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Not long ago, Joy Forsyth reflected on the naming of her children. She shared the long list of boys’ names that she and her husband, Austin, had considered but eventually rejected for their youngest son. The mother of three backed the no-repetition-of-names rule, unearthed a pregnancy diary, and showed the world, revealing a personal aspect of the occasionally tiring process of naming perfection. Gunner James, her final choice, was not even on their list and it goes to show that sometimes being impulsive leads to the best decisions.
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Through a very open video, Forsyth examined the handwritten list while explaining the context for most of the names. Some were rejected by one of the partners, e.g., Clayton, which had the note “ex” beside it. Others had much family history. Edwin was a name being talked about after talking to Austin’s grandfather, and the full name that was suggested was Edwin James. The name Bantin was also a preferred name, it was very ancient and buried in the family tree. “I really like the name Bantin,” Forsyth said. “In Austin’s family, there was the great, great, great, great, great grandfather who was called Bantin. And I always thought that was so cool.”
The list was a mixture of styles such as the cosmopolitan of Walter, which Forsyth termed as “an incredibly strong and very old name” the list also included modern picks like Camden and Easton. Among those names Bowman was one of the most serious contenders along with the cute nickname “Bow.” But, since Austin was not totally in favor they decided to continue the search. Other names which were on the long list were Elliot, Truman, Corbin, and Rowan. The couple finally settled on Gunner James while still in the hospital; a name that had not been on the list initially but somehow felt right for them considering they had the older children already named Gideon and Evelyn.
When the name was revealed it caused a barrage of replies from other parents with many of them relating their own experiences and views about naming. The name Walter proved to be one of the main talking points of the thread. A user expressed a widely-shared opinion when he said, “Walter Matthau is the only one I think of when I hear ‘Walter.’ I simply can’t picture a baby named Walter. Gunner is much better!” This shows how different generations can associate names, in some cases, that can be a reason to keep the name while to others it can be the reason to drop it. In fact, another user, commenting on the opposite side, recounted how a positive personal association with the name: “My firstborn is Walter! We call him Walt. It was my grandfather’s name.” This comment drew a question from another user asking if the grandfather was of German descent, which illustrates how names can lead to conversations about one’s heritage.
Family traditions was a recurring theme in the comments. A user revealed a continuous line of names through the ages in her family, saying, “In our family there is Robert Houston, Robert Houston Jr., and Robert Houston III! I named my son Houston; he is going to name his son after me. So I love it!” This indicates that some names turn into priceless family heirlooms. An unnamed commenter supported the name Bantin, pointing to a related practice: “I like Banton. (if that’s how it’s spelled) my middle name is my great-grandma’s maiden name and I have always liked it.”
Moreover, the discussion opened up the idea that one can never anticipate the outcome of the naming process. A mother said, “We have a Wilder, which never got on the list! Lists can be really useful sometimes but then in that moment you just veer off the road.” This very idea is exactly what happened to Forsyth when she finally came up with the name Gunner at the very last minute. Not every comment, of course, was complimentary. One negative comment that stood out simply stated, “You’re naming humans not dogs……,” a remark that reflects the divisive nature of naming options nowadays, or more precisely, with names like Gunner and Bowman.
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A good number of people just displayed their appreciation for the names on Forsyth’s list, for instance, “I have a Camden 🙂 great name for sure” and “My little guy is Landon! Very unique name.” Bowman also found a new fan among the commenters, as one person said, “If my daughter had been a boy she would’ve been Bowman aka Bowie. Love that name.” Joy Forsyth and friends had a memorable gathering. Joy Forsyth’s journey into the past resulted in a gathering of parents who shared their ups and downs during the significant, hard, and sometimes extraordinary experience of naming a child. Ultimately, her tale shows that the right name, even if it’s not on the original list, will find its way to you. She also shared an adorable moment with her son that melted hearts. Joy also tackled the Mud Girl Run recently. She also shared her Pinterest-inspired fall fashion haul from Amazon.