What's in a Name?

It's so funny to think about it over a year later, but deciding what to call another human being is a daunting task. I pondered names long and hard. I took a baby name book from the library at one point and wrote this list:

*Serenity
Huyana(falling rain)
Liadah
Kiernan(Irish saint)
Gwendolyn (blessed ring/fair browed)
Jessalyn
Ophelia
Penelope(weaver)
Repunzil
Saige(knowing, wise)
Saddie(princess)
Tatum (be cheerful)
Trella(little star)
Ilianora
*this list was never approved by Mike or even for the most part anything I was seriously considering

Let me just say that in my experience the name discussion is definitely one where you're gonna disagree more than you agree. When we first started dating we decided if we had a baby "someday" we should have a top 3 for each sex. We loved Serenity for a girl, it was a done deal for our hypothetical daughter. For a boy we liked Simon Oliver, Maverick, or our third choice completely escapes me now.

As soon as I got pregnant I suddenly hated Serenity. I just knew that wasn't who was in there. Just as suddenly Mike found ourselves in whole hearted agreement on Maverick for a boy. We focused our efforts on girl names. I had dreamt about my "fairy baby" so we tried to come up with uncommon names with an ethereal feel. When we had narrowed it down a bit we posted a list for friends and family to vote on.

Maverick Steele or Maverick Stone (Mav for short)Meaning Fiercely independent

Riley Grey or Riley Eris Meaning-Space in a rye field/courageous woman
Jessalyn Eris (Jess for short)Meaning-Woman of wealth
Aerilynn Sapphyre (Air A Lyn)Meaning-Beautiful air
Serenity Wysteria or Serenity Wyllow (Ren for short)Meaning-Calm/tranquil
Violet Eris or Violet Moss

By the time we entered the OR having long since decided on and abandoned Maverick Steele for the boy who wasn't to be. We had narrowed our girl choices:
Riley, Jessalyn or Violet

She came out and gave the NICU team a run for their money. They kept laughed and applauded her good weight and healthy lungs. One nurse called over "you got a feisty one here mama!" I said "Michael, you know what we have to name her." She named herself really.

Now after all the stress, worry and arguing I look at her and I can't imagine her with any other name.