Hellobee Boards

We had a boy name and a girl name picked out before we married. Once we knew he was a boy it was settled. We told people when they asked. I don't see the big deal in sharing before birth. I wouldn't care if someone didn't like it. People also asked for personalization/monogramming reasons.

We had a name picked, but did not share until he was born. I just told people we were still deciding and that we wanted to make sure the name fit our LO. DH was on board with keeping it secret so I have no advice! He probably would have been ok with sharing if I had wanted to. We pretty much only referred to LO as "baby" until he was born!

ETA there was some truth to wanting to see LO to see if the name fit I was really anxious about that for some reason, but we also did not have any back up names! Lol

We knew what the names would be for both our sons before they came, and we did share. We were not the recipients of any unwanted feedback so I guess we were lucky because I hear that mentioned a lot. My hubby and a [male] friend of his (who also shared the name) have both mentioned that it made them feel more connected with their baby when they could refer to him by his name - that it made it more like a real person would be joining them if that makes sense. Maybe it helps men bond with their baby and see them as a little human when it is actually a person with a name?

I'm 12.5 weeks and we just chose a name and told anyone who has asked so far. TBH I don't get the secrecy either and I'm the one who persuaded DW that I'd rather start calling him by name and bond early

We didn't settle on a name until maybe a month before she was born, but even then we wanted to give ourselves the space to change our minds and we didn't want outside opinions. We announced once she was born and then no one could say anything about it!

I voted before I was pregnant. DH and I had a boy and a girls name picked out shortly after we met. We had our boy first and our girl second and used the only two names we ever liked. Now we are expecting #3 and I know we are going to have a hard time deciding on the name regardless of gender. This baby probably won't be named until the end and maybe never (kidding...I do think we will have an easier time agreeing on a girl name, but still difficult).

I, too, have never understood the name secrecy. We didn't share until we were 100% sure and only shared when asked but I don't have any reason to not tell anyone. I haven't gone out of my way to make an announcement, but I haven't hid it either. Everyone has been really positive about the name so far. Plus, my dad keeps using his name when I post ultrasound pics on FB.

#1we picked at 14 weeks. I told a couple of nurses and got one really negative response, so we stopped telling til after she was born... And then everyone said "oh my god is she named after the baby on the Office?" No we picked the name long before Pam and Jim did.

#2 we figured out at about 35 weeks. We told almost no one. I did tell my mom. She hated it. We kept it to ourselves. Now she loves it.

#3 named after birth (like 3 days after). Told no one. No bad comments and everyone loves it.

We were team green and had two boy names and two girl names picked out. We make a final decision on a name until 8 hours after DS was born. We didn't share the shortlist with anyone. I'm a little superstitious and I just didn't want to hear anyone's opinions. Also, it was kinda fun to have it be a "secret" between DH and I.

We were relatively certain, but we wanted healthy baby to arrive before we officially named him and announced it to everyone else. Zero regrets about keeping it to ourselves. My close friend told everyone her daughter's name pre-birth, and her husband wanted to go with a different middle name after she arrived and all the monogrammed stuff she had received didn't work anymore. Anyway, it's fun to keep it a surprise!

@Anya: oh I had some family members who were annoyed. Not like legitimately mad, but annoyed. Then again some of the same people were annoyed we didn't find out the sex.

Late pregnancy (like 7.5 mo I think) and we told people who asked, but didn't make an announcement.

We picked the name the night we found out we were pregnant. We shared the name very shortly after that. As soon as we found out she was a girl her name was official. Then, when she was born it was like it was meant to be because the name is just so "her". But, I didn't really care to keep the name a secret!!

We told everyone when she was born. Part of the reason was I wanted to give everyone a surprise. I remember when one of my cousins had a baby. We knew the sex and name and the birth felt kinda anti-climatic. I wanted everyone to find out everything about the baby all at once.

We picked DDs name at 30ish weeks while we still thought she was a he. I'm 34 weeks with DS and we are totally undecided.

We didn't tell anyone with DD (except my doula at my last appt). My mom didn't want to know the sex and refused to know the name. We both knew she wouldn't like it. We won't tell anyone DS's name if we decide before he's born either.

I don't like knowing baby names before the baby is born. I say dumb things and I don't want to offend or second guess anyone. However, I often secretly hope people rethink their name choices when baby arrives. Eek, I'm terrible.

We picked a name when I was in my first trimester. We told our moms and one friend, but aren't telling anyone else. It really feels weird for me to call her by her name right now. I also like the idea of announcing her name when I announce her birth.

We shared with close friends if they asked.

With ds1 we picked Around the start of the third trimester and shared w our parents and bffs.

With ds2 we picked the name last wk (around the same time as last time, I'm 29 was today). And we're going to keep it a surprise until he's here!