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How to Choose a Baby Name
What's the first most important decision parents-to-be have to make regarding their new baby? The new baby's name! Remember, the name you choose will follow your child throughout her life, making that decision a very important one indeed. When choosing a name for your newborn boy or girl, a few things you need to consider are:
Resist the temptation to be too unique with the baby's name. If the name is too hard for teachers or other children to pronounce, that could lead the child to feel ashamed of it later in life. This goes for unique spellings of common names. Think how hard it would be for the child to always have someone mispronounce his name throughout his life, forcing him to constantly have to offer corrections. Yes, the name may look really cool on paper, but when it's too hard to pronounce, you may be adding an unnecessary layer of embarassment onto your child. Think of the Nickname Some names lend themselves well to nicknames, such as Benjamin or William. But, if the name you've chosen lends itself to a horrible-sounding nickname, you may want to steer clear of it. Does the Name Flow Well? People tend to remember names that flow well. You want to choose a name that compliments the surname. Also, if you have a long last name that's hard to pronounce, you may want to choose a short, easy-to-pronounce first name. A Classic Name Never Goes Out of Style When choosing a baby name, consider choosing one that is a "classic," that is, a name which has remained popular for decades. Chances are that name will remain popular, and not become "dated," or out of favor. You don't want to give your child a name which is trendy today, but comical tomorrow. Another benefit of a classic name is that it is a name that is easily recognizable and easy to pronounce. Avoid Names Where the Initials Spell Trouble Let's be honest, there are several two-letter combinations out there you just don't want your child to have as his or her initials. These can include: BO, BM and FU.
Where to Find Names for your Baby Your Own Family Tree The first place you might want to look for baby names is in your own family tree. This way you would give your child a link to his or her family tree. Of course, you are going to find names that are perhaps outdated in today's world. You might want to make those names middle names, and search the family tree for suitable first names that sound more contemporary. When deciding on family names, choose names from both sides of the family tree. It's a good idea to choose a few from each side, then write them on individual pieces of paper and play the “name game.” This involves moving all of the names around until you find ones that go together. This can help narrow down your list of possible names. You don't have to go too far back in the family tree to find good names. Some people choose to remember their grandfather, mother, aunt, or uncle by choosing their name for the child, either as a first or middle name. These names come with a story, so don’t forget to tell it to your child when she gets older. Ask the U.S. Government While it may seem strange to ask the government for a good name for your baby, it really makes sense. The Social Security Administration site lists the top 20 baby names for both boys and girls for every 1880. That's right, 1880. Curious as to what names were the most popular in 1880? Most Popular Boys Names in 1880 John Most Popular Girls Names in 1880 Mary Not as weird as you thought, are they? In fact, the 1880 top 20 list of boys names shares a few names with the Top 20 list of boys names for 2007: William; Joseph; James; David and John. The shared Top 20 girls names of 1880 and 2007 include: Emma, Elizabeth; Sarah and Grace. Classic names remain classic for a reason. The good thing about a classic name is it always seems to stay in style. If you'd like to access the Social Security database of most popular names, you can go to:
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