Thinking of the perfect name for the baby is something expectant moms and dads all must deal with. In fact, baby names are extremely important to most families. The name parents choose for their new baby will be the name the child will carry for the rest of his/her life. So, parents need to find a name which will be suitable for the baby as well as for all his other stages of development. The ultimate test of a great name is the test of time. Of course, even though some people don’t appreciate the name their parents gave them, at some point, they do come to accept the name as their own.
Naming a child is a huge responsibility. Aside from the sheer weight of assigning a permanent name to another human being, parents often must do this with the opinion/s of other people. Most of the time, this makes the task more challenging. Fortunately, there are a lot of resources out there (just like this article) which can make the process easier. Read on to learn all about choosing the right name for your new baby!
Some Factors for You to Consider
Picking the name of a child can feel quite overwhelming. One may have a lot of possibilities in mind but how does he/she select the “perfect” name? Also, people like family, relatives, and friends might have opinions and suggestions as to what to name the expected bundle of joy.
The fact is, there’s no “wrong” or “right” way to choose a baby’s name. Rather, it’s more important that the parents (and everyone else involved) love the name. In such situations, the child will eventually end up loving his/her name as well. To help, here are some things to consider:
How It Sounds
When thinking about a name, think about how it would sound when someone calls the child. Does it sound good or does it sound harsh? Does the name go well with his last name?
Some parents pick longer first names when their last name is short. While others believe a shorter first name would be better suited to a short last name too. Also, some people don’t like choosing a name which ends in a vowel when their last name starts with a vowel.
Some people also try to avoid choosing a first name that rhymes with their last name. Finally, it’s also a good idea to stay away from names which sound like puns. There’s a very high likelihood that the child won’t appreciate such a name, especially as he/she grows into a teenager.
These are some helpful tips to keep in mind when thinking of how good the name of the child sounds. Of course, people have their preferences, and it’s important to follow them to guarantee that they also like their child’s name.
How Unique It Is
A lot of parents struggle to find a name that’s unique to set their child apart from all others. However, names which are too unique might not be ideal too as such names might cause unwanted attention.
When thinking of unique names, also try to determine if the name might be prone to mispronunciation. This means that the child would have to correct a lot of people who don’t say his name right.
The Significance of The Name
When trying to think of a significant name for the baby, one can search online. It’s easy to find the meanings of names to make a choice easier. This is especially helpful for people who are having trouble finding a name that “feels” right.
The Initials of The Child’s Name
While thinking of first (and middle) names, also think about the initials the child will end up with. For instance, naming a little girl “Zelda Ivonne Thompson” may sound great, but the initials (Z.I.T.) may lead to unfortunate bullying when she grows up. Also, when the child grows up, she would feel very ashamed to place her initials on her items such as her luggage.
Try to avoid giving the child a name wherein the initials would spell a rude or odd word. Doing this would help the child avoid any awkward situations in the future.
A Name That Would Age Well
As the person thinks of a name for his child, also try to imagine the child as a grown up. The name should sound good at job interviews and other professional situations. Using a name that sounds cute or adorable on a child may not be too appropriate for when he grows up.
Other Considerations
Aside from the child’s name, also think about potential nicknames other people might give the child. These nicknames should sound as good as the child’s name. The nickname of the child should also sound good with the last name.
If the child has any siblings, consider their names too. The names of all the siblings should go well together. If the first siblings have common names, then it’s best to stick with that. This would help avoid any awkward questions about why the names of the siblings are so different.
Research the shortlisted names. Make sure they don’t mean anything offensive in other languages or cultures.
Some people want their children’s name to reflect their heritage. But there may be times when family members want the child to carry the name of a beloved grandparent or someone equally important. In such cases, the person can give the child the name he prefers then use the name of the beloved grandparent as the child’s middle name.
Where Can YouFind Baby Names to Consider?
