The name game

Curse you, Lil' Kim!  You stole our top choice for PB's name so we can cross that off the list.

JUST KIDDING.

While I applaud the individuality and delightful alliteration of "Royal Reign," I don't think I could name my daughter after a future Triple Crown competitor. 

It is Lil' Kim's right to name her baby whatever she chooses, naturally.  Besides, there's a long-standing celebutard tradition of the odd and obscure so she's keeping trend in good company (I'm looking at you, Sage Moonblood, Moxie Crimefighter, and Jermajesty.  Seriously.  Jermajesty? -- Royal Reign is kind compared to many.)  

But it does bring up an excellent point about how judgy people can be about names.  This is one of several reasons why we're absolutely under no circumstances pre-announcing her name.  We've had almost two years to choose it and fall in love with it and no one will rain on that parade.  Good things do come to those who wait and we've waited, and waited, and so can everyone else.  There are too few surprises in this IVF bag of tricks anyway so it's kind of nice having something sacred and private to utter like an oath when she kicks me in moments of stillness.  I get to say her name out loud and it sounds real.  I talk to Oscar about his little sister and he just cocks his head and says, "thank goodness you didn't choose Virginia Woolf, mummy."

Will there be private critics?  Of course there will be.  That's human nature and the nature of family v. free-will.  We're all guilty of raising an eyebrow at someone else's choice from time to time and I freely admit to wondering what some of my own cousins were thinking.  But guess what?  Children tend to grow into their names and over time, the names start to suit their personalities.  Look at Prince George Alexander Louis: such a name to saddle on a chubby munchkin but that chubby munchkin will one day be King of England so here's to forward thinking, Kate and Wills.

When people ask, as most do, if we have a name picked out since we know it's a girl, I smile and say "yes, we do."  Unless they continue the conversation, I don't volunteer a thing and most get the message.  I enjoy having such a sweet secret.  You'll have to meet her to fall in love with the name like we did but until then, mum's the word.