Why You Should Choose A Name

Yesterday I talked about baby names. I received a few comments as the result of that post and wanted to expand on them….

Jenna wrote,

“Could you write more on why it is important for those who DO choose adoption to name their child? Munchkin was only ever Munchkin to me... and I kind of regret that. Not that we don't all LOVE the name Munchkin which is still a nickname...”

First of all, I should say, that it is your right to name your baby even if you do make an adoption plan and ultimately place your child for adoption. You still have the right to name him or her and then of course the adoptive parents have the legal right to change the name.

Like Jenna, I kind of regret not naming Charlie. I don’t have many regrets about my adoption, but that is one of them. Naming your child is acknowledging that he or she is your child, even if you are only legally his or her mother for a short time.

I’ve heard several adoptees say that knowing their birthmother chose a name for them (even if they were not called that name or did not even know it till they were older) made them feel special.

Now, that’s not to say you are terrible mother if you don’t name your child. You are not! I totally understand and get it. The whole reason I didn’t name Charlie was fear of the adoptive parents changing his name and (unintentionally) hurting my feelings. I also don’t think I realized that it would bug me later on that I didn’t name him.

In closing, I’d like to share a comment left by an adoptive mother.

We were able to name our son when he came home with us at 5 weeks of age. He was also named by his birthmom while she was still in the hospital. She had his name printed on the newborn photos. I love that and look forward to sharing that part of the story with him.