Wanna talk names? Okay, let's talk names.

Naming your 4th kid is not an easy task.  You want something that sounds great with your other kids names, while also matching the sort of style/theme that you've somehow created for your family.  But you also don't want anything too close/weird/out there, while remembering the basic rules of naming: (1) no crazy spelling initials (2) nothing too you-neek and (3) no porn star names.

But other than that, this is easy! Sigh. {I so love those porn star names, too.}

Okay, so, yesterday I think I identified my problem with this whole naming business. {Which is a good start, right?}  My problem is... I will never love another name as much as I love the names we've already picked.  And this is for 2 reasons.  (1) I've loved my current kids names for a long time. A LONG TIME.  Brynn since I was 11.  Reid for a good 4 years before he was born.  {Carter was the only name that gave us a little bit of trouble, but now that we're 3 kids deep, it's hard to compare that naming experience with this one because we could literally pick ANYTHING.} And (2) I love the names even more now that they are associated with… well, our kids. 

Do you see my issue??  Or am I just crazy? {Don't answer that.}

I think I just need to resolve to the fact that IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.  I'm just not going to love a name as much as I love the ones that we have now.  So I need to find a name that we both really like a lot and can grow to love. 

Obviously this will be a lot easier once we actually know what we're having.  But since I enjoy torturing myself, let's do this.

Girls

I think people automatically assume that our girl name is Emerson Mae, which was our name for Reid, had he been born a girl on September 10th {we were team green, remember?!} And while we still adore that name, I feel like it's only right to consider all of our options.  After all, when we originally picked it, we didn't have a Reid in the picture.  It was only Carter and Brynn.

Let me explain...

It's pretty obvious that I love surnames as first names.  This is not a "trend" for me.  This is something I've adored since I was younger.  And it actually works out perfect for us, given that our last name is a common first name. Obviously, Emerson is a surname, so it goes with both Carter and Reid, but it doesn't go with Brynn as much.  Before Reid came along, it didn't matter that it didn't match the style of Brynn's name, because it matched the style of Carter's.  But now that Reid is here, I'm sort of thinking we should just stick to the surname thing for boys and maybe find a girl name that more matches the style of Brynn's, which is a Welsh name {but also has English and Gaelic connections as well.}  I don't know. {Am I over complicating this?  Naming your kid is pretty important, so I'm guessing over complication is excusable.}  I'm not saying Emerson is off the table by any means, as I still adore it.  I just want to consider all of my options.

So given my aforementioned explanation, here is my girl list:

Charlotte {English}
Emerson {English}
Sawyer {English}
Seren {Welsh.. it's actually the most popular name in Wales}
Rowan {Gaelic}
Hayden {English}

This list changes on the daily. {I wish I was joking.}

Okay... here's the thing.  I've always {always} loved the name Charlotte.  I think it sounds great with our other kids names, and it would also be a nice tribute to my grandfather, who passed away a few weeks ago {named Charles/Charlie.}  But?  I'm worried about it's growing popularity. {#19 on SSA.} Although I'm a Jennifer, which was #1 from 1970-1984 and I survived {barely.}

But I'm not in love with it.

Emerson I think is great, obvi.  But I'm worried about it not going with our "theme" even though it's an English name. I think people recognize it as a surname before they recognize it's orgin.  And, before anyone says anything, I know that Emerson literally means "son of Emery."  I know this.  I don't care.  I'm pretty sure Carter's name means "to cart" and Brynn's name means "hill."  I honestly have no idea what Reid's name means.  Clearly, I do not pick names for their meanings.  Their orgins?  Yes.  Meanings? Hell no.

I still love Emerson though and it's at the top of our list. And I think if I did decide to go with another name, I'd try Emerson as a middle name.  Charlotte Emerson?  Hmmm.  Emerson Mae?  Crap, I don't know.

Sawyer I've loved since middle school.  I went to school with a girl named Sawyer, and never even realized it was actually considered more of a boys name until LOST started {OMG... drool. I know his name was James, but still. He'll always be Sawyer to me. Wait, what was I talking about?}  Anyway, I'd never use it for a boy, but LOVE it for a girl.  Bob's not really on board though.  I think.  Yet.

Seren, Rowan & Hayden get added, removed, and readded all the time.  I want to love Seren.  I just think it will get mispronounced a lot {even though it seems pretty clear cut... on paper.} Rowan is a local university, so I don't know how I feel about that. And I'm not loving the Reid/Rowan thing.  And Hayden.  I don't know.  I like it enough to put it on my list, I guess?

Anyone want to give me English/Gaelic/Welsh names to add to my list that follows my aforementioned rules above?

{Is anyone still reading this?}

Boys

Boys are a little easier for me, despite this potentially being our 3rd boy.  My name list is pretty short and maybe even settled.  I'm not sure. Again, I'm trying to stick to the surname theme, but I do enjoy Irish boy names.  Like, a lot.  So...

Lucas {this is a pretty clear front runner, but I'll name others I like}

Grayson

Asher

Ashton

Nolan

Gavin

Liam

Caleb

Keir

Declan

I can't kick the Irish names.  They end up on my boy list every. time.  But I think Lucas/Luke is still my fav.  Again though... I'm worried about it's popularity {#27 on SSA.} I just don't know if I care this time.  It's hard enough coming up with a name that I like enough to add to my list, let alone worrying about how popular it is {or might be.}  Anyway, I'm hoping that once we find out it's a boy... one of these names will just pop and be the clear cut winner.

I'm actually hoping the same thing happens on the girl front.

I'll let you know August 30th.

Oh, and just for good measure.... let me include Bob's name list in this post:

Girls:                               Boys:

1.                                     1.

2.                                     2.

3.                                     3.

4.                                     4.

5.                                     5.

That's not a typo.  Your screen does not deceive you.  Those are his actual lists. ;)

So this is fun, right?  Anyone want to name my kid?