Forgive me. My brain gets song lyrics stuck in it on a regular basis, and it seems to be even worse during pregnancy. And this super upbeat 90s dance tune that goes Ahhh…yeahhay…wanna be my looover? is playing with the repeat button stuck down right now. Yuck. So please read the title to this post with that song as the background music. Perhaps it’s more appropriately written Wanna Name my Bay-bay? so that you can hear it the way I do.
Ahem. You now have my solemn promise that I won’t use the word lover in this space again for a really long time. I’ve never really liked that word.. It hits my dislike list close to the word packet, which for reasons I’m afraid I can’t explain, other than the way it sounds, is just a word I don’t like at all. So next time you throw a big conference, don’t put guest packets at the reception table. Please. I’m confident I’m not the only packet-disliker…I just haven’t met all the word choice soul mates who can stand with me on this one, yet. Speak up if you’re out there…this is getting awkward.
Okay, seriously.
Being from different cultures, countries, contexts and probably some other C-words I’m too tired to think of, the Hubs and I are struggling with the baby name selecting. And he actually suggested that I ask you, sweet friends and blog readers, for suggestions.
There’s not going to be a magical decision making reveal moment 24 hours after this post hits the web (we won’t make an official commitment until the baby arrives) and I’m afraid I can’t promise you’ll win a special prize if we choose a name you suggest. (Seeing as we don’t have any special prizes, and I think getting to name the kid is enough.)
We’re taking a couple of days off (leaving tomorrow and coming back Saturday) for one last hurrah as a family of three. (Well, we’re already a family of four, number four’s just still on the inside. You know what I mean.) I’ll tell you where we went and share photos when we get back, of course.
We won’t be accessing the internet, but I have a few posts lined up for you while we’re gone…and don’t worry, they’re much more serious and thought-provoking than this one. But in exchange, I think you sweet guys and gals should make some name suggestions for us to read when we get back. We could seriously use some ideas, if nothing else, just to get our creative juices going. But wouldn’t you feel extra special if we chose a name you suggested? I know I would.
But here are the rules:
- It has to be a boy name.
- You have to find out what it means, and put the name and meaning in a comment on this post.
- You have to think about how it sounds with our last name. For example, Oliver will get called Ollie Collie. And that would just stink.
In return, I have some {hopefully} encouraging words coming up for you over the next few days, even though I’ll be away! I’ve had the chance to do some more thinking and writing about Hosea 6:6, as promised a while ago — and I hope it’s going to bless you like it has blessed me. I can’t wait to read your name suggestions when we get back! YAY!
I’ll miss you guys. And I really mean that.
Well, just want to say that you can have Joshua as long as you don’t mind me naming my baby boy Joshua should the universe implode a little and I give birth to a boy sometime in the future.
Other names..(hang on got to find my list… I like other names, but don’t like their meaning for instance, I had loved ‘Rhiannon’ but found out it meant ‘mythological nymph’ & Cameron means ‘crooked nose’)
Joshua – God is salvation
Jonathan – Yahweh has given
Adam – man
Ben – son (oh, and the guy who plays Eric Liddell in Chariots of Fire is called Ben)
James – supplanter
Finlay – fair warrior
Zach – pure
Bezelel (just kidding….but what a cool guy…)
Lachlan (only this wee one doesn’t have the bear’s scottish roots) – warrior from the land of lochs
Elliot (I think that’s from watching E.T. too many times) – My God is the Lord
Stuart – steward
Matthew – gift of the Lord
Luke/Lucas – light
Jordan – descend, flow down (plus Jesus was baptised there…)
Simeon – to be heard (who was the secondborn of Jacob’s sons I think???)
Isaac – He laughs/will laugh
Anyway, that’s probably quite enough to be going on with.
Thanks so much, LA! The crazy thing is, one of the more obscure names on this list is one we’ve been thinking about! Some good stuff to ponder while we’re away… 😀
I’m kinda of a bit of an etymology geek – I love names and finding out what they mean. I’ll probably annoy you guys with more in the next few days as they come to mind!!
