The Baby Name Game: A Real Mom’s Story on Choosing Baby’s Name Without Losing Your Mind

“A rose by any other name would sound as sweet” – Shakespeare

Turns out high school English was good for something after all.

Because when it comes to choosing baby’s name, Shakespeare absolutely nailed it: we will love our children no matter what we name them… so why does the decision feel so overwhelming?

If you’re pregnant, trying to conceive, or simply dreaming about future babies, you’ve probably already felt it — the pressure to pick the perfect name. One that’s meaningful. Unique. Not too trendy. Not too common. Easy to spell. Easy to pronounce. Significant. Special.

No pressure, right?

Thalia's helping mommy choose a name for her little sister.

This is the story of how I navigated choosing baby’s name the first time… and how wildly different the process felt the second time around.

Why Choosing Baby’s Name Feels So Stressful

When I was in school, I remember having multiple Matthews, Davids, Melissas, and Rebeccas in my class. I even ended up in a class with another Brittany and it felt like a permanent “Thing 1 and Thing 2” situation.

I knew early on that I didn’t want my child to feel like “one of five” with the same name.

I wanted her name to feel:

• Unique

• Meaningful

• Timeless

• Special to her

And that’s when choosing baby’s name became a much bigger deal than I expected.

The Baby Name Book Phase (and Why It Didn’t Help)

Like many moms-to-be, I bought the biggest baby name book I could find and started flipping.

And flipping.

And flipping.

Half the names I couldn’t pronounce. The other half I didn’t like. Every time I opened the book, I felt more overwhelmed than before.

Meanwhile, Grayson suggested we name a boy Newton. I legitamly thought he was joking and laughed, he wasn't as involved after that and I felt bad.

That was the moment I realized I would be mostly on my own for this decision.

I Believe Names Have Personalities

You know how you’ve met multiple people with the same name and they all kind of… feel similar?

I swear names carry energy and personality. I wanted to choose a name that felt aligned with who my daughter would become, not just who she was as a baby.

I’m also very sentimental, so symbolism mattered a lot to me when choosing baby’s name.

How I Chose the Name Thalia

I went down a rabbit hole researching Greek mythology names and immediately fell in love with several.

I think she looks like a Thalia, don't you?

Here were my top contenders:

• Alethea – one who is truthful

• Amara

• Astra (Greek) – star maiden

• Athena (Greek) – Goddess of wisdom, poetry, art and war

• Avelina

• Eileithya (Greek) – Goddess of childbirth

• Eleanora

• Elliana – light, mercy

• Freya (Nordic) – Goddess of love, beauty, fertility, war and wealth

• Harmonia (Greek) – Goddess of harmony and concord

• Iris (Greek) – Goddess of the rainbow, gods messenger

• Laila (Arabic) – a beauty of the night

• Lileah – resembling a lily

• Oriana – born at sunrise

• Rhea (Greek) - Goddess of nature

• Thalia (Greek) - muse of comedy and idyllic poetry, joyful

My top three were: Thalia (pronounced tally-ah) Elliana, and Eileithya.

I told people we were waiting to meet the baby before deciding, but if I’m honest… I already knew.

What sealed it for me? I later learned Thalia also meant joyful — and my mom’s middle name is Joy. Without planning it, I had honoured my family in a way that felt deeply personal.

That’s when I realized something important about choosing baby’s name:

The right name often feels right before you can logically explain why.

The Middle Name Mishap (A Lesson Learned)

We chose Megan as her middle name to honour Grayson’s mom, who had always loved that name but never had girls herself.

Six months later, I received a card where she spelled it Meagan.

At that point, I learned a valuable lesson:

No matter what name you choose, someone will have an opinion on how it should be spelt and if they like the name at all.

And that’s okay.

The Second Time Around: A Very Different Mindset

When I was pregnant again, I approached choosing baby’s name completely differently.

This time:

• I ignored family pressure

• I didn’t ask for many opinions

• I wanted to choose in advance to reduce stress before labor

• I focused on names that meant joy

Because this baby was due around the holidays, and the entire season felt joyful and symbolic to me and would connect her to her sister.

Names That Mean Joy I Considered

• Ada/Etta/Eta – happy

• Alaia – joyful and happy

• Aliza – joyful

• Allegra – happy or jaunty

• Annabella - joy

• Beatrice – she who brings happiness

• Blythe – cheerful, happy, carefree

• Caia - to rejoice

• Caroline – strong and joyful

• Farrah – happiness or joy

• Felicity – fortunate and happy

• Freyda – joy

• Hana – joyful

• Ilaria – happiness

• Joie – joy

• Jovie – joyful

• Joy – a delight, one who brings pleasure to others

• Joyella – a delight, one who brings pleasure to others

• Leda/Leta – happy

• Maeve – cause of great joy

• Mavis – joy, small bird, songbird

• Naomi – cheerful and pleasant

• Rowena – happy or joyful

• Rena – joyous melody

• Winnifred – happiness or joy

Other Names I Loved

Check out baby #2's gender reveal.

• Ayla

• Freya

• Iris

• Pearl

• Violet

• Rosalie

• Ellianna

What I noticed was fascinating: very few names overlapped with my first pregnancy list.

And that’s when it hit me:

Choosing baby’s name is deeply connected to who you are at that moment in life.

As we change, the names that feel right change too.

What I’ve Learned About Choosing Baby’s Name

I'm in my third trimester now and I'm no closer to choosing a name for this baby, I haven't found the right one yet. But I do have some strategies to make the process easier. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, here’s what helped me:

• Stop asking everyone for opinions

• Focus on meaning over popularity

• Say the name out loud often

• Imagine calling it across a playground

• Picture it on a resume one day

• Trust the name that keeps coming back to you

Because at the end of the day…

You’re not choosing a name for a baby. You’re choosing a name for a whole human.

How Did You Decide?

I’d love to know how you approached choosing baby’s name.

Did you go for meaning? Family history? A name you just loved the sound of?

Share your story — and if you have suggestions based on my lists, I’m always open to hearing them. Make sure you follow me on Instagram @brittanynmiller_ for more motherhood content.