Picking a baby name feels huge. You and your partner might have a short list, some strong opinions, and maybe a few relatives who keep suggesting the same name over and over.
A baby name poll turns that stress into something fun. You share your favourite options, let friends and family vote, and watch the results roll in. It turns “We cannot decide” into a game everyone can join.
This guide gives you baby name poll ideas you can copy, plus tips on how to run them online, in group chats, or at a baby shower. You can use these ideas with any tool, and you can also join the Next9Months waitlist to get early access to a poll maker built for this exact use case.
Why Baby Name Polls Work So Well
1. You get honest opinions without drama
When you ask one person at a time, you can get strong reactions. A poll feels lighter. People tap a choice, maybe leave a comment, and move on.
You still see trends: which names get love, which ones sink, and where people disagree. The group result feels less personal and more like feedback on the list, not on you.
2. You create a memory you can keep
A screenshot of the final poll result is a nice keepsake. Years from now, your child can see which name won, which relative picked the “wild card,” and how close the vote came.
You can even run more than one poll over time and show how your list changed.
3. You make friends and family feel included
Many relatives and friends want to feel involved in the pregnancy. A baby name poll gives them a clear way to join in, even if they live far away.
It works for:
- Grandparents who love to vote on “classic” names
- Family or friends who live in another state or another country
- Co‑workers following your bump updates
How a Baby Name Poll Usually Works
You can keep this simple.
1. Pick where to host it.
- Online poll tool (like the Next 9 Months Poll Maker)
- Group chat with manual tally
- Social media story or post
2. Pick your list. Choose 3–10 names that both parents feel at least okay about. You can always run more than one round.
3. Choose a format. Some common poll styles:
- Single choice vote
- Rank the options
- Rate each name on a scale
4. Decide who can see the results.
- Live results to build hype
- Hidden results so you reveal the winner later
- Private poll only for you and your partner
5. Share the link or instructions.
- Tell people when the poll closes and what you plan to do with the winner.
- Now let’s get into the fun part: actual baby name poll ideas you can use.
Baby Name Poll Ideas You Can Copy
You do not need to use all of these. Pick one or two that match your style and the group that will vote.
Classic “Pick the Name” Poll Ideas
— Idea 1: The Shortlist Showdown
You have a tight list of favourites and just want a clear winner.
How it works
- Pick 3–7 names you truly like.
- Create a single choice poll.
- Question example: “Help us pick baby’s name. Which one do you love most?”
- Share the poll with family, friends, or co‑workers.
When to use it
- You are close to your due date.
- You and your partner agree on all names in the list.
- You want a simple, fast result.
— Idea 2: His List vs Her List (or Partner A vs Partner B)
Turn your friendly disagreement into a game.
How it works
- Each partner picks 2–4 favourite names.
- Build a poll that labels options as “Partner A picks” and “Partner B picks.”
- Question example: “Help us settle this. Which partner has the better list?”
- You can share individual scores or keep that secret.
When to use it
- You both have strong opinions and a sense of humour.
- Your friends love to tease you and will enjoy the rivalry.
— Idea 3: Classic vs Trendy
Many parents feel torn between a timeless name and something fresh.
How it works
- Make two groups in one poll: Group 1: “Classic favourites” Group 2: “Modern picks”
- People vote once or rank all options.
- Question example: “Should we go classic or trendy for baby’s name?”
When to use it
- You like one “Emma” style name and one “Luna” style name, for example.
- You want a feel for the overall direction, not only one winner.
Creative Theme‑Based Poll Ideas
— Idea 4: Nature vs Space vs Storybook
Tie your poll to themes you already love.
How it works
- Pick themes you enjoy, like:
- Nature names
- Space or star names
- Storybook or literary names
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Add 1–3 options for each theme.
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Question example: “Which name theme suits our baby best?”
When to use it
- You have a theme in mind for the nursery.
- You want the name to match that vibe.
— Idea 5: Family Honour Names vs Fresh Names
You want to honour loved ones but also like newer options.
How it works
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Make two groups of names: Honour names (for example, versions of grandparents’ names) New names you just like
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People vote for their single favourite or rank them.
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Question example: “Should we honour family or go with a fresh start?”
When to use it
- You feel torn between tradition and something new.
- Relatives keep pushing one honour name and you want wider feedback.
— Idea 6: International Style Poll
Useful for families with more than one culture.
How it works
- Pick names that work in each language you care about.
- Add a note in the poll description about pronunciation.
- Ask voters which option sounds nicest and easiest to say.
When to use it
- Your family lives across different countries
- You want names that work with more than one accent.
“Vibes” Polls Instead of Direct Name Picks
Sometimes you want feedback on style, not the final name.
— Idea 7: Rate the Name Vibes
This idea started in Reddit threads where users ask how a name “feels.”
How it works
- Pick 3–6 names.
- Use a rating poll instead of a single vote.
- For each name, ask people to rate on a simple scale, like 1–5.
- Question example: “How do these names feel for our baby on a scale from 1 to 5?”
You can even add tags in the description, such as:
- Cozy
- Strong
- Sporty
- Artsy
People often think in vibes like this already.
