It Finally Happened...

[Sihaya]

Someone used the girl name we have had our hearts set on for 6 years (since I was pregnant with #1). The same name my 5yo calls the next baby by even though I'm not pregnant yet. The name I hear when I imagine calling out to my daughter.

The person who used it is my best friend from middle school who lives an hour away. We don't really see each other or hang out more than once every couple of years, so it's likely it won't be a problem for us to still use the name. But, man, I didn't expect it to hurt so much. We don't know any other kids IRL who have the same names as our boys and I was trying to ignore that our girl name has been steadily climbing in popularity ever since we chose it.

(Sorry if this isn't the right place for a vent like this. I had a lot of trouble deciding where to put it. Didn't put it in Baby Names because that's a forum for pregnant ladies and I'm not.)

[atomic sagebrush]

I'm so so sorry. I totally understand!!!

[ThePack]

Totally know how you feel. When I was pregnant with DD#1 my husband and I only agreed on 1 name (and it was the only girl name I liked).

When I was 4 months pregnant, our friends named their daughter that name (we had never talked about it-just a coincidence).

So I let my husband pick our DD#1's name. By the time DD#2 came, we had moved out of state, so we went ahead and used the name I really liked. What's funny is the name fits her better than it would've fit DD#1.

[dloui128]

That stinks! It's good that she doesn't live close so you can still use the name, but I imagine it still stings. You never know though, one day when you get your little girl you might look at her and the name you had thought you were going to use all these years just doesn't fit anymore and something else comes to you

[Pangea]

I'm sorry, it must really sting. Apparently my mum did that to my aunt, my aunt had two boys and was going to call her daughter my name if she ever had one. A year after I was born she did have a girl but she called her something else.

[ELP]

Maybe take it as a good sign that shes getting closer! So the next announcement of that name will be yours

[BabyGirl4Me]

I'm really sorry to hear that! DH really likes a girl name that someone else in our family wanted to use, but she's having a boy. I told him that I wouldn't agree to using that name because she wanted to use that name. You just don't do that to people.

That was really not cool of that lady to do that to you. Can't wait till you get your DD. You can still use that name, or maybe your baby will just let you know what she wants her name to be. We had a different name picked out for DS originally my DH wanted to use, but when I saw him on the ultrasound, the only name that would work for him was the name we gave him, lol. Good luck and hope you feel better.

[atomic sagebrush]

I did just want to mention that if you love a name you should use it even if it's getting more popular. Firstly because there are so many names out there now, even the most popular names aren't really that common because as a percentage of names, even then no. 1 name isn't used that often. And secondly because you can pick a really unusual name and over the course of a few years, it suddenly becomes very popular. This happened to us with our oldest sons' name, Wyatt. people thought we were insane when we named him that but now it's one of the most popular names.

[Sihaya]

Maybe take it as a good sign that shes getting closer! So the next announcement of that name will be yours

What a great way to look at it! I really hope that is the case.

That was really not cool of that lady to do that to you. Can't wait till you get your DD. You can still use that name, or maybe your baby will just let you know what she wants her name to be. We had a different name picked out for DS originally my DH wanted to use, but when I saw him on the ultrasound, the only name that would work for him was the name we gave him, lol. Good luck and hope you feel better.

We haven't shared our girl's name with very many people, and this person had no idea, so she didn't do anything wrong. Since we grew up together and have similar tastes, I understand why she chose the name, I just didn't expect it. It's been a rough week, and this was just the last straw, I think. (The fact that it's her 2nd daughter isn't helping matters.)

We picked a different name for DS#1 after we saw him, but we named DS#2 exactly what we had been planning to, so I know it could go either way.

I did just want to mention that if you love a name you should use it even if it's getting more popular. Firstly because there are so many names out there now, even the most popular names aren't really that common because as a percentage of names, even then no. 1 name isn't used that often. And secondly because you can pick a really unusual name and over the course of a few years, it suddenly becomes very popular. This happened to us with our oldest sons' name, Wyatt. people thought we were insane when we named him that but now it's one of the most popular names.

Thanks, Atomic! I am a huge name nerd and have spreadsheet with 6 different tabs tracking popularity trends and all kinds of things. I know a name can surge suddenly and there's nothing you can do about it, but I'm doing everything in my power to prevent naming them something that will make them Emma M. in a classroom full of Emmas. My name is Stephanie and I was never the only one with my name in any class or group. Even now, there are 5 of us in my moms' group at church.

[BabyGirl4Me]

Thanks for clearing that up Sihaya. I thought she was stealing your name out of spite or something. Still sucks that someone else grabbed the name and I can relate the agony of finding out someone else is getting yet another girl when you yourself are longing for your 1st daughter. That alone is enough to make you crazy. I have a popular name too and was always known by a last initial, which I hated, but I got over it and still finished grade school relatively unscathed.

I do hope your baby girl is on her way to you right now, and hopefully you'll either get to use the name you love so much anyway, or maybe another name you like better will unexpectedly come your way. Good luck!