Hello, I’m a lurker – I’m not sure of what your little “Bear” is really named! So … I can’t do the same-initial thing, or listen to how the names sound together 🙂
Based on a post recently about Caleb and Joshua, I was thinking either of those names would be nice. I also like Kevin. I’m sure you’ll find just the right name.
God bless you all –
Hi Susan! Thanks for momentarily de-lurking! The Bear’s real name is Asher. It means happy and blessed, and it has seriously been an appropriate name for the little guy — we are certainly convinced that there’s power in a name! We’d thought about whether we’d like another A name, or perhaps a B name this time…at this point we just need to find something we agree on! Caleb is on the list, too…we’re just not sure about that one either. (I really like it!) Blessings to you!!
I always go with family names for names. It means so much to me to be able to name a child after someone in their family. They wouldn’t be there without them.
That being said, these have been my recent favorites. I feel that they are strong names.
Henry – ruler of the home
Christopher – Christ-bearer
Alexander – defender of the people
Patrick – noble
Owen – desire born
Oooh, I like some of those a lot! We like family names too — the Bear’s middle name is the same as Mark’s Dad. We’d like to choose a family name for the middle again this time, but we have to make sure it sounds right with the first name first!! Thank you for these ideas!! 😀
I’ll now just throw in the Scottish equivalent of “Alexander” – Alasdair!
Also a random thing I just thought – if it’s a boy it might be helpful not to choose a name that starts with the same first initial as other men in the household. Could get very confusing when they are old enough to get their own mail if you’ve got more than one ‘Mr M Collie’ or ‘Mr A Collie’ – especially if it’s a bank statement or jury duty.
On the other hand, might be good if it’s a bill…!
I’ve always loved the name Jonah (meaning: dove), which was the name my ex-boyfriend and I were planning to name a son if we one day got married and had a son. I think it would be awkward to name a son Jonah with some other man so I pass it on to you. Another name I really like is Tristan, which I think means sad, and that is sad; but I’ve loved this name ever since Brad Pitt played Tristan in Legends of the Fall. My third and final suggestion is Samuel – meaning God has heard – as he heard Hannah’s prayers for a son and I hope he is hearing mine as well.
Natasha, you are always a hoot! We have good friends with a Tristan (spelled Trystan) so I think that’s out of the game. Jonah is worth some further consideration though! I am afraid Samuel would get called “Sammy Collie” and that sounds sissy to me. haha Thanks so much for your thoughts!
Nathan or Nate meaning giver, gift of God.
Joshua or Josh meaning my salvation is of God
I love discovering the meaning of names. Such a fun idea asking your readers. Have an awesome time away, enjoy each other and have fun
Those are good!! We’d been thinking of Nathaniel…another of the tribes…we could keep having boys and keep giving them tribe names! Gad…Isaachar…Naphtali…maybe not! Thank you!!
I am a fan of the name Seth meaning “appointed one”. Evan has veto-ed it b/c of someone he knew growing up that did not win his favor. So alas, won’t be on my list for Adrian’s one day sibling.
Seth Collie, I think it works with the last name. I’ll let you know if I run across other names I like.
Ok, I am giving you my list…I say my list because TD doesn’t like them! HA
Simon – one who hears and obey’s (SERIOUSLY all kids need to be named this!)
Luke- light
Levi- joined in harmony
I also like Wyatt – son of Guy (meaning isn’t great but sounds cool!)
We’ve been thinking about Luke as well, and Levi! So crazy how so many people have been suggesting names we’ve been thinking of! I even thought about Wyatt! I like it too! This is HARD!
Hey Caroline!!
If you want a C name, then I think Caleb (means “wholehearted”). I also like Gabe/Gabriel (means God is my strength) and I think they both sound great with Collie. 🙂 Hope this helps!
Kim
I like Caleb, too! Mark isn’t as much of a fan sadly… Thanks so much for the ideas!
hey dear!
I’ve always liked the names: Adam, I was thinking about if I had a little boy he would be named Dylan Austin
Adam Collie sounds good
Hmm…. I have a baby girl that is fussy, so I’ll have to get back with you!
