[sarahraegraham]

I would figure it would depend on each situation, but is there a rule that the bmom has the right to choose or what is generally done?

[Cjmeck]

The bmom has a right to name the baby at birth; and so whatever she says will be on the original birth certificate. But then, at finalization, the adoptive parents choose whatever name they want on the revised birth certificate. I don't know if it differs from state to state, but it seems that is standard. Our daughter's birthmom choose not to name our daughter so her birth certificate says "Baby Girl" until we finalize next month. But as far as the agency, our lawyer, the doctors, ect... they all call her the name we gave her.

[dragonfly1234]

Cjmeck is correct. One thing that we did after several meetings with our sons firstmom we made his middle name what she had named him orginally. His middle name is from a famous gospel singer and to this day he loves to sing.

[sbaglio]

I agree. In our situation, DD's mother chose her middle name. She put the first name we chose, the middle name, and our last name on DD's birth certificate. She's a really wonderful person, and we have a very OA.

[JustCourtney]

Our emom asked if we had a name picked out. I told her that we had several but were open. She explained that she had an uncle that she had originally planned to name the baby after (when she was hoping to parent), and asked if we would consider his name. Turns out, his name is the same as my nephew's! She then asked if we would put together a short list of names for her to think about. We did, and she loved one of the names. We then offered to have her uncle's name be the middle name. I am glad we have been able to work together on this, I hope that it bodes well for out future relationship!

[Stormster]

Courtney that is a great story!

[kelceesmom]

We chose our daughter's name. On her original bc it states baby girl.

[blessedbybug]

Originally Posted by sarahraegraham

I would figure it would depend on each situation, but is there a rule that the bmom has the right to choose or what is generally done?

There is no set rule although the new mother has every right to complete the original birth certificate however they choose. And in the end, an adoptive parent have the final say in what goes on the final birth certificate.

HOWEVER, we made sure in both our situations that the expecting/new parents were a part of the decision. They had their say and ultimately, we decided on a name together and they put the name on the original birth certificate. We made a list of names we liked and asked them if they had any suggestions of their own or if they liked any of the names. In the end, DD's first name is a form of her other mom's first name (we picked the name out long before we met DD's mom) and she was quite honored by that. DS's third name is his other dad's middle name (and if DS would have been a girl, one of her names would have been her other mother's name). Again, they were pleased that their family names were a part.

[devildogwife]

When we first met Cameron's birth mom, she asked us if we had names picked out. We told her we did, but asked her to please tell us if she didn't like them. Turns out, they were names she really liked and had considered for her other children. We definitely wanted a name for him that she liked and was comfortable with. She liked his first name and his (2) middle names. It was important to us to have her input. But what they are all saying is true~she is able to put the name of her choosing on the original BC, and if need be, you are able to change it at finalization.

[beav]

In our case, the birthmom had already named the baby ( we were chosen after the baby was born). We respected her choice and didnt want to just erase her past, but we also felt strongly that we wanted to name our daughter. We offered to use the first name birthmom had chosen as her middle name and we re-named her first name. Our birthmom was fine with that. We were told our birthmom's first name during the process ( we have a closed adoption) and then offered to use HER name as our daughters middle name. She was very touched by that. So in the end our daughters name changed completely from what is on her original birth certificate and sometimes I feel bad about that, but we are happy with being able to tell her some day that her middle name is her birthmom's name and she will always carry a piece of her with her.

[ourdreamcametru]

Castle's birthmother originally wanted to name her, even if we changed it but she decided that she might have a daughter someday that she would parent and that she would want to use that name then. She ask if we had a name picked out and we told her that we liked Castle, something different and that we wanted her middle name to be in honor of her. She was happy with both names!

[rredhead]

At the end of our match meeting, Jack's birthmom said, "You better think of a boy's name because that's what you're having." She even wanted to put our last name on the bc because she figured it would be easier. Her state wouldn't let her do that though. Some states do allow the child to have a different last name than the parent(s), but most don't.
I think it's all about what you're OK with. I've had a girl's name picked out since I was 8 - Cassandra. It was very important to DH to name our son after a favorite uncle who had passed away just before Jack was born, so that's how Jack got his middle name.
Names are full of meaning and emotion, and, as such, should probably be handled on a case by case basis. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do it.
I will say, however, to make sure that you have a record of your child's original last name, if not his or her original birth certificate. This can be very important in closed adoptions, or in open adoptions that become closed somehow.

[Ann07]

Our DD was named by her birth grandmother. When we met the birth mom she requested that we keep the name. We choose to honor that, but after finalization we gave her a second middle name.

The birth parents may want to name the child. It is up to the adoptive parents if they choose to keep it. However you would not want to enter an adoption under the pretenses that the child have that name and then the adoptive family change it.

[Celesyee]

In the case of our match that failed after birth, we worked with the emom to choose a first name that began with the letter "J" as BF's name begins with "J" and a middle name to honor our Hawaiian culture (birthmom, BF, and we all live in Hawai'i). After the baby was born, but before the BF decided to parent, birthmom decided to put our last name on the birth certificate. The baby still carries our name and lives less than 5min away.

We were matched with DS after birth and his name was "baby boy." We chose the name Devin and as it turns out, Devin's half brother and BF's names also starts with "D" so his birthmom loved it!

[Emberbit]

It was very important to me to name the baby and have the a-parents keep that name.

I knew I could put anythign I wanted on the original birth certificate but that there was no way to prevent them from changing it later.

So each couple I made contact with, I told them my plan to name the baby and my desire for baby to keep that name. I placed privately and I must have talked to a dozen couples who were hesitant about using the name I chose. I didn't push them...but I didn't choose them either. Eventually, I found the right couple.