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I've always loved the term "baby name". Makes it seem like you grow out of it eventually and have to switch to an adult name like "Roger" or "Raymond".

tasogare 5y ago
That used to be the case in some culture, like the Chinese one.
hamaluik 5y ago
Haha, I love it! Our first kid was code-named “baby thunder” before being born (we delayed telling some friends so we wouldn’t steal their “baby thunder”). The name stuck around for a couple months after she was born before we trailed off using it, so it really was her “baby name” :p
- robotresearcher 5y ago
  We did a similar thing. Early on, our toddler proposed the name Bin-ban for his upcoming sister, and it stuck. We have a lovely video of the toddler explaining to Grannie a few hours after the birth 'her name is Bin-ban'. 'Oh <long pause>, yes, but she has a real name'. We called her Bin-ban for a few more weeks until she sort of grew into her 'real' name. That beautiful little original name is a very fond memory for us.
  - prawn 5y ago
    Our son proposed “Caterpillar Pop” for his looming sister which I always liked. “Mustard” was the codename for another unborn child (my sister’s, I think).
- epage 5y ago
  Ours was Stardust, tying into part of their name that is a constellation name.
GrinningFool 5y ago
In a way - perhaps? If someone doesn't like their name they can change it when they reach adulthood (at least in the US)
deleted 5y ago
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wreath 5y ago
When I was a child I used to ask my mother what her name was when she was a child too. I just couldn't imagine/believe someone would have that/her name as and be 10 years old at the same time. I don't really like my name and I think adults should be able to choose their names without big hassle. Not choosing where you're born is already too much of a control-giveup haha
- DiggyJohnson 5y ago
  This just seems like we’d be fixing a cultural issue with a band aid solution. The reason changing a name is difficult shouldn’t be the bureaucracy, but the fact that you exist in an interpersonal network of individuals indexed by name. > I think adults should’ve able to choose their name without a big hassle So my question for you would be: what hassle are you referring to? The cultural norm or the bureaucracy/paperwork? In either case, what would a solution look like?
usui 5y ago
Same! I always thought I was alone in feeling this way. When I first heard the phrase "baby names", I first understood it as that: a name used for people while they are still a baby. I was confused for many years until I realized that it was just a query for popular names for your newborn. I feel there should be a more descriptive phrase for it, or simply refer to it as name popularity. I'm not familiar with a culture where people legally change their name as they get older, but I don't think it would make a statistical dent. Almost all people keep the name they are born with, correct?
lamroger 5y ago
hahaha
joe-collins 5y ago
Speaking as a "Joseph", there was a definite "Joey" phase as a kid, followed by an ongoing "Joe" phase, while "Joseph" is retained for Very Adult/Formal contexts. But maybe not everyone has such multifunctional names.

tasogare 5y ago

That used to be the case in some culture, like the Chinese one.

hamaluik 5y ago

Haha, I love it! Our first kid was code-named “baby thunder” before being born (we delayed telling some friends so we wouldn’t steal their “baby thunder”). The name stuck around for a couple months after she was born before we trailed off using it, so it really was her “baby name” :p

robotresearcher 5y ago
We did a similar thing. Early on, our toddler proposed the name Bin-ban for his upcoming sister, and it stuck. We have a lovely video of the toddler explaining to Grannie a few hours after the birth 'her name is Bin-ban'. 'Oh <long pause>, yes, but she has a real name'. We called her Bin-ban for a few more weeks until she sort of grew into her 'real' name. That beautiful little original name is a very fond memory for us.
- prawn 5y ago
  Our son proposed “Caterpillar Pop” for his looming sister which I always liked. “Mustard” was the codename for another unborn child (my sister’s, I think).
epage 5y ago
Ours was Stardust, tying into part of their name that is a constellation name.

GrinningFool 5y ago

In a way - perhaps? If someone doesn't like their name they can change it when they reach adulthood (at least in the US)

deleted 5y ago

[deleted]

wreath 5y ago

When I was a child I used to ask my mother what her name was when she was a child too. I just couldn't imagine/believe someone would have that/her name as and be 10 years old at the same time. I don't really like my name and I think adults should be able to choose their names without big hassle. Not choosing where you're born is already too much of a control-giveup haha

DiggyJohnson 5y ago
This just seems like we’d be fixing a cultural issue with a band aid solution. The reason changing a name is difficult shouldn’t be the bureaucracy, but the fact that you exist in an interpersonal network of individuals indexed by name. > I think adults should’ve able to choose their name without a big hassle So my question for you would be: what hassle are you referring to? The cultural norm or the bureaucracy/paperwork? In either case, what would a solution look like?

usui 5y ago

Same! I always thought I was alone in feeling this way. When I first heard the phrase "baby names", I first understood it as that: a name used for people while they are still a baby. I was confused for many years until I realized that it was just a query for popular names for your newborn. I feel there should be a more descriptive phrase for it, or simply refer to it as name popularity. I'm not familiar with a culture where people legally change their name as they get older, but I don't think it would make a statistical dent. Almost all people keep the name they are born with, correct?

lamroger 5y ago

hahaha

joe-collins 5y ago

Speaking as a "Joseph", there was a definite "Joey" phase as a kid, followed by an ongoing "Joe" phase, while "Joseph" is retained for Very Adult/Formal contexts. But maybe not everyone has such multifunctional names.