Whats in a name?

A couple weeks ago we were visiting family, BBQ, catching up, yard games- you know the drill. The topic of IVF had come up, they asked how we were doing and what were the next steps, I was happy to fill them in. Conversations changed and took a different path. Unexpectedly someone brought up what we've decided to name our kids. If you're close to Zack and I, its no secret what our names are that we've picked out. But when he said you've decided on "baby boy" and "baby girl" for names right?(obviously not their actual names)....

I burst into tears. Even thinking about it now, I can't believe how attached I have come to these two names. Zack and I have had them picked out since before we were married. I don't know why I cried, I think it was because someone who I never thought was listening was able to remember the names we've picked out for our unborn children.

I'm worried someone will use our names before we are able to name our babies. We're 35 and 37 years old, we've met a lot of people in those years, a lot of people who ruined names for each of us.

(Reason #1 why we can't name our daughter Grace- whatever you did to Zack, I am now paying for it!!)

Anyway, we settled on first and middle names for a boy and a girl before we were married and haven't wavered. I am worried someone will take our perfect for our babies names.

Something else about baby names- Because I am so attached to these two names, I don't want to waste them. For those friends of mine who have had babies, when you knew what the name was going to be before it was born, did you refer to your baby by their name? Or did you have a cute little nickname before they were born?

We will likely know the sex of the baby before we even know we're pregnant (thank you genetic testing). I am scared to call the baby by name and miscarry. Because for me, I couldn't use that name again. UGH these are the things that keep me up at night. Not only miscarrying, but using one of our names on a baby that will not ever get to be with us. If you're not an anxious person, be grateful- because this is a little glimpse into what goes through my mind when I can't sleep.