BellaOnline Forums Health and Fitness Baby Names Would like your Opinion

I'm expecting my second GRANDCHILD :) from my only child. She and my son-in-law already have a boy, my little :king:, Robert Murray,(after deceased family members). Now, they are expecting a girl in a few months. We were joking around, I think, when my daughter suggested the name of Sunshine Renee Smith. I'd been referring to the baby as Sunshine Renee. Now that my daughter KNOWS that she's having a girl, she's rethinking SUNSHINE. She's weighed that it sounds ok, it's unusual enough that she won't run into too many other, it's has a pleasant meaning, can't think (off hand) any negative connotations. But...you know how it is, you want to get it right. I named my daughter Erica Nicol, thinking that I'd call her Nicki - she's 29, I've never called her Nicki. So much for that idea. When I was choosing her name, I teased my husband that I was going to name her Candy, because everyone mispronounces our last name as CANE, i.e. Candy Cane. At the time I was a fan of the soap opera with Susan Lucci as Erica Cane - I didn't even realize it until her first doctor's appointment, when the nurse called "Erica Cane" what I had missed - LOL. I told my daughter I'd ask - WHAT DO YOU THINK of the name SUNSHINE? Thank you! You are Joy! Joyfully, Janet

Do you like the name SUNSHINE? single choice
	I'd consider Sunshine as a name for my own child.
	I think it's a really cool name.
	It's ok, but maybe you should save it for a nickname.
	You should be locked up for child abuse for even considering such a ridiculous name - She'll be tortured.
Votes accepted starting: 10/07/09 06:18 PM You must vote before you can view the results of this poll.

I think it is a cute nickname, but it would be difficult for the girl to go with life with that name, I think.

It reminds me too much of the "hippy" type, logger boots with dreadlocks and beads type name from the 60's. I am afraid that many people in the same era will associate that kind of name with that type of person. Starlight, Starshine, Moonbeam, Sunshine, etc..... Would be a cute nickname though, for the family to have for her.

I agree with Phyllis and 3Step. The name wil surely cause her a lot of problems. Remember kids can be cruel. I know because my name is Vance. Simple name, right?

That is until I did a dance all the way to France because of the ants in my pants.

Hi Janet!

I have to agree with the others -- might be a cute nickname or middle name (Renee Sunshine?), but I don't think I'd be brave enough to make Sunshine the legal first name, even if I loved it.

Sunshine doesn't really have any negative connotations as a word, but, as a name, I think a child (or adult) named Sunshine would stand out for the wrong reasons. The name sounds bright and cheery, but also not very serious or professional.

How would the name Sunshine look on a college application, or a resume? Would people feel strange seeing a psychiatrist named Sunshine? Would they snicker behind the back of a judge named Sunshine? Maybe yes, maybe no...but the mere possibility would worry me.

I'd suggest thinking about your own name, and having Erica think about her own name. If you guys could re-name yourselves, what names would you choose? (I'm guessing probably not Sunshine.) Maybe Renee? How about Johanna? Elizabeth? Taylor? Matilda? Focus on names that you (both) would be proud to own, and use those as a starting point for brainstorming about the baby's name.

I think Sunshine is a great name. And Sunny for short is just cute. I don't like boring, everyday names. I don't know why we stick to them so fiercely.

My niece is named Eclipse and she LOVES her name. Everyone loves her name. She doesn't get teased; she gets complimented.

I am just glad Jill is not that common. I was almost named Kim or Amy. I am so glad my mom did not choose those - boring!!! Something even more unusual would have been a bonus, in my view. :-)

Oh, and coincidentally enough, Eclipse does plan to be a judge! lol

I was just tempted to vote for the last one because it made me laugh!

I like Nicki's idea of switching the names around to Renee Sunshine (although it doesn't ring as well, hmmmmmm)

"Sunshine" does not seem that odd, though. I rather like it.

Honestly, these days I do not know that kids are teased as much for their names - because there are so many unique ones out there. Sunshine does not compare to some my husband just looked up! I wouldn't call her Sunny, though - I think Sunshine is much more lovely.

