I do believe that choosing the name for your child is a BIG deal and it is important to get it right, because that child has to live with your decision for the rest of their lives.
I did not know the sex of my baby until he was born. To start with my boyfriend and I each compiled a list of boys and girls names – I wrote down 10 of each and he only managed 2! It is strange because for years my chosen names were always going to be Scarlet (named after my all time favourite film heroine Scarlet O’Hara from Gone With The Wind) and Joshua for a boy (I loved that name from the first time I had heard of it which was when I watched the film Big ). However, in the end we decided upon Isobel and Jack – which were the only 2 names we were able to agree on! So whenever people asked us if we had chosen any names these were the ones we would tell them.
However, about 2 months before my due date we both started to doubt the name Jack – although we both loved the name and felt it was a good, strong name, it is just soooo popular and we did not want to end up in a situation where by the time our son went to school there would be a classroom full of Jacks!
So then we tried to find another one that we both liked – which was VERY hard as we both had different ideas on what a good boys name is! Logan was a contender and starting to look like a real possibility as a replacement name although I did know of someone who had just named their son that which always makes you wonder if you should then follow, however unintentionally, suit. Then one night, whilst we were watching an American sitcom, a character came on called Burton, and although it took a few days for both the OH and I to come to the same realisation: that we (both) just really liked the name and being so unusual we doubted anyone else at school would have the same name. Also, up until finding this name I had kind of been hoping that my unborn baby would be a girl (I know, I know I shouldn’t have done!) – even though I kind of had a feeling it was a boy all along. However, once the name Burton became a contender I sooo hoped my maternal instincts were correct after all, and it was going a boy, because I did not want anyone else to use that name before we got the chance.
Here are a some facts about the name Burton:
- The name is still used in America in fact Burt Reynolds and Burt Lancaster were both born Burton
- It ranks 25,000 and something in the top boys names list (who could believe that so many names exist!)
- In olde english Burton means fortified settlement
Therefore, without meaning to we chose a name which is unusual and yet not too modern or wacky. In fact, it’s really an old fashioned name and yet it does not seem like it because it is so uncommon. I also doubt very much that Burton will attend school or college with any other name- alikes!*
Jon and I do not regret our choice in the name Burton – we just love it so much and when we tell people his name they always comment on it and say how unusual it is yet they really like it. It does however, put pressure on us to make sure that the name we choose for our next child, will be as good and one that we love as much and not one that the next child will grow up hating either!!
So why did you choose the name/names you gave your child/children? Would love to hear your stories 🙂
*in fact to date there are no other Burton’s registered in the UK