We didn't want folks calling our kids by their actual names before they were born either, but that had more to do with all the unsolicited advice people wanted to give about better names than the ones we'd chosen.

NOT SHOCKINGLY, my mother was the WORST about that, Burrell.

She was Not Fond of my name choices, and kept suggesting shit like Sandee. (Two Es)

We're not telling anyone, even our parents, the names we picked. So they get no opinions.

Oh, they'll give them. Even if you don't share, they'll give them.

It's just probably easier to ignore if you don't tell them.

Rupert is an exceptionally strong name.

Yeah, not really recommending. I just always think of Giles saying this when baby names come up as a topic.

I'm convinced not all men suck, I've just never met them.

I know not all men suck. I've met some great men! They are all partnered, to wiser and swifter persons than I.

I have that superstition too, though being of Southern Presbyterian extraction, I've no idea where it comes from. My sister must have it also; she nicknamed both kids when they were fetuses and didn't tell anyone their names until they were born.

I tend to call womb dwelling babies whimsical names like Bobbin or Poppet. Some friends called their fellow, Spud. Made me smile every time.

The only baby name suggestion I ever offer is Clovis. Someday, someone will take me up on that.

Wait, no. I did give my opinion on a former friend's baby name choice; I figured I should let her know that it was also the name of a werewolf clan in a fairly well-known RPG

Matilda's womb-name was The Halloweenie, even after we'd settled on a name for her born self.

My cousin J and his wife did not tell anyone the names of their kids before they were born. Their oldest are twins and the way they were situated in the womb no one could ever get a clear picture of the gender anyway. They did the same thing with their youngest. All the kids are First Name Mother's Last Name as middle name Father's Last Name. The names aren't really that odd or but they are good names.

I can't remember if J's sister followed the same thing but her daughters both have slightly unusual names that read Old School Southern to me and both girls have traditionally male names and then a more traditionally feminine (but unusual) name, which is what I think makes it seem old school southern.

Some family members were not happy but I think they are cool. Both girls have the type of names that sound like Women Who Did Something and Kicked Ass.