
If you were to name them in this way, something that expressed an essence of their character… what would they be called? I’d be curious just to know those 3 words.
I also vote for Big, Middle and Little.
Fun post! I am going to have to think about this! I like nicknames, personally. I am usually pretty good at coming up with nicknames. I will think about this and come back!
I like Big, Middle, and Little!
When I read your entry, I read it as if you are naming your new baby “Victory!” It even lends itself to Vicki.
I love thinking up baby names. I used to keep lists of my fave names when I was a kid. It’s fun to see which names go with which last name.
What does it say that I already thought about what you would do with calling baby “baby” when the new baby comes. A loyal reader? A loser? Anyway, it could be fun (and I’m sure people want to know) to announce what baby’s name is and then go back to code after…I like big, middle and little but don’t know if the kids would like this. With 2 people with same first (and last) name in high school I became “little Lauren” and my friend “big Lauren” and I don’t know either of us like it all that much.
You have such a beautifully written blog, and deep, emotional posts (feel the need to clarify that “deep” here is in a “deep beyond darkness into light”, I can’t explain it better…), that One, Two, Three or Big, Middle, Little sound… unnatural?… There’s such a beauty in Toddler and Baby, they’re just filled with your motherly love. Just the words in your posts make me smile.
What I would love to read was words, beautiful words, that for you sort of defined your babies. And for instance in alphabetical order: A, B, C… My English isn’t good enough to think of such words, and the ones that come to mind are things like Amber (because I like the colour and history of the thing), or Blossom, or Trinket (love the sound, and yes, I understand it should start with a C :p )
We also named our youngest on our wedding anniversary. It was very fun and I will always remember riding in the car to dinner with my husband, both of us with big smiles on our faces as we agreed we’d finally– finally– arrived at a name. We named her Annaliese, which felt like a big name at the time but it turns out she’s got the big personality to carry it off quite well. She’s every bit an Annaliese and I know your wee one will be every bit the name you’ve arrived at.
I like Toddler, Baby and Newborn…I think it is funny to think of Toddler someday taking an SAT, Baby doing a science fair project and Newborn going to prom.
Little Big Girl, Toddler, and Newborn.
I’ll throw my hat in for “Big, Middle and Little”! Longtime readers of the blog (does that sound condescending? Hope not!) might be confused that Baby will now be Toddler, etc. Plus, “Big, Middle and Little” is just cute!
For me, helping people name their children is exciting. I feel like I’m a part of the process and I may in some way be a part of the final decision.
I’m not a lover of big, middle, little. I’m a middle child and I hate being referred to as the middle. I propose little, mini and tiny or little g, mini g and tiny g (for little girl, mini girl, tiny girl).
Adorable post! But naturally, as far as I’m concerned, “Big” and “Little” are, um… taken.
#1 gets my vote!
I vote to keep Toddler and Baby (although, yes it will be strange when Toddler is going off to college and Baby is driving) and add in Bitty. Bitty is my favorite word for some reason and it seems appropriate for the littlest one.
My initial thought was absolutely Big, Middle, and Little. But now I’m thinking that Baby will now be Middle. Middle just doesn’t sound as great as Big and Little do and Baby should have a name just as great.
I think you should go for the three Jane Austen characters you like the most.
DON’T DO BIG, MIDDLE, LITTLE!!! As the taller (and larger) sister, I grew up always being described as “Big” and it drove me crazy! As a woman, “big” definitely has negative connotations. I am just looking out for Toddler here
I would go with Toddler, Baby & Newborn. I think that’s cute and sweet. I love the idea of toddler being 12 but still referred to on your blog as “toddler”…and yes, I am expecting you to continue blogging for decades! Hope I’m not putting too much pressure on you.
I also like Marcia, Jan and Cindy. Iconic figures and everyone knows their place in the family structure.
xo
Jocelyn
PS- Ironically, I was just interviewed for the February issue of SELF Magazine about how your mother’s relationship with her body impacts your relationship (and I even mentioned the whole “BIG” controversy).
I don’t know. When I came to this site for the first time the other day I was impressed with the way you tied in your “university” theme with your headers. ABC’s, Main Campus, Meet the Prof. So, I think you should thread the theme further. Freshman, Sophomore, Junior (this leaves room for one more baby!) or play around with degrees. BA, MA, PhD.
