For months, my partner and I deliberated over the perfect name for our little girl. We had our hearts set on Olivia, but decided against it since it ranked among the top three most popular names. We craved something a bit more distinct. Names like Avery and Caroline came to mind, but ultimately we landed on Charlotte—largely because we didn’t know anyone else who had chosen that name.
Clearly, I need to expand my social circle. A few weeks ago, I attended a baptism class and much to my surprise, the woman behind me had named her daughter Charlotte as well. Then, during our own baptism, guess who was sitting right next to us? Another Charlotte! And just when I thought it couldn’t get worse, the Royals went and named their baby Charlotte. Seriously, why?
If anyone else had chosen that name, I would have thought it was pretty cool and a sign of great taste. But the Princess of the United Kingdom? Come on! Is it too late to reconsider my child’s name? It feels like she’s destined to be one of ten thousand “Charlottes” in her class.
I’m seriously contemplating a name change. I mean, it doesn’t seem like it should be that complicated, but the thought of explaining to everyone why we altered her name at six months old is daunting. Friends and family would think I lost it, plus we have a ton of items with her name on them that we’d have to toss. Maybe I could send all the monogrammed gifts to Kate and William and they’d send me a thank-you note with some pastries like they did for those fans waiting outside the hospital. That would be kind of cool.
Of course, I don’t know the Royals personally (though I’m convinced Kate and I would totally hit it off), so it’s not like they’re borrowing from my inspiration, but still. For the next several years, Charlotte is likely to be the go-to name for baby girls, and that’s a bit disheartening.
To my Charlotte: I’m genuinely sorry that we dropped the ball on the name front. I have a sinking feeling that this won’t be the last of my parental blunders over the next eighteen years, so brace yourself. For now, I’ll have to get creative and come up with a fun nickname for you.
If you’re interested in reading more about the ups and downs of parenting, check out this post on intracervicalinsemination.org. Also, for those considering at-home insemination, Make A Mom offers reliable products that can help. And for more information on intrauterine insemination, Cleveland Clinic is a fantastic resource.
In summary, the journey of naming my daughter has taken an unexpected turn, and while the name Charlotte is beautiful, it has certainly become one of the most popular choices around. Here’s to embracing the chaos and finding the silver linings in parenthood, one day at a time.
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