Here’s why we need to cut our parents out of the naming discussion:
http://www.babynamewizard.com/archives/2010/4/the-generational-sweet-spot-or-why-your-parents-have-such-bad-taste

I am so glad my husband shot down my top name choices. I really wanted to name one of my boys Basil (but pronounced the way Americans say the herb) and another one Indigo. We are not hippie enough to pull off those names. :)

We named our daughter Oleisa, which was not controversial at all with our family and friends. It’s a French (and/or Greek) variant of Elizabeth. Our family and friends seem to like it more, too, when we tell them it means “God’s promise.”

Our criteria for choosing a name was:
1. Had to start with either “O” or “L” for her dad (Oliver) or mom (Lovelyn). This continues a tradition that my parents started.
2. Had to be somewhat uncommon. My name was uncommon enough when I was growing up. In grade school, I only knew of one other Oliver and he went to a different school. My wife’s name is also very uncommon in the US.
A lot of our friends’ kids have very common names (like Nathan or Alyssa) and when we go to the park at least one or two other kids share the same name. I can’t imagine how many classmates will share their names over the years. I didn’t want my daughter turning around every time someone said her name but wasn’t taking to or about her.
3. Had to be a real name. We don’t want her being teased for having a made-up name (though she may get teased anyway for having a “weird” name). Children (and some adults) can be so cruel sometimes.

It took some time and many books and websites, but we don’t regret her name one bit!

I remember when my ex-husband and I were choosing names, we decided on the girl’s name without a problem. But, for a boy, after going through a load of choices which we couldn’t agree on, we decided to make our own lists of favorite names, and then compare. As it turned out, for each boy, with all the names we liked individually, we agreed on only two. So, for our 1st son, we used both names, out of the 2, the one we liked best, became his first name and the runner up, was his middle. We it did the same for our 2nd son, and it worked out quite well. This prevented a lot of arguing and stressing out. We left our famlies out altogther. Safer that way.

Technically, I did change my middle son’s name after he was born. Apparently, whoever processed his birth certificate couldn’t read my handwriting (and didn’t pay attention to his dad’s last name) and he ended up with a different last name (an “h” got turned into an “n’). I didn’t actually notice it until an embarrassing amount of time went by, and then had to have his name changed to the correct name.

i absolutely love my childs name i wouldnt change it even if they asked me too…btw his name is Keagan Michael Nail

I loved the name Claire since elementary school, so I named my first girl Claire. However, now that I see it’s becoming popular…it makes me cringe a little. I wanted a ‘normal’ name that wasn’t overused so she could avoid the Claire P, Claire S and Claire B scenario in school! (And honestly because I’m a little vain and don’t want to be compared with ‘those moms’ that name their kids the ‘cool name’ of the decade. There. I said it.)

So when we found out we were pregnant, I said “if it is a boy I’d really like to name him after you” then thought to myself if it is a girl I’d really like to use my confirmation name but specifically didn’t say it to see what he’d say… Then he says right after that “Well if it is a girl I’d like to that middle name you got to choose for yourself, Anastasia, I’m just gonna have to learn to spell it…” I was happy he was happy and that is as far as that went. My family says “oh she’ll never be able to spell it!” His side says “It sounds like anesthesia” His sister even goes as far as to text me that I’m am being selfish when I say she already has a name in response to her Joanna suggestion. I guess she thought that I named the baby by myself because she says “We’re her family too” Look the people who made her named her Get Over It!

I was about 8 years old and I was watching the movie Splash. Darryl Hanah’s character was choosing a name, and she decided on Madison, after the street. Tom Hanks’ character said “That’s not a name” and I turned to my mother and told her I was going to name my first daughter Madison, because I thought it was a pretty name. Fast Forward a decade or so, and I’m with my husband and we are discussing baby names because I’m expecting, and he says he wants to name our daughter Madison. I instantly said Yes! I know it’s fashionable now, but it wasn’t when i chose it, and having him confirm it only strengthened my resolve that it was meant to be. I don’t care that it’s the 3rd most popular name for girls, because I chose it when I was a little girl, so it means more to me than any other name could.