Choosing a name for your child is an exciting adventure , filled with endless possibilities and beautiful discoveries. It is a true journey that takes us through cultures, eras and personal inspirations, offering each parent the chance to give their baby a unique and meaningful name.
In this series of articles, we invite you to explore old or more recent first names, from the most classic to the most exotic . Who knows, maybe you will find the perfect first name for your little treasure to come!
Let’s dive together into this fascinating world where each first name tells a beautiful story!
We leave our pen to Sophie , who comes to tell us about the choice of her little boy's first name.
Who are you? Can you introduce yourself?
My name is Sophie and I am the happy mother of a little baby of almost 1 year old! I work with our elders as a geriatrician. With my partner O. we like to enjoy Paris but also Normandy (it seems that we find the best Camemberts there!) and more particularly the bay of Mont Saint Michel, the Chausey Islands and the rich terroir!
At what point during the pregnancy (or before!) did you start talking about first names with your partner?
With O. we talked about names quite early, namely as soon as the pregnancy was confirmed. Convinced that we were expecting a girl (we wanted the baby to keep her secret until the birth) we very quickly found a girl's name. But as the pregnancy progressed, we said to ourselves that it would be nice to finally have a boy's name just in case! No name had caught our attention. Too basic, too common, too heard, not symbolic enough, too sought after, not us enough... in short, a real headache!
What name did you choose for your child? How did you find out about this name?
At Easter, a holiday that we love for many reasons, I read by chance the sweet name Alléaume on the Insta account of a mother. THE favorite. This name has a sound that particularly touches me. I find it beautiful, melodious, great and full of joy… like an Alleluia in my heart.
I talk about it to O. who is less cheerful than me. Disappointment...
Time passes, there is one month left of pregnancy and still no name for a little boy. Secretly I keep the one I loved so much for Easter. Then, one evening in July, we talk about boy's names again. We say, write, rewrite, we project ourselves... the name Alléaume can take different forms which complicates the task!
Who are the great personalities who have had this name (Saint, star, artist, etc.)? Did this have an impact on the choice of giving this name to your child?
We find out about the origins of this first name. What a surprise it was to learn that a hermit monk who lived on the Chausey Islands had this first name. The cherry on the cake is that a small Norman village north of the English Channel also has this sweet first name. A saint also worked and founded a monastery. We look for its etymology which appeals to us even more: "noble helmet". First name from the Middle Ages... while O. loves this period. This first name makes sense to both of us. But we remain convinced that a little girl will soon come to enlarge our family.
D-Day! A very fast labor… much faster than anything we learn in childbirth classes.
Baby is finally here… I put him on me… cuddle him, I cry with joy and O. is all moved.
When did you decide on the name? Was there a trigger?
After a few minutes of savoring… baby reveals his secret to us… when we discover it, we burst out laughing with surprise “oh a boy!”. Our adorable midwife asks us if we have chosen a name and there it is obvious when we discover the face of our little boy… it will be “Alléaume”.
Our son was baptized on Easter Day; another symbol? ... A day of immense joy, like all those moments surrounded by our little Alléaume, a child with a thousand smiles and mischief. No doubt that this name was intended for him ...
A final word? Do you have any advice for future parents who are looking for a first name?
To all future parents… choose with your heart, with your convictions… listen to yourself! Take the time that will be yours to honor your child with the chosen first name. It is the choice of a lifetime… the best since it is you who gives it to him.
Thank you Camille for accompanying us in these moments of life and for sharing these unique bits of history with us.
Sophie and O.
Thank you Sophie for this beautiful story, and at the same time for introducing us to this very sweet first name!
To discover or rediscover beautiful first names, go to our first name stories section!
