J has a complex about baby names: if he knows anyone in real life with a certain name (even if he hasn’t talked to that person since the 2nd grade), it’s out.
Not surprisingly, this makes naming our children quite difficult as he is one of the most natural connectors I’ve ever known.
Luckily we were able to settle on two names (one boy, one girl) quite early in the baby-planning process. So when people asked if we have any potential names, I happily obliged…
…and experienced the wrath of my husband.
I know that many couples choose to keep the names of their unborn children a secret for various reasons. Some may want to leave it a surprise so that when the baby is born, a proper introduction can be made to the world. Others decide not to reveal the name lest someone will make a snide comment about the name (apparently, negative comments about the name are more likely to stay silent once a live, squirming baby is attached to it).
J wants to keep it a secret because he’s scared that someone will steal it.
I personally think his reasoning is ridiculous — we would only reveal the name to friends and family, and what friend/family will steal a baby name? In addition, if we keep the names a secret, isn’t it more likely that someone we know will use that name?
But he stands firm on this decision. He says that he’s seen it happen before, and he does not want to go through the entire name-choosing process again.
Do you, or did you, have named picked out for your unborn children? What is your stance on the keeping-the-name-a-secret issue?