Naming a baby is a huge task. The name the parent/s choose would stay with the child for the rest of his life. Most of the time, people find the task challenging just because they don’t know where to start! Fortunately, there are a lot of resources one can use to get ideas for great baby names. Such ideas can be found in:
- Books
- Online naming tools
- Online directories
- Family names
- Historical figures
- Pop culture
People spend a lot of time thinking about the perfect name to give their baby. To help, one can create a list of names which feel and sound good. Then, after taking into consideration all the important factors, one can cross out the names on the list. In doing this, the person can keep track of all the names that he doesn’t really like then keep those which he does like. Keep on thinking about the names and considerations until there are only a few names left on the list to choose from.
Middle and Last Names
Most people also give their babies a middle name. The great thing about middle names is that people don’t feel as stressed thinking about them as compared to first names. One can also use the middle name strategically. He can use the familial name other relatives are pushing as the middle name of the child. Also, the person can use the middle name as a sort of “backup” for when the child grows up disliking his first name. There are many ways to choose and use the middle name. And since it’s not as relevant as the first name, have more fun choosing it!
The child’s last name doesn’t solely depend on the preference of the mother or father. In some countries and states, the last name given to the child would be the same as the father’s last name. However, there are times when this doesn’t apply, especially if the parents of the child aren’t married. There are some families who use the combined names of their children as the last name. Also, there are parents who give a hyphenated last name to the child so that he can carry the last names of both parents. Although the tradition is to use the last names of the baby’s parents, there’s a new trend these days. Some families even choose a new name and use that as the child’s last name. So basically it would depend on the parents and if they want to follow the traditions or laws of their country.
Agreeing With Your Partner on Your Baby’s Name
As if choosing a baby’s name isn’t challenging enough… there may be times when partners don’t agree about the child’s name. Sometimes, the parents of the child may not see eye to eye when it comes to the final name of the baby. This is fairly a normal thing that a lot of couple’s experience. The important thing to do is to talk about the issue. The more couples talk about the problem, the closer they’ll get to the solution.
One thing couples can try is to make their list of names. One for boy names and another for girl names. Then they can rank the names according to the ones they like the most until the ones they like the least. From these lists, the couples can talk about the names they prefer more. This can be the starting point of their conversation.
There may be times when the conversations about the child’s name would escalate. This is especially true if both parties are passionate about the names they want. If the couple can’t decide on a name, then they should come up with a way to name their baby that they both agree on. For instance, they can ask their fathers to choose the name of the baby if it’s a girl then their mothers can choose the name of the baby if it’s a boy. But they must choose the name from the lists the parents have written.
The couple may also take a poll. They can ask the opinions of their friends and family members, so they can find which name is the most well-liked. There are many ways couples can do to come to a compromise. Just make sure that both parties agree with the name, so it doesn’t become an issue in the future.
Keep These Things in Mind When Choosing the Baby’s Name!
As we’ve mentioned, choosing the name of a baby is a huge decision. Because of this, it may even become the cause of arguments between couples. There are even cases where the parents haven’t even agreed on the name until it’s almost time for the baby to be born! For some parents, they don’t make a final decision until they’ve seen the baby. Different methods for naming babies work for different people. To help, here are some things to keep in mind when choosing this important designation:
- Remember that the name will stay with the baby for the rest of his life. Keeping this in mind will make the parents think more carefully about the name they choose. Never name the baby on a whim or a trend. Always think about the long-term consequences of the name chosen.
- When couples are thinking about names for their baby, they can get opinions from everyone. But when people start to become too involved in the process, just smile and nod. Remember, parents, don’t have to use all the suggestions given to them. They can keep these opinions and suggestions in mind as some of them might be very helpful. But when it comes to the final decision, the parents should agree on the name.
- Pressure from family as well as family traditions may also play a part in how a baby gets named. Remember that older generations have different points of view than the more modern generations. For instance, your parents or grandparents may want you to add a Christian name to your child. Or maybe they would like you to incorporate a name of someone whom you’ve lost too early.
Just think of the child when you’re thinking of the name. Remember it’s not your name you’re thinking of. You’re coming up with a name of another person, and he will carry this designation for the rest of his life. So, think creatively but think smart too!
