Welcome back to the weekly motherhood series I’m running with Emily from Isn’t That Charming! Today, we’re talking about how we chose our babies’ names. But before we dive into our story, be sure to check out Emily’s post. ;)
Okay. Let’s get to it.
If you’ve been following along with this blog for a while, you probably know that I really thought we were having a boy. Or I convinced myself we were having a boy, at least. It goes without saying that if I had had a boy, I would have loved him unconditionally, and I would have been over the moon to welcome him into the world and into our lives and hearts.
But does it make me a horrible person to admit that I was secretely wishing for a girl? Maybe. But there it is. I wanted a girl. Like, a lot. I wanted to be Lorelei, and I wanted her to be Rory. (Except I would be 2x Lorelei’s age, and Mitch would be Christopher 2.0. Or maybe 3.0, haha.)
My (admittedly irrational) thought process was that since I was desperate for a daughter, I was destined to have a son. (Which, again, would have been amazing! I swear I’m not heartless.) And my friend Arin, who’d guessed 12–yes, 12!–pregnancies correctly, told me it was a boy. AND something very freakish happened a few weeks before delivery that I took as a clear sign that my premonition was correct.
So that was that. I bought a ton of baby boy clothing, took all the tags off, washed everything in Dreft, and then put it in the changing table drawers. I painted the nursery gray (just in case), but bought blue accents. Heck, I ordered these dark brown wooden letters to spell out our “boy name,” and hid them in the closet.
That’s how convinced I was.
By the way, Mitch said the baby was a girl throughout the entire pregnancy, and even ended up guessing Emma’s delivery date and time, and her birth weight within one ounce. Gotta listen to my husband more often. ;)
So many people ask us why we didn’t opt to learn the baby’s sex before delivery. But that’s an entirely different story, probably for another “Motherhood Wednesday” post! For now, though, let’s just leave it at this: I knew I was welcoming a baby boy into the world.
Weirdly enough, Mitch and I were both in love with the same “boy name.” It’d been my favorite long before meeting Mitch; it’d been his before meeting me. So it was settled long before I was even pregnant. (I can’t reveal because if we’re lucky enough to have another baby one day, it’ll be in the running.)
The “girl name,” though, was a different story. Mitch wasn’t sure what he liked, yet I was 100-percent sold and thought I might die if we didn’t go with it.
Ah, hormones!
The back story is this:
When I was a child, my favorite hobby was writing stories and publishing my own “books” in a makeshift publishing press in my basement. Still want to read this blog? ;) Because of these little stories, I was totally obsessed with names, and the idea that one day, I might get to select a name for my own daughter. What an enormous job! How would I be able to select the perfect name for another soul?!
I went through name after name after name, and tried them all out in my stories. Eventually, when I got to freshman year of high school, I settled on “Emma” as my number one while going through a Jane Austen phase. Yes, I realize that Emma isn’t the most likable of Austen’s characters, but the name? Beautiful. Adorable for a little girl; mature and sophisticated for an adult. It was classic and timeless and… perfect. “Catherine,” after my mother, would be my daughter’s middle name.
One of my very best girlfriends in college, Tara, will tell you that my love for “Emma” never died. It’s not like I obsessed over it, but you know: girls talk. ;) Occasionally, we’d chat about our what our “dream futures” looked like, and “Emma” would come up. It’s funny: when I told Tara I was pregnant, she said something along the lines of, “It could be Emma!”
I wanted Mitch to be on board with the name so badly that I was reluctant to reveal it to him in the fear that he wouldn’t like it. Pretty far into the pregnancy, he sat me down and told me that I needed to tell him. Obviously he was right, haha, so I braced myself and whispered, “Emma Catherine.”
“Oh!” he sighed. “That’s beautiful!”
I leapt up and hugged him. Still, it wasn’t 100-percent set in stone. He said he wanted to just consider some other names since Emma had become wildly popular and he wasn’t sure he wanted her going to school with a zillion other Emmas. I agreed that it was a good idea. After all, I’d come up with “Emma Catherine” when I was 14, right?
