This is a question I get almost every day, both in real life and online, so I am going to give an official answer!

The Naming Process

During my pregnancy, we kept a running list of names we liked. Anytime a name popped up that one of us liked (usually me) we’d add it to the list. In the beginning of the pregnancy, we had two or three boy names we loved, so we stopped adding to that list. But then we found out we were having two girls, and started our brainstorming again. By the end of my pregnancy, we’d narrowed the list down. We had two girl names we really loved, but then someone suggested using our boy names for the girls and we seriously considered that. Naming humans is hard!!!

After it all, we decided to go with our girl names, Romy and Piper. I insisted to Blake that Romy was Baby B (the baby on the right side of my stomach) and Piper was Baby A (the one smashed to the left underneath Baby B). I’m not sure why I thought that, but I did. So that first time we went to the NICU, I decided to test it out a bit and called Baby B Romy. It felt weird to me, but I just thought that’s how it always is and maybe you have to give a name time to stick ;). Blake didn’t seem at all convinced, so back in our hospital room we talked about it some more. My sister Tahni was also there. Blake suggested switching the names – what if we tried calling Baby B Piper instead, and call Baby A Romy? Fiiiiiiiine Blake, we’ll try it ;).

So when we were able to go back to the NICU that night, we switched it. And it felt SO much better – we all agreed. It’s crazy how their names seem to fit them so well, I couldn’t imagine it any other way! I wonder now, how much have they become their names, or is that just who they were all along?

Now, here’s where the names came from to begin with…

Romy Jean

Romy is named for both of my grandmas, who I love like crazy. They are the most amazing women, both still alive and both vibrant and incredible. My Mom’s mom is Ramona Loretta  (Souza) Barham. I read somewhere that Romy can be a nickname for Ramona and instantly fell in love, I wanted her name to have meaning but also wanted it to feel like her own.  I also read that it’s from a Latin word meaning “dew of the sea.” How beautiful is that? Jean (Jean Michaels Hawkins) is my dad’s mom, and it also happens to be my sister Tahni’s middle name as well as my niece Tae’s.

I can’t NOT mention that Romy also happens to be from a movie we all know and love. As a result, even in the NICU Piper was getting called “Michelle.” But I kind of love that the name is unique enough that that’s usually the only reference people think of! It’s never been in the top 1000 names, and I don’t personally know anyone else named Romy!

Piper James

Piper is a name that I have loved for years and years. Even when other names would come and go, that one stayed on my mental list for “someday”. When I brought it up to Blake, he said he had known a Piper who was pretty rad, which made me like it more. I can’t explain the feelings I have around the name Piper, but they somehow ended up fitting her so perfectly. The meaning of the name itself is simple – “a pipe player.” But I love how simple it is!

James was my mom’s dad. He was funny, quirky, fun and loved us all a lot. I’m sad Piper won’t get to meet him, but am excited to tell her stories about him when she’s older.Romy’s Jumper | Piper’s Jumper

  

List of other Girl Names we Loved

  • Perri
  • Piper
  • Roe
  • Rue
  • Romy (Ramona)
  • Winnie/Winter
  • Frankie – (Francelina – my great Grandma)
  • Tennessee
  • Sutton
  • Banks
  • Monti
  • Emery
  • Finn
  • Finley
  • Kinney
  • Gigi
  • Georgia
  • Pippen
  • Emery
  • Mooney
  • Rooney
  • Ellison / Elliston
  • Quinn
  • Elliott
  • Lennon

So that’s it! That’s how Romy and Piper got their names. And to answer one more question that I always get – I think it’s actually easier to name two babies than one! We loved two names, and I honestly don’t know which one we would have chosen if we had to pick just one :).

The jumpers the girls are wearing here are my favorite – by Cleobella. Scroll down for some more favorites from Cleobella Littles!

xx

Jen