What's in a name?

What was the one thing you were the most stressed out about during your first pregnancy? Gaining weight? Not sleeping? Money? Those thoughts have crossed my mind a time or 20 but sadly, I'm more concerned with one tiny (huge) detail of my daughter's life- her name.


We haven't 100% decided on a name yet and I think it's starting to drive some of our family and friends crazy. She will be here in the next 27 days- how can we NOT have a name? 


This is serious business people- we can't just go off naming her the first thing that pops into our heads (Apple anyone? Ivy Blue perhaps- or is it Blue Ivy- does ANYONE know?)


Halfway through our pregnancy I read an article that a tenth of parents regret what they named their kid, some parents are even changing their names when they go to school because their original (no pun intended) name was "too popular".


What if that parent is me? What if I wake up in five years and she comes running in for breakfast and I see her and just think "wow- you are so not a (insert whatever name here)".


There are so many factors to look at: names I've loved since I was a child, names my husband loves, family opinions, easy to make fun of names, names around us.


Let's start with names I've loved since I was a child- Alexis. How beautiful is that name? It's origin means Defender. Perfect. Except for that minor detail of our last name. Karr. I'll let you put those together... Boo


Names Geoff loves: well, not a ton here because he really only had boy names picked out...He and his friends ARE however, very good at finding even the most normal name and making fun of it somehow- yea...


Family opinions- if my mother doesn't stop calling her Lola I may scream. I honestly wouldn't put it past her to snag the birth certificate and sign it. Lola, by the way, was a top 10 PET name in 2011.


I've always loved Payton, yes I got it from a certain quarterback WAY back when he played for Tennessee (and yes, I know that's not how he spells it). I thought for sure at least one of my kids would have that name. Welp- two years ago we bought a house- let's just say our beautiful blonde haired little neighbor has a pretty awesome name.


Then there's that little thing called your past- so many names I'd never want to say numerous times in one day- it doesn't help my dad is a teacher so he's got a few names on that "no no" list.


Then there's the middle name. We pretty much have that covered- August, after Geoff's dad, Gary August Karr. But what goes well with August? It's pretty important to us that we keep this.


So besides all that somehow we've narrowed it down to a few names we like:


Haleigh
Taylor
Reagan
Kennedy
Whitney


*I am well aware that a few of those choices are past presidents, I also had Madison on my list when I was younger- what can I say- I love history


*This also doesn't mean it's one of these for sure- I hear once you actually see your baby some or all of your names fly out the window


I promise you we aren't calling her something in the privacy of our own home and keeping it from you. I try different names each day and see if she likes any (for your information she does kick a little harder for some than others).


I know I'm probably overreacting a bit but I can't help it. I want my little girl to love her name, to own it. I want it to be strong and beautiful like I know she will be. She deserves at least that. Plus- I don't want to give her a reason to hate me someday, I'm sure I'll do that some other way more than once.


So I ask you- how hard, long did you search for a name? Do you ever regret it? Would you even tell me if you did???