So we explored. And for a while, we both liked “Lucy Larkin.” It’s a little crazy to type that out now, since it was a major contender for a long time, and since our little girl is such an Emma. We both loved the Beatles, though, and we thought the alliteration was adorable. But we kept coming back to Emma.
I don’t think we ever really officially decided on Emma Catherine, as I had fully convinced myself that the baby was a boy. But when she came out, the doctor told us she was a girl, and Mitch exclaimed, “It’s Emma!” And I cried and cried and cried. (You can read more about those moments here.)
As she grows up, will there be other children in her classes with the same name? Undoubtedly. It doesn’t matter, though.
She was always Emma.
If you’re a parent, how did you choose your child’s name? And if you’re not, do you ever think about names? Or am I the only crazy girl in the house? ;) Again, be sure to check out Emily’s post, and here are a few other motherhood posts you may have missed:
Lessons Learned from @cathyinthecountry
I love this post! I think it is so sweet that you had Emma picked out so long ago. I have always thought about baby names. My husband and I even talk about names and we don’t have children yet nor are we even trying :)
Taylor | http://www.livingtaylored.com
Aw thank you! Totally understand; I’ve always been obsessed with baby names! It’s just so fun. ;) xoxo!!
Can you tell us what names you are considering?!
My sister is Emma Catherine too– love it!
Really?! Ahhhh! Weirdly enough I met an Emma Katherine the other day, but you’re the first Emma Catherine connection! :) So fun!
What are her nicknames? We have a few (Nemma and Emma Cath), but I need more!
She was mostly just Emma, but we also call her Em, Emmy, or Emma Cat too!
This is so adorable! Weirdest coincidence, between probably age 8 until I was 15 or 16, I COMPLETELY latched on to the name Emma. I was obsessed with it, and remember telling my mom all the time when I had a girl that’s what I would name her. (Then again, I think I remember Chloe being in the running for a long time…can’t say I love that one so much anymore, ha!) I think Emma Catherine sounds so pretty – this was a fun story!
Olivia | Prep Essentials
AH! So cute!! My mom also says that I told her about Emma, so she knew the baby’s name immediately when Mitch called and told her the baby was a girl. :) The cutest!! :) Thanks, Olivia! xoxo
This is so timely, as we know we’re having a girl, and at 35 weeks, she STILL doesn’t have a name. I think maybe I’m being too much of a perfectionist about it, but nothing feels perfect. I also love almost all of the most popular baby names right now, and I’m wondering how much of a deterrent that should be. My husband doesn’t care how popular the name is! Anyway, Emma Catherine is perfect, and I just hope I’ll always love whatever we pick!
Xoxo,
Catherine
http://www.classiccatherine.com
Eeeee! I am SO excited for you, Catherine! (Also, you know I LOVE your name, hehe. Kind of have a litttttle regret using it as Emma’s middle name because what if we have another baby girl one day?!) Anyway, I totally understand. I obsessed for SO long. It’s a big decision. But I think if you find a name you adore, go with it. Yes, there will be others, but a name isn’t what defines a person anyway, right?! :) I’m SO excited to find out what you pick! Again, congrats!!!!
I have a favorite girl and boy name already! My fiance and I use the names like these children already exist!
Awww! That’s so cute, Kati! :)
Thanks, Kelly! so is your family!
So . . . what are the names?!
I normally don’t like to share but I’ll make an exception. Nora and Liam.
I love them both!! Nicely done ;)
Hey, thanks, Mitch!
Hi Kelly,
I’m new-ish to your blog and have really enjoyed getting to know more about you and your sweet family as well as your great style/fashion ideas. Thank you! My family is outside of Portland, OR. My husband and I also met while working together in a school and now have 2 little ones. Teachers can be very particular about names because of students that – ahem…leave impressions! :) Our son’s name (Benjamin/Ben) was one I’ve loved forever and was happy my husband loved it too. The girl name we chose during pregnancy #1 (Elizabeth/Ellie) was what we gave our daughter 2 years later. We were unusual to have it go that smoothly. Nothing about parenting seems to go smoothly. I love hearing the stories behind names. Great post idea!
