Some parents choose not to reveal their baby’s chosen name until after the baby is born.  What’s with all the secrecy? 

There are many reasons for parents choosing not to reveal their name choice until after birth.  There is always the chance of negative criticism.  Everyone has their own favorite names and names that they just don’t connect with.  Although the criticism may be innocent and well meaning, the name that is chosen to give to a  baby is close to the parent’s hearts and personally meaningful.  Some parents just don’t want to take the chance of letting others spoil their feeling about the name or even send them second-guessing.  It is their baby, and the name is their decision.

Many choose to keep the name a secret for religious reasons.  In some cultures, it is customary to tell a baby’s name only after birth.  The giving of the name is usually accompanied by a special ceremony marking the event.  In some cultures, the name is revealed only one year after birth!

Ultrasound gender predictions are usually correct, however there have been cases of women who were told they will be having a girl, and end up giving birth to a boy!  Because these gender predictions are not 100% foolproof, some couples may prefer to keep their baby name choice to themselves until after the baby is born.  This way they will not get used to calling the baby by a name belonging to a different gender.

What if there’s a change of mind?  Some parents change their minds about their baby name choice several times throughout pregnancy.  Most people would not want to go around telling everyone that they have changed the name. “Forget the first choice, call the baby …”  Sometimes it takes time for a name to grow on you until it feels absolutely right.  Telling too early can be a needless hassle.   

The element of surprise is one of the most prevalent reasons.  Some people just don’t want to tell, and some just don’t want to know!  Many expecting couples may come across family and friends that want the surprise.  Sometimes even gender is concealed to respect individual wishes.  Announcing a baby’s name and gender are very special moments.  There is nothing like an after labor “It’s a Boy!” 

On the other hand, revealing the baby’s name before the birth is a choice many couples make.  Once the name is decided, it’s hard to keep the excitement to yourself.  Plus, some parents prefer to start to call their baby by its name while it is still in the womb. 

Related readings:

The origin of names
Ten ideas on finding a name for your baby

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