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The excitement of your bun in the oven may be overshadowed if you and your partner are having trouble agreeing upon a name for your new addition. Before this name game becomes a name war, read on to find out how to find a name you both love for your new baby.
 Play Fair
Before you start shooting down your partner’s suggestions and talking up your own, stop and give your partner the same courtesy you expect him or her to give to your list. Dismissing the other parent-to-be’s input may only cause bigger problems than what to name your pea in the pod.
Be Sensitive
Before you scrunch your nose and write off a name on your partner’s faves list (even if it is Bertha or Bartholomew), don’t discount any family sentiment, tradition, or ethnicity behind the proposed label. Chances are that if your partner is willing to suggest a name with a history behind it, it also holds a special meaning to him or her, too.
Stop and Listen
Some people are drawn to names not only for the way they sound, but for what they mean. Perhaps your partner always dreamed of a daughter with a name of a jewel or hoped for a son with a name that stood for strength. Identify the reasons you each like the names on your list and it may help change the meaning for you, too.
Take a Pass on Being Passive
Keeping the peace is important, especially during this delicate nine months. But, settling for a name that neither of you loves is a ticket to future resentment. Remember that this is not only a name that your child will have to live with, but will be a compromise you may later regret.
Don’t Rush
You will likely have the full nine months to find the perfect moniker for your baby-to-be, so take your time when compiling lists. The longer you look, the more likely you and your partner will be to find a label you both love. This will also help take the pressure off of feeling like you have to find the perfect name now.
Put it in Perspective
Little disagreements about naming your little one can quickly snowball into major issues. Don’t let tastes in baby names define your relationship by reminding yourself that this is not only supposed to be fun, but that picking a name is a joint effort.
First Name, Middle Name
If you and your partner just cannot seem to agree on which name should come first, consider letting one parent pick, or even drawing the two names out of a hat to determine the order. As long as neither of you are opposed to either name, the arrangement of the first and middle name can be a safe compromise.
Once you have come to find a name that you both love, one thing that may be easier to agree upon is when to reveal the name you’ve chosen to the rest of the world. But, before you monogram the entire nursery with the initials of your choosing, make sure that all the name issues you and your partner have are truly resolved. Then you can focus all of your energy on welcoming your bundle of joy when the big day comes!
Check out these baby name ideas to help you get started:
Top 100 Baby Names from the Social Security Administration
Unique Baby Names and Meanings
Exotic Baby Names
BabyHold Message Boards: Get help from other parents!
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And get more name ideas later on.
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