Keep it or Hide it?

Do you broadcast or do you hoard your names?  I just read an article about this subject.  I have been thinking about it more often because the number of people I know who are pregnant is increasing.  I'm always curious to see if the parents are going to find out the sex, what names they like, and whether or not they are going to talk to others about the names they do or don't like.  In the article, the author talks about two types of parents in relation to announcing names: broadcasters and keepers.  Let's talk about what it means to be one of those types.

Alrighty, Broadcasters (all points may not apply to you in the fullest extent):
-The minute you figure out your short list of names you announce it to everyone who will listen.
-When you find out the sex of your baby, you tell all of your friends and family the name you've chosen for your little sweetie.
-You use Facebook to update your distant friend and family base to announce the name.

• Benefits: Your choice is out there and is less likely to be used by friends and family.  You can also talk through your choices with close family and friends to be sure that this is the name you are going to stick with.
• Drawbacks: You lose some of the mystery of the birth of your child.  If everyone knows the name, that's one less thing to look forward to.  You may also lock yourself into a choice and feel like you can't change your mind.  Some also contend that sharing the name can really hurt if anything should go wrong.

And now, the Keepers:
-You only discuss your choices with your significant other.
-You wait until after the birth of your child to share the name you have chosen.
-You may not ever share the baby's name on an online forum.

• Benefits: No one has a good chance to tell you their negative thoughts of the name you have chosen.  If the baby is here, they'd be a real jerk to tell you they hate your name choice.
• Drawbacks:  Someone may choose the name you like before you get to use it.  Also, there may be someone close to you who has a very bad memory of someone else with the name you've chosen to give your child.  You also lose the benefit of bouncing ideas off of an impartial party to get a little bit of outside input on the names you like.

Now, you don't have to be one or the other.  The beauty of these types is that they can be combined!  What's the best way to do so?  Well, do as the article said!  Select a small few to discuss name choices,  someone who has a grip on the names that are out there and someone who knows your family well so that you don't use a taboo name.  Of course, you can take any level of mixture of these types when you are selecting names for your child.  So, are you a broadcaster or a keeper?