Miss you and Love y’all!
That’s a lotta names for one kid, Debo! You are so funny. I like Adam, too — I honestly hadn’t thought of it yet! Hope fussybabygirl is doing great! xoxo
I love reading your blog!!!! I love thinking of names my girlfriend just had a baby on Monday and named him Gideon! I also love the name Daniel, Finn, Bryce, Mason, Graham, James, Nathan (Nate), Austin, and Fisher……Thinking of you!!!
Heather VanS.
So crazy, Mark had been thinking of Finn but I don’t think he liked the meaning. A lot of these names are GREAT! Thanks so much!!
Great suggestions…
but I’m thinking Aiden.
Your kid should be Aiden.
It’s means fire or firey. He’ll be on fire for the Lord! 🙂
Plus, I’m all about some alliteration! It’s so nice to see siblings with the same initials!
Yeah, Aiden. Deffinately Aiden.
I like Aiden, too! We have some good friends with an Aidan so I’m afraid we can’t use it, but I really like it a lot!!
I have only one name. I really feel this baby’s name is Ethan. It’s Hebrew and means “strong”. And Asher & Ethan sounds really nice!
I LOVE Ethan! That is a contender! We haven’t thought of it before, but I really like it. The only downer is Ethan was a bad guy on LOST, but that show’s done anyway… 🙂 I really like this one!
I think you should name the baby Liam
We’ve been thinking about Liam, as well — I like that one!
I like the name Christian too!
Hello you 3, Here some suggestions from the French side 🙂
I like some names but they are most of them based on Breton or Gaelic langages, and always on celtic roots.
Gwenaël or Gwenael (gwenn: white, happy; hael: generous)
Gwénolé or Gwenole (gwenn: white, happy; uual: brave)
Maël or Mael (prince, lord, leader)
Elouan (el: numerous, wealth; lou: light)
Yaël or Yael (wild goat, that’s hebrew and has a biblical origin but don’t really know what)
Good luck.
xxx
Nolwenn, you are so sweet! Those are beautiful names — I kind of had to laugh at the goat one, though!! Thank you for giving me some beautiful French suggestions! Mael sounds really strong!! Hope you are doing great! xoxo
I thought we had already discussed this and settled on some strong, eastern NC names for baby Collie???
Slightly heartbroken that you aren’t still entertaining my suggestions! 🙂
I would like to add a name or few
Abel (means “steady”)
David (“beloved”)
Nathaniel/Nathan (“God has given”)
Elisha (God is faithful/my salvation)
And for fun, some great inspiration from celebrities:
Brooklyn Beckham
Elijah Bob Patricius (Bono’s kid)
Zowie Bowie
Cameron Marley Buffet
Kyle Eastwood
Liam Flockhart
Sam Fox (son of MJFox xoxxo)
I also believe Gwyneth named her kid Apple.
Do not name your kid after a food.
Is there really a Zowie Bowie? Unreal! I like a lot of your suggestions! Asher’s middle is David so I’m afraid we can’t use it again. But ya know, Earl and Rufus are still in the possibility box. Close to the bottom and om, in a back corner. 😉 xoxo
Also thought of….
Joel (Jehovah is God), Nathaniel (God has given)
Or Wiseman – that was the name of one of the waiters who served my team when we went to a buffet restaurant in Durban. He was a cool guy with amazing dreadlocks.
Just thinking of NC, and of course I think ‘One Tree Hill’ and main characters in that (the nice ones) were Lucas/Luke, Nathan, Keith and Jamie.
Of course there’s always
Hezekiah
Obadiah (Obi Collie!)
Habakkuk
Or going with the Coldplay children theme:
Kiwano (horned melon, apparently a very nutritious fruit of African origin)
You know, if you don’t like Bezalel. 😉
My girl, you are such a laugh! It seems like every other comment is suggesting Nate or Nathaniel! Kiwano is a little out there for our tastes, although it does sound good with Collie. Or with yoghurt. 🙂 That you think of One Tree Hill characters is pretty classic, my friend!