Understanding the Voting System
How voting works, what each vote means, and how BabyTime learns your preferences
The Three Vote Types
BabyTime uses a simple, intuitive voting system inspired by modern dating apps. Every name gets one of three votes:
Love It
Swipe Right or Tap Heart
Meaning: This name is a strong contender for your baby
What happens: Added to your Loves list, shows in Shared Loves if partner also loves it
Maybe
Tap Star Icon
Meaning: Interesting but not sure yet - want to revisit
What happens: Saved to Maybes list for future consideration
Not For Me
Swipe Left or Tap X
Meaning: This name doesn't match your style or preferences
What happens: Won't see it again, but you can undo from History
How Voting Works
On Mobile (Swipe Interface)
- A name card appears with the name, origin, and brief meaning
- Swipe right to Love It
- Swipe left to pass
- Tap the name to see full details before voting
- Tap the star icon in the corner for Maybe
On Desktop/Tablet
- Browse names in a grid or list view
- Click the heart icon to Love It
- Click the X to pass
- Click the star for Maybe
- Click the name itself to open detailed view with pronunciation, history, famous bearers, etc.
What BabyTime Learns From Your Votes
Every vote teaches BabyTime's recommendation engine about your preferences:
- Name origins: Loving Irish names? You'll see more Celtic options
- Sound patterns: Like names ending in "-a"? BabyTime notices
- Syllable count: Prefer short punchy names or longer melodic ones?
- Popularity tier: Classic top-10 names or unique rare finds?
- Cultural associations: Biblical, nature-inspired, virtue names, etc.
- Name characteristics: Modern vs traditional, soft vs strong, etc.
The more you vote, the better your recommendations get! After 20-30 votes, BabyTime will have a solid understanding of your style.
Partner Voting
When you have a partner connected, voting becomes even more powerful:
Shared Loves
Names that BOTH partners voted "Love It" appear in a special "Shared Loves" section. This is your golden list - names you both genuinely like without compromise!
Disagreements
When one partner loves a name but the other passes, it shows in "Disagreements." This isn't necessarily bad - many couples find their final name started as a disagreement after having a conversation about it.
Bridge Names
BabyTime's AI identifies names with qualities of both partners' preferences. These "bridge names" often become unexpected favorites because they blend your styles.
Changing Your Mind
Your preferences will evolve - that's normal! Here's how to manage votes:
Undo a Vote
- Go to History (in main menu)
- Find the name you want to change
- Tap it to open details
- Change your vote or select "Remove Vote"
Bulk Vote Management
Pro users can sort/filter their vote history and bulk edit votes. Great for when your taste shifts mid-pregnancy!
Advanced Voting Features
Tournament Mode (Pro)
Once you have 10+ Loved names, use Tournament Mode to narrow them down. BabyTime pits names against each other in head-to-head matchups. After several rounds, you'll have a clear winner based on difficult choices.
Voting Insights (Pro)
See analytics about your voting patterns:
- Your most common name origins
- Syllable preferences
- How selective you are (pass rate %)
- Agreement rate with partner
- How your taste has evolved over time
Voting Strategy Tips
- Vote quickly on first pass - go with gut feeling
- Use Maybe for names you're torn about (revisit later)
- Don't overthink early votes - they help BabyTime learn
- Read full details before adding to shortlist
- Browse separately from partner initially to avoid influence
- Review Shared Loves together weekly
- Vote on at least 50 names before judging recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my partner see my votes?
Yes! When you vote on a name, your partner sees your vote on that name immediately. This transparency helps you discover shared preferences quickly.
What if I accidentally vote?
Easy fix! Just find the name in your History and change the vote. Or shake your phone (on mobile) to undo your last vote immediately.
Do my votes affect my partner's recommendations?
No. Each person's Discovery feed is personalized to THEIR voting history. Your partner might see names you've passed if those names match their style.
How many names should I vote on?
There's no limit! Most parents vote on 100-300 names throughout their journey. The sweet spot is 50-100 votes to build a solid shortlist and teach BabyTime your taste.