Maybe?
I change my vote and vote for what the Hussy suggested – BA, MA, PhD is fabulous.
Kids can be overly sensitive.. “Big” might quickly resent the name “Big.” I like pseudonyms…”Toddler” and other cute names can get saccharine after the 100th use.
Weezie, Margaret & Snuggle-Bear
I kind of love Toddler, Baby, and Newborn. But you might have to clarify for new readers from time to time.
I also like the idea of pseudonyms, but if you go that route, I thing it would be better if you picked names that meant something, instead of just random. Like the Brady Bunch girls, names that start with the same letter as their real names, or favorite characters from a book (LOVE the Jane Austen idea if you’re into her). You could have a lot of fun with it. Or what if your girls picked out their own names? That could be really fun. And they could help out with their little sisters’ name too. Or pick names that are in keeping with the names you picked for your daughters (like the examples you gave in the previous name post). It seems like it would go better in your post.
What if you picked pseudonyms, but called them “Toddler Elizabeth” or “Baby Jan” or whatever at first to help long time readers with the transition.
Can’t wait to hear what you decide! And of course, I’d love to know the real names, but I completely understand!
I quickly looked through your comments…initially I thought Big, Middle, Little too, as that will make it easier for anyone just coming upon your blog for the first time. But I see validity in the points that some people made about not liking going through life called, Big, etc…
I kind of like pseudonyms because they are closest to making the characters/people feel “real.” You could choose something that perhaps has personal significance. For example, my son is “Fred” on my blog although he is so not a Fred, but I chose this because it was his alter ego during first grade – he came one day writing “Fred” all over his stuff, asking why his name isn’t Fred. Anyway, it felt less random than a regular fake name (so I could feel connected to him when I’m writing about him) but at the same time still completely disguises his identity.
Good luck with this!
I am PISSED that you won’t reveal her name! Just jokes. I applaud you for keeping their identity private. I do the same on my blog (both kids have their “almost” names but not their real ones). So, I like the fake name route. How ’bout Emma, Chloe and Julia?
PS: !!! Whenever I use lots of exclamation points, I think of our dinner at BlogHer and the text you received. Always makes me laugh.
i like the idea of “real name” pseudonyms that have a personal or cultural meaning, but it’s your blog, and you should do whatever you want:)
Ooh I am dying to know the name you chose
. How about a descriptive word, like Blue for toddler’s blue eyes and Rosy for baby’s rosebud lips? just a thought.
Ok, you might hate this, but I was trying to think of something different and sweet. How about Pudding Pop for the oldest, cupcake for the middle, and mini muffin for baby? Is that too much?
oh man. this is so tough! i am definitely inclined towards big, middle and little, though i’m hearing people’s concerns about the connotations of big and the no-man’s-landness of middle. it leaves me wondering if there are ways that you think of your girls absent their names, like when you’re just thinking about them while you’re running errands or something. absentmindedly, i call my kid “bug” in my head. i call her it to her face, too, along with a whole slew of nicknames, but there’s just something about “bug” that sticks to her in my brain. i’d say write down the first thing you think of with each kid and make that their moniker…
regardless, i’m really intrigued as to how you’ll resolve this conundrum. and congratulations on picking a name!
I vote Big, Middle, and Little. I come from a family of three girls, and my sisters still call me their “little sister” sometimes.
how wonderful that your girls will have another sister. I don’t know what I’d do without my sisters!! it really is a love like none other.
oh, and re: the perils of big, for whatever it’s worth, my oldest sister never seemed to have a problem with being called the “big sister.”
and, blog names don’t necessarily impact the way you refer to your kids in your non-virtual life. come to think of it…I wonder if your kids will ever read your blog. do you ever wonder? does it impact your writing? I think about that sometimes, and I don’t even have kids yet!
You know, whoever said that your use of Toddler and Baby conveys a unique yet simple sense of motherly love really hit the nail on the head for me. Whenever I read it, it strikes me all at once as being completely modern and practical yet still sweet and classic and timeless. It’s an odd way to think about your kids’ pseudonyms, yes, but I really do think there is a power to those two words that is simply lacking in Big, Middle, and Little or, most certainly, One, Two, and Three.