Rachel,
So nice to e-meet you! :) You’re the sweetest; thank you for your kind words. Mitch and I are actually coming to Portland in September for the first time (for a wedding) and we’re SO EXCITED!!
Love that you and your husband met while working together in a school. :) And YES. Totally know what you mean about past students and names, haha! “Ellie” was actually on our list, but since my name is Kelly, we decided against it, haha. But LOVE it! Such cute names!!
XOXO
Nice to e-meet you too – haha…I like that! :)
I really hope you love your time in Portland! September is always gorgeous. I’m sure your friends have a lot of fun ideas for how to fill your time, but let me know if you want any more opinions on the city or outlying areas. I’ve lived in Oregon my whole life and love it here!
Such a great post, Kelly! I love the name Emma Catherine. My husband and I are talking baby names right now. We’re pretty sure we have settled on a boy name, but he’s not in love with any of my (truly amazing) girl name suggestions. We’ll hopefully find out the gender next week, and last night my husband was saying- “I hope it’s a boy so we don’t have to have the girl name conversation again.” He’s such a stinker! Love that picture of teeny tiny Emma.
Hi Britney!
This seems VERY similar to what Mitch and I went through together. I too thought my names were “truly amazing,” hahaha! (I did end up convincing him in the end… hehe.)
Can’t wait to find out what you decide! Such a happy time; I’m so happy for you guys. <3
Hahaha! Why can’t the husbands see the value in our truly amazing suggestions? Thanks, Kelly!
I love this! I’m not even anywhere near about to have kids but I’ve been obsessed with Poppy for a girl for years and my boyfriend and I love Wes (his last name is Winn) for a boy. Totally get you on the alliteration thing ;)
I LOVE Poppy! So, so cute. There’s a Disney movie with an adorable little girl named Poppy in it but I can’t remember what it’s called. It’s about this underground world… It has that Irish actress in it… I sound crazy, haha, but do you know what I’m talking about?!
I loved reading this! My twin sister is Emma Katherine! I have been obbessed with the name Ansley since grade school, so you can’t the only one thinking about names :)
I like Ansley!!
Awww! Really?! That is SO CUTE. Also, I’m so jealous that you have a twin sister. I’ve always secretely wanted one. ;)
I know, right? I feel like so many people think about names from such an early age. Ansley is so pretty AND something I don’t hear often! Too cute. :)
My husband and I just had a discussion about baby names! We are both completely clueless about first names though. The only decision I had always made in my mind was if I had a boy, his middle name would be my father’s (just like you with Emma and your mom!). We are no where near having to decide a name yet, but I have always been super stressed about deciding on one because I have never liked my own first name. It seems like so much pressure to choose! Hopefully when the time comes I can be as inspired as you. Emma’s name is absolutely beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing this great story!
We felt the same way! I actually changed my name from Michael to Mitch when I was 12 hahah. You have plenty of time so no worries!
YES! I am kind of the same way. “Kelly” is fine — I like that it’s Irish and that my parents absolutely loved it when they picked it. ;) But you know. It kind of reminds me of some 80s Valley Girl, haha. It’s a LOT of pressure… but you know what’s crazy? Once Emma came out and Mitch said “It’s Emma,” I never again thought about it. Never had any regrets; never looked back on the decision and wondered whether I’d made the right one. I THINK I may have placed a little too much importance on it. I mean, it’s important for sure, but I could have named her Bertha and she still would have been the most beautiful girl in the world. (Nothing against any Berthas out there. I’m sure they’re awesome. ;) And hey: GREAT start with the middle names! So meaningful! No such thing as the perfect name; just go with something you love, and I think you’ll always love it. <3
I’ve known for a very long time what I want to name my daughter, if I’m lucky enough to have one! Luckily my husband is on board with it. We’ve also decided on a boy name now that we’re trying for kiddos.
