You seriously named your baby Robin?

Choosing a name for our baby boy was unexpectedly difficult.  Dave had a list, I had a list.  Names moved off and on the list.  We did not really talk about it because we didn't really like each other's list and there just wasn't a lot of movement.  I don't think either one of us even had a name that we were passionate about, except to be against. I am sure our choice of Robin came as a big surprise, it was to us.

Robin was the dark horse name.  It was on my list early on and then was removed.  It was only added shortly again before our weekend away in July when we chose a name.  The name was chosen over the course of about 3 meals.  I had really thought he would have Francis as a part of his name, but with the new pope being named Francis, I feared it was going to become too popular and it was suddenly a little bit too religious for Dave.

There was a lot of reasoning out of names.  What was important to us in a name.  Eventually, Dave agreed that we should name he either Alistair (my first choice) or Robin (also from my list).  The only hesitation was that Robin is also a girl's name, but I am determined to help reclaim it for boys.  It's funny. I could actually sense the moment that Robin became Dave's top choice.  We were listing songs about Robin--Rockin' Robin, Red Red Robin, Robin in the Rain--when I pulled out "Brave Brave Sir Robin" from Monty Python Holy Grail.  Suddenly, Dave was sold and our baby was named Robin.  We settled on Patrick as a middle name.  It's a good Irish Catholic name.

In case you were wondering, there are many famous males named Robin:
Robin Hood
Robin, the Boy Wonder (Batman)
Christopher Robin
Robin Williams
Robin Thicke -- if he wasn't suddenly at the top of the charts with "Blurred Lines," I am sure this would have seemed like a more obscure reference.
Technically, the character of Robin on How I Met Your Mother is a boy's name.  Her father always wanted a son and named her Robin Charles Sherbatsky, Jr. So there.

About two weeks ago I let Dave know I still liked Francis for a middle name and left it at that.  Two years ago when we were driving to the hospital to have Eileen, Dave changed his mind on what Eileen's middle name should be.  As we pulled into the parking garage of the hospital this time, Dave turns to me and says, "So how about Francis?"  I was surprised and just had to laugh since history was repeating itself.  I truly believe Francis is a much better fit and almost can't believe we chose Patrick (it's a great name but it's not supposed to be Robin's middle name).

We are reclaiming Robin as a boy's name.  What I like best about the name Robin for a boy is the immediate sweetness and warm memories it evokes in relation to Christopher Robin, Winnie the Pooh, Robin Hood and childhood.  It's a perfect fit for my little man. 

Robin Francis, two days old