We came up with names for boys and girls, all the while arguing about whether or not to change their names. I didn’t want to, especially if they were older (which they were). My Dh understood why I didn’t want to, but had trouble wrapping his mouth around some of the Ethiopian names we had heard.

Once we got the names and the pictures, we stopped trying to come up with names. They had faces, they had lived a life without us for a few years, and they had names. Then we met them. It was such a huge transition for them, and they were Habtamu and Lire. Not to mention that H. would not tolerate even a nickname, so we weren’t going to push any unnecessary changes. I also think that spending time at the orphanage, learning a little Amharic, and talking to the nannies and other Ethiopians while there helped us to hear the beauty of the language, and the care put into the naming of children.

I haven’t read the other comments, and I’m not telling you that any way is right or wrong. We did what was good for all of us, and it sort of all makes sense when it finally happens, I think. Let the referral happen, see how you all feel, and say their names A LOT to one another. Even if the names become middle names, get comfortable with them.

MIKE

I just really think there needs to be a fourth Mike in the family.

I love Ethiopian names, so I am slightly jealous in that regard…you may just decide that the names they already have are perfect!

I like Ezekial too…and Yenna.

L. would have been Caroline Margaret if he were a girl…but I feel like the time for that name has passed. I am hoping she has a Vietnamese name that can sort of work i.e. Lan=Lana Kinh=Kinhly or something like that.

Can’t wait to see the outcome of the great name debate!

I love your blog!! You make me laugh out loud! My 5 y/o Ethio son’s name is Bamlak (pronounced Bomb-lock) and I absolutely think it’s the coolest!!! It means-”through God”. I wanted to name him Samuel until I saw him and learned of his name and then I fell in love with both!! Biset is a gorgeous name!!! I think it goes great with Delaney. Have a great day,
Lisa

I like Yenna and Biset, but I actually think Biset is a better match to Delaney than Yenna. Yenna seems frilly and feminine to me, while Biset has the spunk. I dunno.

I like Enzi for a boy, but we were going to name our boy Ezra when we thought we were going to get a baby (now we’re naming him Ezra Spencer and calling him Spencer, which is his given name), so maybe I just like the E and z sound combination. Ezra’s an option, though, and it means “helper,” or “life-saver” so that’s a pretty cool thing to be calling your kid!

Boy names are always WAY harder for us than girls. There’s just not a big enough selection. I don’t envy you.

Oh, and I agree that you might want to wait to really settle on anything until you see photos and hear their first-family names.

My husband had some words of wisdom (shocked I know) that our adoption is like our marriage. When we were married we merged two families, two traditions and two cultures to get one. With our adoption we are doing the same, merging one culture into another to make something new.

Choosing a name that you pick yet merging a piece of Ethiopian culture (given name) is beautiful!

for a girl, I second Desta–I think that is a pretty name. I also like Mestawat (sp)–a friend of mine’s daughter who was 3 when adopted was named that and they call her Messe for short–very spunky.