Can a mother name her baby whatever she wants?

Question

If a mother is married, and her husband is the baby's father, can the mother name her baby whatever she wants?

My wife jokes that she is going to make up some random name for our baby and since I am not the mother I don't have a say.

Is this true? She is kidding, but now I wonder about a father's right to his baby's name!

Answer 1

I wanted to name my son, but out of respect I let my husband have a decision.
The nurse said either one of os could. It didn't matter, but mother of baby has more pull.

Answer 2

The hospital gives all the paperwork to the mother to complete. And depending on what state you live in, the hospital and the county your baby is born in can process your baby's birth certificate with or without your signature. (I'm from NJ and that's how its done here.) So I guess in an essence fathers don't have many rights. Hospitals don't get involved in the back and forth between the mother and father about the baby's name. All they want to know is are all the areas that need to be filled in completed and is it signed by the parent(s). So don't count on the hospital's help if you disagree with the name.

Answer 3

That depends on the mother if she wants her husband to name the baby then go ahead but if she doesn't then it's only up to her to decide. I had that same situation I let my husband give a name then I gave a second name. I say two first names are better than one. So, this way he/ she can decide when they get older to have the name changed. Good luck!

Answer 4

Usually a couple will aruge it out until they agree on a name. I have not known anyone to really bring that question up. My husband and I agreed on him choosing our sons name. And he did a good job picking it out. Now... he would joke and say he was going to name the baby something else... and I let him know that was not going to happen but... All in all.. It really depends on who fills out the paperwork for the birth certificate. Usually the nurse or doctor will hand that to the mother seeing as though she gave birth to the child.
Good question though!! Hopefully everyone will agree on names.. If not then allow one parent to choose the first or middle name and allow the other parent to choose the other. (that is what my husband and his ex wife did with their daughter)

Answer 5

I don't think there is such thing as a fathers right to his baby's name. My brother had to sue to get his daughter's last name changed.

Mommy is the one stuck in the hospital, so she is the one who fills out all of the paperwork. You may want find a way to stick around the hospital with mom.


On the flip side, she is probably just messing with you. She loves you and the baby so why would she want to leave you out of such an important decision?

Answer 6

Hey, if you pushed something the size of a watermelon thru a space the size of a grape, you'd want to do whatever you wanted, wouldn't ya?

In theory, your wife is right. However, most couples I know discuss names and agree on one. I know of one couple where if it was a boy, the father got to name it, and if it was a girl, the mother got to name it. Another couple I know, mom picked the first name, dad picked the middle name.

Besides - when your kid is 18, they can legally change their name to whatever they want it to be anyway.

Answer 7

Most mothers give the baby the father's last name since it was the fathers sperm that got her pregnant.
U both should share the first and middle name of the child.
The parents name the kid.

Answer 8

After you prove your self a worthy father during the first 18 years of your child's life, your opinion on naming may be presented for consideration.
Oh and don't let your wife see you researching your states precedence on this issue or else your rights will severely diminish and her threats will strengthen.

Answer 9

well i belive it should be both of you me and my husband agreed on both of are kids names if the dad is there he has to signe the birth certificate if you dont like the name don't signe it my parents were not married when they had me my mom wanted to name me bobbie lee and my dad was not gonna have it he demaned they named me jennifer lynn he told them im the fater it is my chose what she will be called and her name is jennifer lynn and if her mom dont like it she can take it up with me so they put jennifer lynn down and thank god thats my name im glade my dad won that battle
but talk to her let her know that you guys need to decide on a name and if she takes that from you .. you will not forgive her and if it wasn't for you she wouldn't even be prego

the father has a say in it to and it's your right as a father to have a say in the baby name just remember stay right by her side wile she is in the hospital and watch her fill out the paper work so if she trys to get away with it take the paper and say no thats not gonna work im the dad that baby is mine to so i have a say in what the name should be we either agree on one or we are not leaveing this hospital till we do

most states have it as when a man and women is haveing a baby and the baby is the man's he has all rights to help with the name and if the women puts a name down he dont agree with he can go for a appeal ad they have to work it out there till they both can agree on a name

i didnt have this prob i asked my husband everything before i wrote signed or anything i looked at it as its his to and he has the right to help with the name

or let her pick first and you pick middle or the othere way around talk with her

any women who names a child with out asking her husband or the babies dad is selfish and wrong he has rights to and it takes 2 to make a baby ad takes 2 to raise a baby and 2 to name a baby the women should be lucky he's there most men up and leave

good luck

Answer 10

I won't say she have that right, but if you ain't there to sign that birth certificate then off coarse she have the right. After all the baby needs a name and if you're not there what should she do!