The poster who uses virtue names as pseudonyms for her children has a great thought going – why not express some aspect of your girls’ personalities or looks in a simple yet effective word? It doesn’t have to be Grace or Hope or Joy or even Patience. You could use Roux for a red-head, Blue for a blue-eyed beauty, Lark or Wren for your little songbird. You could use Sassy for back-talking babe, Tutu for your tiny dancer, or Professor for your little thinker.
Or, you could use “real” nicknames that you’re comfortable with. Now, my mother doesn’t have a blog – thank goodness! – but my twin sister and I have nicknames far from close to our real names. We’re Birdie (me) and Bear (her). Birdie is a constant, Bear is rather fleeting, but both have little to no meaning other than the one we – my family – give to them. By the way, Big Brother is simply Benny, which links directly to his real name…
I’ll end with one final idea, relating to the concept of using real fake names – oh, the irony. Emily, Anne, and Charlotte Bronte, as many of you may know, originally went by their pseudonyms: Ellis, Acton, and Currer Bell. I’m of the opinion that these are totally cool names! Now, since you’re girls have unisex names to start with, why not reverse the Bronte pattern and choose classics for their fake-out names? Have Adair, Egan, and Marlowe? Perhaps Alice, Edie, and Meg would be appropriate.
So, there’s my two cents on the matter. Best of luck!
There’s a columnist in our local paper who gave his granddaughter a ‘fake name’ of Alice, for Alice in Wonderland. Perhaps choose some names you like from your favorite children’s books?
Maybe Meg for the oldest, for Wrinkle in Time)
Laura for the middle, for Little House
and Madeline for, well, the Madeline books.
Of course, those would me three of MY favorite kids books, not necessarily yours…but I like the idea of it. It grows with them, and it gives a fake sense of authenticity, if you know what I mean.
I’m glad you picked a name!
My first vote was Toddler, Baby, Newborn–just because I love Toddler and Baby just as they are! But I also think the degree suggestion (BA MA and PhD) is also quite cute. 
Un, deux, trois?
Thing 1, Thing 2, Thing 3?
Belle, Bella, Beaux?
Lion, Tiger and Bear?
I like the big, middle & little idea. I’m the biggest of 6 in the chronological sense, and it never bothered me. I can see the concerns about some of the posters with regards to this choice, but I don’t see that it will have a huge impact on them, since it’s not something they will actually have to answer to in RL. and what if they grow to hate the literary/pseudonyms you choose? (just being the devil’s advocate
)
Also am a fan of the degree names… anonymous but cute! and a big no to the numbers…too boring in comparison to the rest of your fabulous words!
I’d want to pick something like Thing One, Thing Two, etc, or use initials or fake names. On the off chance that you decide to have another (or get surprised with another) it would leave it more open to adding names, rather than having to redo the names again. Toddler, Baby, and Newborn; Big, Middle, Small; those are Definitely just a group of 3.
nah, toddler is still totally toddler and the same for baby. i can say this because i’ve seen them and they’re gorgeous and wonderful and that suits them.
toddler. baby. wee.
::bangs gavel::
you’re welcome.
I love toddler, baby & wee!
And I do think it’s sweet to keep Toddler & Baby, even though they might not be so little anymore. it’ll be a reminder of the way they were when you started this blog.
I like “Big, Middle, Little” but I also like the idea of fictional names as well. Only I would suggest making them truly fictional and use names of fictional characters that your girls’ personalities remind you of (even newborns show some personality).
Congrats on picking a name! As a writer…. I very much look forward to doing this one day
I vote for Toddler, Baby and Newborn. I like the consistency that brings (we sort of “know” them, the first two anyway, as these names already) and they’ve taken on a certain life of their own. So it won’t matter if, eventually, they aren’t that accurate (and Toddler is going to college).
Why not “The Littles”: Little, Middle Little and Littlest?
Like most of the others here, I like Big (because your toddler will always want to be a big girl), Middle (because like it not, current baby is set for the middle – and that’s not a bad thing – I’m married to a wonderful middle), and Little (because she will always be the littlest sister). Can’t wait to welcome the new one! xxx