Discussion: Kids' Names on the Internet

[seamonster]

I use DS. I've posted his name once and poofed it. It's a common name, but I like to keep it to myself and I don't post pictures of him here. Even on Facebook I rarely post pictures of him.

[wayfarerson]

I had my kids' nicknames and birth months in my siggy at the other place, and I refer to them by those initials, L and B. I also use DS/DD or "my 4 year-old" when it's relevant to the post.

Different styles in this regard help me differentiate some posters in my head.

[notmoose]

I always say DD or DS.

For one, it's shorter and easier. I'm lazy.

Two, I don't share their names online. I'm not even that sure why it's just a comfort thing I guess. I don't want people irl finding me maybe?

[Tlex]

petrichor FWIW I noticed that you do that, and I've never found it confusing. I think I'd do the same.

I find it really weird to say my younger daughter's pregnancy was my second pregnancy. No... actually my fourth.

[ambiguousmango]

I find myself using my son's initial mostly. I think it just has to do with the culture of my BMB. I mean my son's name starts with a Q there aren't THAT many Q names to begin with so I don't know if it really has to do with privacy so much as comfort level?

[robot]

I use M with my BMB since they know her name and I like that more than DD. But I use DD or my kid everywhere else where people wouldn't know who I meant. I have shared her name plenty though. It's not common but not uncommon either.

[kellwhy]

I use DD and DS for ease and clarity. I have mentioned both of their names, and back on TD I had a ticker with DD's first and middle name. That seemed fairly typical on my first BMB.

I did really like the SM thing of adding age to DD/DS. It's not always necessary, but it adds helpful context to certain anecdotes.

[talon]

Jun 1, 2017 11:33:56 GMT -6 @spiff said:

My husband I've noticed I refuse to put DH for. Not really sure why I feel like that's dumb, but yet will do DS and DD

He's just H

Me too, it just sounds weird for an adult.

[msdrdg]

I use DS or the child.
I have no problem sharing his name it was in my signature on the other place. I don't think Ryan Michael is going to get me skin suited.
It's just easier to use DS.

[petrichor]

Jun 1, 2017 20:23:16 GMT -6 Tlex said:

petrichor FWIW I noticed that you do that, and I've never found it confusing. I think I'd do the same.

I find it really weird to say my younger daughter's pregnancy was my second pregnancy. No... actually my fourth.

Thanks. It gets so tricky. I'm not ttc anymore so not talking about my pregnancies as much in daily life but it always seemed to need clarifying.

Full-term pregnancies? 3
Total pregnancies? 10
Total children (including 1st tri losses)? 11


I can't call my older son DS1 because he isn't. But DS2 for him seems like it might sometimes require explanation.

I do notice sometimes people use the number to denote age instead of birth order. In that case I'd have ds11 and ds2.

Or maybe it would be easier to just use first names! Or last 4 digits of SSN. Or SIN for you Canadians.

[thatgolfb]

I usually say DD but I know I have shared DD's name here before. Sometimes I use her first initial but DD is just easier and everyone knows what I mean.

It is always funny when someone with a kid whose name starts with H says H for their kid and the story involves like... Pooping in the tub or something.

[bobyn]

I say B instead of DS. Not sure why I started doing it, but it feels strange to type DS after so long.

I know I've mentioned his name before, but it's a forever-popular and common name. I've never worried about it being identifiable.

[Deleted]

I use DS and dd1/dd2. None of their names are common, but mostly I'm just really paranoid about any details I put online. It makes it hard to post a lot of times because I feel like I need to be vague about everything. [shruggy guy]

[Lord Disick]

Jun 1, 2017 20:58:23 GMT -6 bobyn said:

I say B instead of DS. Not sure why I started doing it, but it feels strange to type DS after so long.

I know I've mentioned his name before, but it's a forever-popular and common name. I've never worried about it being identifiable.

Barnabas?

[readyornot]

Jun 1, 2017 16:18:20 GMT -6 milliegrace said:

I have 4 kids. Usually their age is needed for context anyway, but you'd seriously need to have a post-it in order to know who was who were I to bandy initials or names about.

+1 to all of this. I've always used DD1,2 or 3 & DS, & added ages when nexessary. I just thought DS/DD was the Internet forum norm #newb

[bobyn]

Jun 1, 2017 21:05:33 GMT -6 Lord Disick said:

Jun 1, 2017 20:58:23 GMT -6 bobyn said:

I say B instead of DS. Not sure why I started doing it, but it feels strange to type DS after so long.

I know I've mentioned his name before, but it's a forever-popular and common name. I've never worried about it being identifiable.

Barnabas?

Mayyyyybe.

[bobyn]

Jun 1, 2017 21:05:33 GMT -6 Lord Disick said:

Jun 1, 2017 20:58:23 GMT -6 bobyn said:

I say B instead of DS. Not sure why I started doing it, but it feels strange to type DS after so long.

I know I've mentioned his name before, but it's a forever-popular and common name. I've never worried about it being identifiable.

Barnabas?

But no.

[coffeecoffeecoffee]

I have two boys and have been using "the toddler/the baby" here to differentiate them. Similar to previous posters, using DS1 for my oldest doesn't feel right due to previous losses. I also wouldn't expect people to remember which kid is which based on their initials. We use their names on Instagram/FB though, so it's not really a privacy thing. Their names aren't unique.

[bbgirl]

I use L, because his name is an uncommon, but real, variation to the spelling of a popular name. Uncommon enough that it makes me very identifiable if anyone in my life types his name, and maybe our state or other detail, into google. Mostly, I'm hiding from my nosy, but wonderful, mom.

On private boards or FB groups, I have no problem typing his name out.

[Deleted]

I use DS because it's just what I noticed people doing here. I could use his initial or name and it wouldn't give any triangulating information since his name is in the top 5 on the SSA list.

[icaughtfire]

I say DD for my daughter, because if I said her full name or initial I don't think many here would know who I'm talking about. Same with the baby. With private groups or BMB I usually use a shortened version of my daughter's name, and my son's initial. That's just due to laziness. If I'm talking about both in the same post I usually say the big kid & the baby.

[mb3]

I generally just use "my kid" or if I need to specify which one "my daughter/son".

[jftb]

My daughter is named after my grandmother and the name is very rare (unique?). Because of that, I usually just use her first initial.

[rachydc]

I used to use my daughters actual name, but she has a pretty unique and identifying name so now I just say "A" for privacy reasons

[letthewookieewin]

I mostly use either DS or "my kid" because it seems to be what people do. I think I've mentioned his first name a couple of times (and probably did more on my BMB than elsewhere), but it's a fairly common name for kids right now.