So exciting!! It must have been so nerve-wracking to tell him the name!
Emma is my favorite Jane Austen character (and book) by far.
My husband and I have a few names picked out for each gender, but we refuse to officially name the baby before he/she is born. I just feel we need to meet him or her first.
And I’m with you…we’re finding out soon, but I am 100% sure this baby is a boy. And that is mostly because I want a girl so badly. I honestly habe no other reasoning for it. Our minds are weird things, huh?
Jessica,
This makes me so happy that Emma is your favorite Jane Austen book and character! :) I also love your perspective about naming the baby when he/she comes out. We kind of did this, too. I don’t think we ever officially decided on Emma; but Mitch shouted out her name when she was born, and that was that. :)
Eeeee! I’m so excited for you to find out. And listen: if it’s not a girl, there will likely be another baby. And if baby #2 isn’t a girl, then you could always have another. And if baby #3 isn’t a girl, well, it’s automatic sainthood. ;)
XOXO Congrats on the little one!
this story is adorable:)
My new baby niece’s name is Lucy! I think there would have been more Lucy’s in her class than there will be Emmas!
Awwww! Do you think?! That’s too funny because we totally thought that Emma was the more prevalent name right now, hahaha. Hilarious that we were probably wrong on that. LOVE LUCY and fully approve! Congratulations on the new niece!! I imagine she’s QUITE the cutie <3
That’s funny you thought you were having a boy! I knew I was, so when we found out I was just like, ok! My son is named Buel after his Grandpa- it’s a unique name with special meaning and fits him perfectly!
OMG. If you would have asked me a year ago, I would have told you I KNEW I was having a boy, haha. Also loveeeee the name Buel. It’s so original and it has history. Love that. :)
We named our son after my husband’s father and grandfather. We got married in 2009 and had names picked before we were even engaged, and the baby is only three months old now! For the longest time I felt just like you did, though – I wanted a baby boy so bad, I thought I was pregnant with a girl. It was SO exciting to see the little blue XY on our genetic test form!!
Oh my gosh! That’s SO cute! My husband and I kind of had the boy’s name picked out long before we were married, too, but I resisted on telling him the girl’s name. Ahhhh! So happy you got your boy. Congratulations. What an exciting time in life. <3
So funny! My friends and I were just talking about this! I am not even close to having kids, but I announced my baby names to my friends so I could essentially call dibs–Carter for a boy (after NY Met Gary Carter) or Maija for a girl (pronounced Maya, after my aunt).
Oh TOTES announce your baby names to your friends. I mean, no one is going to respect ’em when the time comes, haha, but it’s important!! Hehe. I did it with all my girlfriends, and a few of us just decided our kids would have the same names, which is really cute when you think about it. ;) LOVE that you’re naming one after a NY Mets player!! My dad is a diehard fan :) And one of my best friends in Maya — love the original spelling and the meaning behind it!
My hubby had a name he loved for my 11 year old son and I hated it:) We went back and forth (he said my picks were ‘to Hollywood’ whaaaaat???) and then Owen popped into my head and my mother is Welsh as is the name Owen, so there you have it. My second son who is 8 is named Emerson, I saw the name on a building in downtown Charlotte, not so original, ha!
Wait, Sara, this is SO CUTE. “Too Hollywood.” Hahaha! Also, LOVE how the two names complement each other so much. Owen and Emerson?! They just go!
For the record, Emma is a lovely name, but you should feel no shame that you got it from Austen’s Emma! While she was a bit bored and immature early on, she grew into a lovely woman who was able to learn the lessons that she needed to learn. She’s my favorite Austen heroine! As for my own child’s name, I had a boy name picked out for year and years only to have my husband veto it because of a previous bad experience with someone by that name! But we settled on his grandfather’s name as his first name and a variation of my maiden name for the middle one–and I just love his name so much!