When to use it
- You care more about the mood the name gives off.
- You are still building your shortlist.
— Idea 8: Blind “A, B, C” Name Test
You hide the full name, at least at first.
How it works
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Replace names with letters or numbers in the first round.
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Example poll options: Name A Name B Name C
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Tell voters you will reveal the actual names once they vote.
This trick removes some bias from people who already know someone with that name.
When to use it
- You want a cleaner read on sound and rhythm.
- You plan to share the “big reveal” later.
— Idea 9: Live Baby Shower Name Vote
Reddit is full of people asking for baby shower games that are not cringe. A baby name poll fits perfectly as a low‑pressure activity. You run the poll during the party.
How it works
- Create a poll with 3–5 names.
- Put the link or QR code on a sign or invite.
- Ask guests to vote on their phones.
- Project the live results on a screen or read them out later.
When to use it
- You want an activity that works for mixed ages.
- You prefer something easy with no craft supplies or mess.
— Idea 10: Baby Name Bracket
Turn your shortlist into a mini tournament.
How it works
- Start with 4 or 8 names.
- Create pairs: Round 1: Name A vs Name B, Name C vs Name D
- Guests vote in each matchup.
- Winners move to the next round until one name wins the final.
You can run this with several quick polls in your poll tool or on paper at the shower.
When to use it
- Your group loves sports brackets or March Madness.
- You want a game that builds suspense through the event.
— Idea 11: Guess Our Top 3
Guests try to guess which names are on your secret list.
How it works
- Decide your real top three in advance.
- Create a poll with a mix of true options and decoys.
- Guests vote for three names they think made your final cut.
- After the poll closes, reveal which ones were right.
You can give a small prize to anyone who guessed all three correctly.
When to use it
- You want a shower game that focuses on your story.
- You still want to keep the final name private.
How To Run Your Baby Name Poll
You can use these ideas with many tools, but here is a simple setup that fits your product.
Step 1: Choose your poll home
You have a few choices:
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Online poll tool. Ideal if you want clean charts, easy sharing, and a live leaderboard. This is where Next 9 Months Poll Maker will shine.
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Group chat. Quick and casual, but you have to tally votes by hand.
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Social platforms. Instagram or Facebook polls are easy, yet they limit formats and options.
Step 2: Match the format to the idea
- Shortlist showdown → single choice poll
- His list vs her list → single choice poll with labels
- Vibes poll → rating or ranking
- Bracket → series of simple polls
Tell readers that your upcoming poll maker supports formats like single choice, multiple choice, rating, and ranking, so they can match the idea to the right style when the app goes live.
Step 3: Decide who can vote
Think about:
- Audience size. Just close friends, whole family, or the entire office.
- Age range. Some groups prefer very simple polls.
- Privacy. Are you ok with sending the link into large group chats?
You can offer settings such as “anyone with the link can vote” or “only people you invite can see the poll” inside the poll.
Step 4: Set a deadline and share
Polls work better when people know they should vote soon.
- For a shower poll, close it at the end of the event.
- For a shower poll, close it at the end of the event.
- For a due date game, keep it open until a certain number of weeks before the due date.
Encourage readers to share the poll link by text, group chat, email, or social stories. That matches how your product already plans to work.
Example Baby Name Poll Prompts You Can Reuse
Here are some copy‑and‑paste prompts you can include in your article and product templates.
- Help us pick baby’s name. Which one is your favourite?
- Which list wins your vote: Partner A or Partner B?
- Rate these baby names from 1 (not my style) to 5 (love it).
- Guess which three names made our final list.
- Classic vs modern: which name fits baby best?
You can use these prompts into ready‑made templates inside Next 9 Months Poll Maker.
FAQ (Pulled From Real Reddit Questions)
These questions mirror what people already ask in Reddit threads about names, polls, and games.
Q1. Is it weird to ask friends and family to vote on our baby’s name? No. Many parents already do this in private chats or somewhere else. You decide how much weight to give the results. You can treat the poll as input, not a binding contract.
Q2. What if someone hates our favourite name? That can happen in open polls.
You can:
- Limit the poll to people you trust.
- Close comments and only show vote buttons.
- Remember that you still have final say.
If a name you love loses badly, you can still pick it. The poll is feedback, not a rule.
Q3. How many names should I include in a baby name poll? For clear results, aim for 3–7 options. If you have a long list, run more than one poll and move top names into a final round.
Q4. Can I run a baby name poll without revealing the baby’s gender? Yes. You can either:
- Only include gender‑neutral names.
- Run a blind A/B test where you reveal details later.
- Share the poll only inside a small, private group that already knows.
Q5. How do I make a baby name poll part of my baby shower? Use one of the shower ideas above. The easiest path is:
- Set up a poll before the shower.
- Put the link or QR code on a sign near the entrance.
- Ask guests to vote sometime during the party.
- Reveal the results at the end for a nice moment.
Q6. Should the poll winner always become the name? You can decide this up front. Some parents promise to honour the winner. Others treat the poll as a fun hint and still pick what feels right after birth. You can mention this in the poll description so voters know what to expect.
