You’ve registered for baby gifts, you’ve picked out your nursery colors, you’ve announced to your family if you are having a boy or a girl and you’ve started to plan for your baby’s first days at home. But what will you name your new bundle of joy?
Naming your child is a big decision. He is going to have this name for a very long time. It’s a good idea to start keeping a list of names you like with your partner. Making a clear list of names you really don’t like early on in the naming process is a good way to prevent arguments. There are things you need to remember to consider when picking a name. Make sure that you are not ending up with embarrassing initials. Fredrick Albert Thomas may sound very nice, but Fredrick Matthew Thomas is equally as nice. Also, consider any possible nicknames that may come with a name. You have to be prepared that naming your son Lawrence may lead to Hairy Larry. (Kids can be so mean!)
"You're going to name me what?"
Camera, Seven, Denim, Banjo, Apple, Moxie, Egypt, Saffron, Poppy, Sparrow, Audio, and Pilot. No, that is not a list of objects, places and adjectives; they are all the actual first names of children born to different celebrities. A unique name can be very appealing but you also don’t want to set your kid up to be the weird one. It would be nice to go to school and not have to be one Ashley out of four. On the other end of the spectrum you don’t want your child’s name to be so unique that people cannot pronounce it. Considering how to spell a name is important too. Naming your daughter Rachel is lovely but spelling it Raychill could be very frustrating to your child as they are growing up.
Your family may want to add their two cents into the name game. Considering family names is a nice gesture, but also don’t feel pressured to name your son Humphrey just because it was his great-great-great grandfather’s name. The middle name is a great way to add family history if you’re comfortable with it.
Consider how the chosen fist name will sound with your last name. If you have a common last name like Smith, you may want to think about being more unique than Joe. If you have a long, unusual last name, a short name like Joe might be a better fit.
At the end of the day, there are not hard and fast rules on what to name your child. It’s most important that you and your partner are happy with the new family member’s moniker.
