I want to name my baby behind my husband’s back, I’m the one who had the child

Georgia was excited to let her husband choose their baby's name, then she started having regrets. 

When it comes to choosing a baby name, many people opt for different tactics. Some turn to their favourite song lyrics or characters from books; others walk around cemeteries searching for inspiration. 

For Lucas* and Georgia*, they knew they wanted to make the decision as equal and fair as possible. 

But, as they soon found out, even some of the best-laid plans don’t work out how they’re supposed to and can tip some things out of balance. 

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The couple decided to make the baby naming process fair and equal ... sort of. Picture: iStock

“I just want the kid’s name to be perfect”

The first time they learned they were having a baby, they agreed that if they were having a daughter, Georgia would “choose a name” - one that he liked as well. 

However, if it turns out they’re having a boy, the roles would reverse and Lucas would pick their baby’s name. 

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“It ended up a girl and I chose the name Delilah*,” Georgia said on Reddit. “My husband said that he loves the name and we went with it.”

So far, everything in their lives seemed perfect; the couple were delighted with their daughter and loved the name they chose.

Then things changed. 

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It’s been a couple of months since Georgia and Lucas learned they were having another baby.

While the pair were overjoyed, they knew they had to choose another name, so they decided to tackle the situation in the same way as before. 

After all, it worked the first time, right? 

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“A few weeks ago we found out that this pregnancy is also a girl,” Georgia explained. “I told him he could choose, and after a few days he told me the name he’d decided on.”

However, the name he chose wasn’t what Georgia was expecting. “It’s a similar name to a girl who bullied me in high school,” she said, asking him to consider choosing another name. 

He agreed to think of another name, but it was no use. Every name he offered was shut down by Georgia, who told him she didn’t “like” the choices he was putting on the table. “This situation kept repeating itself until the due date came and we hadn’t decided anything,” she said.

Fast forward to the day their baby arrived, and they were still stuck on a final name. “After I delivered, the nurse asked for the baby’s name and I told her that we don’t know,” Georgia admitted. Despite Lucas offering further ideas at the hospital, they kept getting shut down. 

Eventually, Lucas “got annoyed with me”, arguing that she was “disagreeing with all his choices”, despite him not having a say the first time around. 

“He had no objections to Delilah, which I feel like is unfair since he LIKED the name,” she complained. “It’s not my fault I don’t like any of his choices.” 

After getting into a fight, Georgia “ended up yelling that I’m the one who had this child, so if we can’t agree on a name, I’ll name her something I like without asking him”. 

“I just want the kid’s name to be perfect,” she admitted. 

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“You had your way when choosing the name of the first child”

Georgia’s argument was quickly shut down by the people of Reddit, who argued her point of view was out of touch. 

“You had your way when choosing the name of the first child,” read a comment. 

“You agreed to let him choose the name of the second child. He did offer many names and again, this should be his choice. You need to learn to compromise and make good on your promise to let him choose.” 

“It was a silly agreement to make in the first place,” said another. “Realistically, both parents should be happy with whatever you name your child.”

Others wondered why she even offered to let her husband choose the baby's name in the first place. 

“It is pretty incredible that after you rejected the name of an old childhood nemesis (reasonable), that every. single. name. he suggested - for months apparently - was a ‘no’,” someone said. “If you wanted to have the whole exclusive say and last word on the name, you shouldn't have offered to let him pick it.”

“You can choose, but you have to keep guessing until you come up with the one I was going to choose, anyway,” another wrote. 

“At this point, just give him a list of your top 20 favourite girl's names, and let him choose from that list,” someone suggested. “He gets the illusion of choice, you get a name that you have already preapproved.”

*Names have been changed

Originally published as I want to name my baby behind my husband’s back, I’m the one who had the child