A new baby is truly a
miracle. From the moment you learn of the little one’s existence,
you begin to dream and plan. Will she be a doctor? Will he be
handsome and intelligent? Parents-to-be spend countless hours
dreaming of the baby they will soon meet and discussing the most
important thing of all – what should we name our baby?
This question is equally
entertaining and stressful. Fortunately, there are ways to focus
on the joy of the situation rather than the anxiousness it might
bring. Just remember, your child will be perfect, and your name
will be, too.
#1: The Deeper Meaning
What is really in a name? We
all know the old adage about a rose by any other name, but what
does a name really mean? Many baby names are taken from languages
that do actually have deeper meanings, and some might not have the
exact meaning you are seeking. If you think a name sounds
beautiful, but means “the weak one,” you might want to head back
to the drawing board.
By the same token, if you
are just starting your search, consider names based on something
the baby might represent – without smothering the poor child with
your expectations. More than one baby has been given a name
symbolizing hope or happiness.
#2: The Impression
What impression does the
name make on others? If you’re considering giving your son or
daughter a name that is tricky to pronounce, you might reconsider.
Some parents think it is adorable to match first name and last
name. This is usually just confusing to everyone involved.
In general, long surnames
are best paired with shorter first names and vice-versa. Remember,
you child is going to have to write out the name on every piece of
paper they turn in for the rest of their life. Take pity on them
if their last name already contains more than seven letters.
#3: The Memories
Maybe a name sounds
beautiful until you realize that your husband’s ex-fiance had the
same name. It’s a pretty safe bet your husband would feel the same
way about your ex-finaces’ names. If a name leaves a bad taste in
your mouth, you probably don’t want to taste it every time you
speak to your child. Find something more palatable.
#4: Religion
Many times religion will
have some say in the naming of a child born into that faith. Some
religions feel that a child’s name should come from a deceased
relative, while others feel strongly about having a name
associated with a prophet or saint. Religious aspects are
important to consider, but often are easily resolved with a middle
name or a bit of creativity.
#5: Honor
Should your baby be named in
honor of someone else? Perhaps the first son should be named after
his father. If this is the case, be sure to give the child a
nickname early on as to avoid having two people with the same name
living in the same house. Middle names are another common way to
honor relatives or parents.
#6: Initials
Some parents sort through
baby girl names and settle on a wonderful name just to discover
that the baby’s initials spell out something undesirable. While
this may seem trivial to adults, it can mean a great deal to a
child suffering through school with cruel taunting over her
initials. On the flip side, some children are given specific
initials to continue a family tradition or to honor a relative.
#7: Nicknames
Some names lend themselves
easily to nicknames. If you think the nickname is desirable,
encourage its use early on. If you prefer the child to go by the
full name, you and your little one may have an uphill battle
against well-meaning strangers. Another area to consider is any
nickname that future classmates might dream up based on the way a
name sounds. If there is anything remotely funny about a
particular name, you can count on eight-year-olds to find it.
#8: Gender
Sometimes the lines between
gender specific names are blurring. This may or may not be a good
thing for your baby. More girls seem to be receiving baby boys
names. A boy never wants to be in the same room as a girl with the
same name. It is up to the parents to plan ahead as much as
possible. Also, even if you know the gender, bring a few extra
names to the hospital just in case. Ultrasound “uh-ohs” have
definitely happened.
#9: Spelling
To break the mold, you might
consider a unique spelling of an otherwise traditional name. Of
course, there are already many accepted ways to write many baby
names, so this will probably not be a problem. Do consider your
child in this decision however. If a baby name is spelled so
unusually that friends and family have a hard time remembering
just how to spell it or even pronounce it correctly, you might
have gone too far.
#10: Easy to Live With
Most importantly of all, you
want to pick a name you and your little one can live with happily.
Are you comfortable saying the name out loud? Does it sound right
when you yell it out the back door or up the stairs? Is it too
reminiscent of anything or anyone you really don’t want associated
with your own blessed child?
Remember, too, that baby
names can become a burden to a child if he feels he must live up
to extremely high standards. If a child was named for a legend in
your country or culture, will she be able to handle the pressure?
Like pregnancy, selecting
the perfect baby name is a unique experience for every parent.
Parents with more than one child can tell the tale of wading
through the mired mess of baby names each time a new child was on
the way. The bottom line is to have an open mind and heart.
Even with the best planning,
a brand new baby can easily catch a parent off guard. Many a
parent has first laid eyes on their newborn and declared the child
needs a totally different name than the carefully planned one.
Enjoy the planning and most especially enjoy the joys of
parenthood.
