Choosing your baby’s name is an important decision you have to make as a parent. It can be fun, but the responsibility of naming another human being can make it a bit intimidating. After all, your child will carry that name throughout their life.
Tips to Consider When Naming Your Baby
After you take into account family traditions, religious considerations, and any potential legal issues, you may finally have a first, middle, and last name that you’re ready to run with. You can do that, of course. But it’s worth considering a few more things before making it official.
Here are some tips for making sure the perfect name is really “the one.”
- Write out the initials. You may want to make sure that you aren’t giving your baby initials that spell something rude or odd.
- Think about the nicknames. Take a look at all the potential nicknames people could give your child and make sure you not only like them but that you feel good about how they match with your last name.
- Consider sibling names. You may want to give your children names that all have the same first initial or names that sound well together since they’ll often be said in the same breath. Plus, it may be difficult to explain to your kids why one has a super unique name (say, Zaphon) when his brother’s name is Bob.
- Be careful with meanings. Some states and countries actually have laws that prevent you from naming a child anything that is considered a historical problem.
- Give thought to the uniqueness. Unique names are creative and fun. But, a name that is too unique can be tough to get through life with. If it is too difficult to spell or pronounce, others may avoid saying it. The child may have to repeat it and spell it out over and over again.
- Check for multiple spellings. You may not be sure of a specific name, but when you change the spelling, it can make all the difference. It can also make a difference in how easy or difficult it is for your child to spell and explain.
- Check for similar names. A similar name may strengthen your case for the name you love or make that fringe name seem more acceptable. It can fix an issue with initials, meaning, or nicknames, too.
- Add a little diversity. If you aren’t sure about a very unique name or a very traditional name, balance it out with a middle name. Pick a conventional name for the first name and a unique name for the middle name, or vice versa.
- Don’t be afraid to change a tradition. Some last names have made their way into the world of first names (Lennon, Avery). And, some boy’s names are becoming more and more common for girls (Hayden, Jordan).
- Realize your geography may matter. You might love a name that is geographically bound, perhaps to a local celebrity or location. But, it may be looked at differently in different areas of the country or the world which may bother you or not.
Naming a baby can be exciting or stressful, or both.
You may be feeling the pressure of giving a child a name they will have for a lifetime. But, while you should certainly put some thought into it and take it seriously, you can also have fun with it and get a little creative. Whatever you decide, if it’s a name that you and your partner love and feel really good about, chances are your child will love it, too.
And, don’t forget that choosing your baby’s name is a memorable time and a special decision, so trust yourself and enjoy it.
source:verywellfamily
