I can’t help but feel a bit sorry for my second daughter. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with her; it’s just that being the younger sibling often means getting the short end of the stick. Just take the saga of her name as a prime example.
When you’re expecting your first child, there’s an abundance of time to lounge around with your partner, weighing the pros and cons of names from every baby name book you can find.
“Hey, what do you think of Leo?” Tom asked.
“Not a chance! I knew a Leo who always stole my lunch money!” I replied.
“What about Oliver?”
“Oliver sounds too much like a fancy dog.”
And so it went until we finally settled on the name Liam. By the time I hit the 25-week mark, our little boy had a name that didn’t come with any negative associations.
Now, fast forward to the impending arrival of our little lady. This time around, we didn’t have the luxury of perusing baby name lists or enjoying idyllic evenings dreaming about her future. Instead, we were all about the quick text messages, with name ideas tossed back and forth like a game of hot potato.
While picking up Chinese takeout, I’d send a casual text: “How about Mia?”
Tom would respond, “Meh, there was a Mia in my class who had a pet tarantula.”
This naming game continued throughout my pregnancy. By the time labor started, we were no closer to a decision than we had been when our daughter was still a zygote. When friends asked if we had a name ready, we’d say we were brainstorming but had nothing set in stone. We thought we’d just know the moment we laid eyes on her.
Great plan, right? Except newborns kind of resemble tiny, wrinkled old folks with squinty eyes. I mean, how was I supposed to know if she looked like a Chloe or a Julia? And she didn’t even have the anatomy to pull off names like Max or Leo.
We might have kept deliberating indefinitely if the hospital staff hadn’t reminded us every twenty minutes that we needed a name for her birth certificate before we could leave. Sure, you can technically take home an unnamed baby, but then you have to navigate a bureaucratic maze later on, and trust me, first-time parents don’t have time for that. Especially not second-time parents.
So there I was, instead of resting and recuperating, Googling “Jewish girl names” in the wee hours. After a day of debating the merits of Emma versus Ella, I was exhausted. At that point, I just wanted to go home, sleep in my own bed, and enjoy the free babysitting my mom was offering.
The final decision went something like this:
“Just choose a name already!” I exclaimed, on the verge of tears. “I’m too tired to deal!”
Tom replied, “How about Lily? That’s nice.”
“Perfect! It’s easy to spell,” I said, shoving the paperwork at him, eager to hit the hay.
Honestly, I’m not entirely convinced she looks like a Lily, but at least it was simple, and I was too worn out to come up with something more imaginative.
If you’re curious about naming your little one or seeking advice on home insemination, you might find this resource on pregnancy and home insemination helpful. And if you’re interested in at-home options, check out Cryobaby’s Insemination Kit for more information.
In the end, naming your second child can be a chaotic yet amusing adventure. It’s a reminder that while the process may not be perfect, it’s the love and joy we bring to our children that truly matters.