Absolutely, you can head home from the hospital without a name for your little one! That’s exactly what my OB told me when I asked, and I was shocked to learn I wasn’t the first parent to consider it. So off we went, cradling our unnamed Baby Girl, ready to start this new chapter.
It’s not like we hadn’t put any thought into names. Since discovering our second child was a girl, I’d been poring over hefty baby name books, and my partner and I started a little competition. It was like a game of Battleship, where we sunk each other’s favorites with objections:
- “Too old-fashioned.”
- “Sounds too similar to our first daughter.”
- “Way too trendy.”
- “Oh come on, that’s straight out of an ’80s song!”
In the end, we narrowed it down to three names, but I just couldn’t bring myself to make a final choice. I wasn’t indecisive, per se; I simply wanted to be absolutely certain that the name we chose was perfect for our Baby Girl. So we decided to let those names simmer a bit longer.
As my pregnancy progressed, I practiced saying each name out loud, even pretending to call my future toddler at the park. Yet, none emerged as the clear champion. I researched the meanings and origins of our top three picks, hoping for a spark of inspiration. Unfortunately, none whispered “Choose me!” as I had hoped.
With my due date approaching, we decided to take the laid-back approach: wait until we met her, and then the perfect name would reveal itself. But when labor arrived a week early, I was caught off guard—both by the suddenness of it and the fact that I still hadn’t decided on a name. Baby Girl’s birth was both swift and intense, much like her personality today. Just an hour and a half after labor began, we sat there, transfixed by our beautiful, wrinkled baby, her cries declaring she was here, regardless of what we might name her.
“Does she look like a Name Option 1? Or perhaps a Name Option 2? Maybe even a Name Option 582, which we haven’t discussed in ages?” I ventured to my partner, eager for his thoughts. “She looks like a new baby, whatever we decide to name her,” he said, not exactly helpful.
As we prepared to leave the hospital after two sleepless nights, panic set in. We had the perfect coming-home outfit and a car seat ready, but we were still missing one crucial element: a name. The thought of leaving without one sent my mind into a frenzy. What if we chose poorly?
But, surprise! My doctor reassured us that it was entirely permissible to leave the hospital nameless. I felt a wave of relief wash over me; we had 14 days to finalize her name before submitting her birth certificate paperwork—a veritable eternity in baby-naming time.
Once home, my family and I tried out names on our little one. “Do you like Name Option 1, Baby Girl?” I asked, only to be met with projectile spit-up in response. “How about Name Option 3?” A slow blink and yawn was all we got in reply. It seemed like she had no interest in our naming deliberations.
After three days of back-and-forth, I finally felt confident. I had made my choice, and I was eager to share it with the world—friends, family, social media, or even fellow shoppers at the store. I knew we had found the name that fit her perfectly.
In the end, Baby Girl was no longer just Baby Girl. We took the necessary time to ensure we picked the right name, and I was grateful for that. So, if you find yourself in a similar situation, my advice is simple: take your time with naming your little one. There’s no rush.
By the way, Baby Girl No. 2 became Sophie, followed by Baby Girl No. 3, who we named Emma. Then, we had a delightful surprise with triplet girls—Baby Girls No. 4, No. 5, and No. 6—making name selection a whole new adventure!
For those interested in navigating the world of home insemination, check out this resource on pregnancy. And if you want to learn more about naming ideas for your little ones, you might find inspiration on sites dedicated to memorial ideas.
In summary, don’t stress about choosing a name for your baby before leaving the hospital. Take your time, and you’ll find the perfect fit!