Awww, Brooke, you are too cute, and thank you! Yes, I totally agree. If Emma was an awful person, I definitely wouldn’t have chosen the name for my daughter — and you’re 100-percent right: she grew into an absolutely lovely person who learned a great lesson. I have to say that this may have been my favorite comment; thank you!! :) And love that you knew exactly who I was talking about!!
Ahhh, that stinks about the veto. But yeah, I guess both parties need to be on board, haha. Love that you went with a family name, though! And I’ve definitely considered using “Sheehan,” my maiden name, as a middle name one day! Love it!
Thanks again, Brooke! xoxo!
I’m currently pregnant and also don’t know the sex of the baby! Like you, I’m feeling boy but secretly want it to be a girl!
And also like you, my girl name is the name I used when writing my American Girl today doll books (do you remember those?). Luckily my husband agrees with the name too! Emma Catherine is a beautiful name! Can’t wait to see what the boy name is if you are blessed with a little boy in your lives!
Lauren,
AHHHH! Love, hehehe. I thiiiink I’m a little older than you, because I don’t think my American Girl dolls came with those books. I did get the doll that looked like me, but I think that was at the tail end of my childhood, haha. Ugh, I’m so old! BUT I did write my own books about my dolls, and totally dreamt up “dream names” for the characters and friends. So fun!
Love that your husband agrees with the name. We are lucky girls!! xoxo!!!
CONGRATS on the upcoming arrival of your little one! Life will never be the same; it’s truly the greatest adventure you’ll ever go on. <3
My daughter’s name is Jenna Christine. I got the name Jenna from watching Dallas back in the day and Priscilla Presley’s name on the show was named Jenna and I remember thinking what an original, but not weird, name and I really liked it!
Tina, I love the name Jenna, and it was actually a favorite when I was growing up! (Sounds a lot like Emma, right? Hehe.) Beautiful! xoxo
I am an Emma! I’m 25 so the name wasn’t as popular when I was born which is one reason why my parents picked it! Now I hear Emma all the time in the store and sometimes forget it’s my name (I mean how often do we call ourselves by our names!?) and think it is the prettiest name! I always get compliments on my name since it’s so popular now! I have only meet one older “emma” before, she is 40! I wouldn’t worry about the school thing. I went to school with another emma and we called her Emmy! The nicknames will come, people call me Em the most, I’ve gotten Nemma too!
I totally think about names too! I have a love for “Emmaline” like no other but since my name is Emma, I’m not sure I can go for that one!
“I’m an Emma!”
You are SO CUTE. Also, so lucky. It’s obviously my favorite girls’ name in the world, and I just think it’s so cute for a little girl yet absolutely beautiful for a grown woman. Bravo, Ludwig parents! You guys did a great job!
And how happy are you that you truly love it?! And WAIT: HAVE YOU HEARD EMMALINE BY BEN FOLDS FIVE?! That song is so special to us!!
And yes you can. Think about Lorelei and Rory. You’re all good. ;)
XOXO
Love hearing about Emma’s name- so cute!
xoxo,
Katie
chicincarolina.blogspot.com
Thank you, Katie!! xoxo
Allie, WHAT!! Really?! Soooo cute. Also, can I tell you that I ALSO decided that Emma would be a twin? Hahaha. Clearly that part didn’t work out, but too funny! (Side note: my parents ALMOST named me Erin. It was really close, and they finally decided that “Kelly” sounded less “off-the-boat” Irish than Erin, haha. Ummm? But I’ve ALWAYS loved the name Erin for that reason, and kind of secretly wish they’d chosen that name. S’ok, though!)
Did you ever play the game “LIFE” while growing up? If I didn’t get the pink twins, I’d always want to quit. ;)
Aww that ending made me teary-eyed! I am obsessed with names and always love hearing how people come up with their kids’ names. It’s such a monumental decision so I find it fascinating!
And you totally aren’t crazy, I’ve had mine picked out for years. Now I just need kids so I can actually use them hahaha. You chose such a good one, all mine that I loved at 14 make me cringe now, but that just goes to show how timeless and classic “Emma” really is!