The Name Game

Except...it's not a game anymore! Choosing the perfect name for your baby was much more of a challenge that I had ever thought. Up until a few months prior to Julia's birth the top names on our list included Lauren, Kate, and Grace. However, we were determined that the baby would not have a name until we saw her and spent some time getting to know her.

It was just a few months before the big day that we started to really consider Julia. Justin wasn't too crazy about any of the aforementioned names (ok...the list was probably just my list and not ours) but Julia began to grow on both of us. Justin said it was like a fine wine that gets better each time you say it. I like to think of it as timeless beauty with a twist. Additionally, I remembered how I circled, highlighted, and even starred the name as a Jr. Higher when I first saw it listed in Paul's letter to the Romans. Then, when I read its meaning as being "youthful" and in some books, "light," I liked it even better.

Although I had loved the name since I was a young girl, I had two major hesitancies. First, I didn't want people to call her Julia Gulia (apparently its in a popular move). Second, I have never really liked the nickname "Jules," although I am getting more and more used to it since Justin calls Julia "Daddy's little Jewel." Now I think its rather sweet. I finally decided I could live with these minor reservations.

So, on April 12th, the day after her birth, we gave our baby girl the name Julia. It took us a day to seal the deal but once we did it we knew we chose the perfect first name.

Now, for the middle name. We debated between Grace and Joyce and ended up deciding on Joyce for so many reasons. Joyce is the name of my grandmother. Anyone who knows Joyce knows how unique she is: tap dancing in her 70s, singing "New York, New York" while out on the town, and generously giving to so many in her life are just a few things that describe her. The name Joyce also signified a story of redemption for Justin and me. A relationship that had gotten off on the wrong foot between Justin and Joyce had now turned into something very special. Furthermore, just a month after Julia was born would be Joyce's 80th birthday. What a fun gift to give the now great grandmother.

Julia Joyce Tennison: what a fitting name for our firstborn!