Last week, someone on Twitter posed the question: What were you almost named as a baby? It got me reminiscing. Both Ben Blair and I had almost-names as babies. I was almost named Shoshana — in fact, I swear there’s some document in my baby book that lists the name Shoshana, written before my parents settled on Gabrielle. (I should go find my baby book and remember what it is! Also, I know it’s not a baby picture, but that’s me above. I think I’m age 3 or 4 in this image.)
Here are the names of me and my siblings: Jake, Rachel, Sara, Joshua, Gabrielle, Jared, Jordan, Salem. Do you think Shoshana would be a better fit in that grouping?
Ben Blair’s almost-name is Troy. Apparently he was called Troy all throughout his mother’s pregnancy. He’s number 7 in line and all the older siblings had been referring to him as Troy for a couple of weeks after he was born. But right before his baby blessing (where he was officially given his name), his parents had a change of heart and decided to go with Benjamin. But they didn’t tell anyone! So all the siblings were shocked to hear this new name during the blessing prayer. Hah!
This got me thinking about the almost-names of my kids, but they mostly don’t have almost-name stories. We never wavered on the names of Ralph, Olive, Oscar, Betty, and June — but for Maude, we came really close to both Mabel and Miriam. The plan throughout the pregnancy was to name her Maude, but at the last minute we wavered, and tried both Mabel and Miriam for a couple of days after she was born — then ultimately switched back to Maude.
What about you? Do you have an almost-name? Do any of your kids? I’d love to hear your stories.
P.S. — All the best nicknames.
My parents considered Natalie and Nicole, but settled on Christina. I think Natalie really suits me, but am glad I didn’t get Nicole. If I was a boy I would have been Matthew. I guess they went off that name though because my younger brother is Robert. IF he was a girl he would have been Alanna (a name my dad now says he hates in hindsight).
My daughter is Delphine and that name was set for a girl. We didn’t know the sex, but if we had had a boy he probably would have been Edwin. However, I wasn’t feeling 100% about any of our boy options so I’m glad I didn’t have to pick one. Walter, Wallace, and Cyrus were also contenders.
My dad wanted to name me Tatiana. :)
Funnily enough, my name was almost Gabriella but my dad didn’t want people to call me Gabby 😅 He nixed any name that could be shortened (he’s a Michael and people have called him Mike his whole life, much to his chagrin).
I was almost named Liesl (Sound of Music, my mom’s favorite movie). My dad nixed the idea saying my nickname could be Liesl Diesel Mouth.
We had the name Camille Marguerite picked out for my son before we knew he was a boy. We used that name on one of my twin girls. The other names we had picked out for my girls — we went with Camille Marguerite and Caroline Lee — were Claire, Lily or Joy. If we would have had twin boys, I wanted the names Clinton and Carter.
We almost named our 5th boy Stone, because I had terrible kidney stones when I was pregnant with him. I joked with my husband and kids…”We should name him Stone!” and they all loved it. When it came time, I just couldn’t do it. Naming him after such a horrible experience seemed wrong, even if we did like the name. The funny thing is, he had two boys named Stone in his pre-K class last year.
I felt a lot of pressure naming our 7th (a girl after 6 boys). She was going to be Magnolia Grace (because Magnolia was my almost name that my Dad wanted for me) but again, when it came down to it, I chickened our, afraid that Magnolia was too over the top. We ended up with Marlie Jean, but after 7 mos., I just kept feeling like we should have gone with Magnolia after all. So, I changed her name when she was 7 mos. old to Magnolia “Nolie” Jean.
I almost name my daughter Rosie, but later I choose Elsa. I like both names.
My parents considered Veronica, Sasha and Joan. They landed on Sarah. Given that I was born in 1980, I was one of four Sarah’s in my class. But I still like it.
I almost named one of my twins Ryan, but we settled on Jacob and I’m so glad we did. I wavered between Madeline Ann or Claire Elise for my daughter, and Madeline won. Again, I’m so happy we did. If I ever had another girl (I won’t, we’re done), I might name her Claire.
I also think you sort of grow into your names. They become essential to you, a part of you. I also think its interesting how you can look at a baby and say “nope, that name isn’t going to fit” . When we had our twins, it amazed me how quickly we assigned names to each boy, and how the other twin “couldn’t possibly” have the other name. It’s fascinating. Fun topic!
My mother was trying to choose between Chastity, Charity, September or January. She lost on all when my father insisted I be named after a country cheating song ‘My name is not Julie’ and so I became Lisa
I was almost named Jessica. I’m the 5th of 8 kids, all J names. A cousin was born a couple months before me and named Jessica, so that was out.
My Dad really like Jana, but my mom thought it sounded unfinished so they added an N to make Janan! My Dad however has always called me Jana:)