(Jilly - I love, love, love "Eclipse"!)

Thank you, I appreciate ALL of your comments. 3step, ..hippy...logger boots...dread locks...hmmm, are you saying that like it's a "bad" thing? Sunshine Smith vs Susan Smith, i.e. Peace lovin' hippy vs baby killing murderer (BTW, I am friends with her cell mate! Don't condone Susan's actions, can't fathom a reason, I don't know how she lives with herself - I do pray for her to bring love and joy to those who surround her) Janet was an easy name to live with - my daughter loves her name, Erica (though I really did want to name her Roxanne, but it was when the Police had their hit song of the same name - my husband would not have it). My sister's name is Jill, though I always called her Bertha Butt - anyone remember that? LOL Bertha Butt, one of the Butt sisters...considering I was her only sister, I guess I was the other Butt sister - Now days, I usually tell people my name is "Janet, like from another planet" - people usually remember me, if not from that, I'm sure to make an impression on them somehow. ECLIPSE!!!! I LOVE IT! ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL! I've never heard that as a name. Nancy, while I'm not crazy about any of the names you gave, really, you'd rather have one of those names? (I'm not being sarcastic, I'm actually being thoughtful about the question.) That you mention what we'd rather be named, Erica WOULD like to name her daughter Erica. She really likes her name. However, I'm not sure if it's a family superstition or a Jewish thing (my daughter, is Jewish because religious faith was more important to my ex's side of the family, than it was/is to myself)they say you're never supposed to name anyone after someone who's still alive. So she has two women who she needs to name her daughter after, Sandra and Renee. Before you say it - Yes, Sandra Renee Smith, has a nice flow to it. Personally, I'm not crazy about the name Renee, but I like Sandra - my daughter's opinion is the total opposite. I don't care what my granddaughter's name is - she'll be my Sunshine, Sugar Pie Honey Bunch, Buttercup, Pumpkin, Blanche, Barbara Ann, Gloria, Layla, Roxanne, whatever - I'll be happy. Vance, you think you had it tough - I have 3 younger brothers, our last name was Ferri (fairy) - Do you think my brother's were teased? They're all big guys - I don't remember them getting a hard time about it - ME! I went through junior high school as Fungus Ferri - Even my teachers called me Fungus - Thank goodness that I got into high school, you always saw me with my 2 best friends, they were guys - They called us Mother, Jugs and Speed. Can you imagine a teacher calling a female student "Jugs" in this day and age? But just an FYI - my 3 brothers ALL changed their last names. The only one of us 5 kids who kept the last name - ME LOL. However, it's hyphenated with my ex's last name. My significant other/boyfriend/common law husband of 10 years, has been asking me to marry him for about the last 10 years...maybe, some day...however, he knows that if that day comes - I am NOT changing my name, in fact, I'll require him to take my hyphenated name. I love my ex and his family, I love my name, all of it. Thank you all :)

What a great conversation this is turning into.

Janet - To be honest, yes, I'd take any of those names to Sunshine. I don't particularly love them either, but I do like that they don't call attention to themselves. I like them for the same reason you like your name -- I think they'd be easy to live with.

Sunshine, for certain people, would not be easy to live with. It's a name that invites comment, maybe teasing. It's a name that may not be taken seriously in all situations. It could adversely affect a child, or limit a person as an adult.

Of course, this might not be the case. I know many people -- just like Jill's friend Eclipse -- who have unusual names and love them.

The tricky thing is that we don't know the future. We can't know ahead of time what your granddaughter will be like, what experiences she'll have, what tastes she'll have, or how her name might end up helping or hindering her.

Personally, I'd err on the side of caution. I would rather give a child a common name that won't overshadow her or her accomplishments. One that doesn't risk giving people the wrong impression of her. I feel like it'd be easy enough for her to adopt a fun nickname later on, if that's what she wants.

But, again, that's just me.

Also, I'm not sure if this is something your daughter would consider, but Sandra and Renee have related forms (e.g. Alexandra, Renata) that might be appealing.