What names do you love? If you’re expecting, have you made a name decision or are you waiting to meet the baby?
I was having the most difficult time choosing a name for our baby! I think it is especially difficult when you don’t know your baby’s gender… maybe because you can’t really visualize your baby, or maybe it’s just because you don’t know what your baby is, so you don’t become too attached to either the girl’s name or the boy’s name. The minute I think of a girl’s name I like, there is something in the back of my head that says ‘but it might not be a girl, so why don’t you focus on a boy’s name…’. And then I’m back to the starting point again. Ugh!
It’s also tricky when you already have children. You have to make sure the new name goes with the other names, that it flows when you say all the names together, and that it isn’t completely in a league of its own (not easy when you already have two kids and you’ve already used up your favorites).
Also, leaving in the international community, and coming from different counties (I’m from Poland, my husband is Albanian but we lived me ITALY so we speak Italian at home), we always wanted our babies’ names are adaptable in every language and to be easily pronounced and written. It’s important that everyone calls our kids in the same way!
During my 3rd pregnancy, in the first trimester, I was sure I was having a boy, even it was too soon to discover the gender. I felt and I behave the same way as when I was pregnant with David, I ate the same things, so consequently I was sure we’re having a boy. I’ve started researching for boy’s name and those were my choices:
- Olivier (or Oliver)
- Gabriel
- Leo
- Daniel
Then, at about 17 weeks of pregnancy during the visit, my doctor told me, “So you know the gender, right?” I was shocked and said: “No, not yet. We already have a boy and a girl, so I’m glad for both. But I’m convinced it’s a boy”, then she smiled and said: “Oh no, dear, you’re wrong, it’s 100% a GIRL!”
I was shocked, amazed, and HAPPY! I could not breathe and tears started coming out of my eyes. I was so surprised mostly because I already got used to the thought it was a boy. So, at the very same moment, I started thinking of a baby’s name for a girl. It seems impossible to pick just one!
Those were my favorites and the majority was suggested by my daughter Victoria who wanted to be a part of it:
- Annabelle
- Silvia
- Natalie
- Anna
- Suzanna
I also really love the name Anna, but I thought it’s a tongue twister to say “Joanna and Anna.”
Then the name Annabelle was definitely canceled from the list. David remembered he saw the film “Annabelle” in past (only the trailer!) and he claims he didn’t sleep for nights in a row after watching it, because of its horrible scary scenes. It was obvious that that name was on the list!
After a few weeks, my husband told me he had a dream: a baby girl was born and she told him: “Hi Daddy, my name is Anna!” After that, no other name could be chosen! We are waiting for our baby ANNA in February 2021!
What baby names do you love? Does it matter to you if they’re popular? So far, according to USA Today, the most popular baby names in 2020 are:
Girls:
- Olivia
- Aurora
- Ada
- Amelia
- Charlotte
Boys:
- Milo
- Jasper
- Theodore
- Asher
- Jack
- Finn
- Henry
The list of popular baby names has been changing more in recent years than ever before. Most of the names that were popular when this generation of parents was born — Jessica and Joshua, Ashley and Christopher — have sailed away, to be replaced by new Number 1 baby names like Emma and Liam, along with unique names undiscovered a generation ago, from Luna to Bodhi.
Top girl names in the US include classics Olivia and Charlotte, with unique choices such as Octavia, Lyra, and Oakley among the fastest-rising names for girls. For boys, the top-ranking names include the Biblical Noah and the classic boy names William and James. Boy names climbing the popularity list fastest include Caspian (as in the sea), Otter (as in the animal), and Nova (as in the star).
And what names do you like most? Please, share with me your favorite ones! I’m curious to hear what are your choices.
Many hugs,
Joanna
