Choosing a baby name

You’ve recently found out you are expecting a baby. Congratulations! Now you’ve got nine months to prepare to give your baby one of the most important gifts you will ever give him: his name. If you have had a name picked out for years then great. You’re way ahead of the curve. If, however, you are like most couples you probably don’t have a clue what name you want for your son or daughter. And the task of picking out a name is not necessarily as easy as it sounds. Tradition, popularity, stereotypes, etc. are all factors that you must consider. While the process may seem daunting, there are some helpful hints you can follow to take some of the pressure off choosing the perfect name for your new bundle of joy.

Many couples know from the beginning of their pregnancy that they want to name their child after themselves or another relative. Firstborn boys are especially easy to name if you know you want to name him after his father. Having two or three or however many generations with the same name is very popular, but it sure can be confusing. If you do name your child after one of the parents, try calling the baby by a nickname or his initials. This cuts down confusion and also gives the child a sense of individuality.

Quite a few couples these days are naming their kids after both grandmothers or both grandfathers. This is a very sentimental and special way of naming children. A lot of parents also use the last name of the mother’s family as a first name for their child. If you’re not so sure about any of the grandparents’ names, go back over your family trees. You might find a name you love from a few generations back that you never knew about. This is another neat way to honor family tradition.

Another possible way of interjecting family history into your baby’s name would be to choose a name that has its origins in your family’s cultural background. If you come from an Italian background give your baby an Italian name. If you are Jewish, pick a traditional Jewish name. Also pay attention to a name’s meaning. You may want to choose a name with a strong meaning, a name with Biblical tradition, or a name with a particularly meaningful character trait. If you’d like something unique but something that still isn’t too far out of the mainstream, consider names of places (like “Virginia”), colors (“Gray”), or something natural (“Summer”).

Parents must always consider that kids can be cruel. Therefore it is essential that you don’t give your child a name that can be made fun of later on in his childhood. Do not give your child a first and middle name that when combined with your last name will spell out a word. For instance, a name like Daniel Ulysses Mason has initials that spell “DUM”. Not a cool acronym for a kid. First and last names that rhyme are not a good idea and names that conjure up a particular personality or trait (“Barbie” or “Kermit” for instance) might not be beneficial to your child either.

When a child has a name generally associated with the opposite sex, like “Ashley” for a boy or “Charlie” for a girl, they are again susceptible to name calling when they are young. Try not to pick a name that is difficult to pronounce and don’t create a unique spelling for a common name that could be pronounced multiple ways. For example, don’t spell “Casey” like “Caycie”. Also, if you are considering choosing a current trendy name, remember that there will be thousands of other kids with the same name wandering around. Your child may wish he had a more distinct name when he gets older.

More than anything, your baby’s name should have meaning and significance for you the parents. Everyone will try and offer suggestions that you may love or you may hate. Don’t worry about hurting someone’s feelings or picking a name your friends and family can’t stand. Go with what you like best. Do, however, make the process a joint effort between both parents. You may not agree with a name right off the bat. Some compromise may be necessary, but just remember that there are thousands of names at your disposal so there is bound to be one that both of you will love. Make your own lists and then compare. You might find you both have come up with a name that’s the same or at least names that are similar. Make the process fun. You’ve got months to pick a name. So relax. You’ll choose the right one.