by Ronnie Dauber

Created on: September 03, 2008

Choosing a name for your baby is a rewarding and exciting time that brings great joy to the parents. They ponder many names for days and even weeks, searching library books and online sources until they find that one special name.

Why is a name important? Your name is what you are and who you are. It is your identity in this world, and it is the image of you that others bear in their minds when they hear that name.

You have heard of, "You are what you eat"? A name is even more profound because you are that name, so choose a name that represents the positive future of your child. Some things need to be considered when choosing a name.

1) The first is the meaning of the name. You want to give your baby a name that says who he or she is and who they will be. For example, the name should speak of virtue, be uplifting, be positive, be a representation of what you want your child to become. The name establishes pride and dignity in your child and into their perspective of life.

Some names have degrading meanings that speak of lowliness or death or defeat. Giving your child a name that reflects bad insinuations is not a positive start to their new life.

2) Choose a name that blends well with your surname. It should be something that is easy to say and sounds poetic and unique, not something that is a tongue twister. This establishes a confident characteristic in your child.

3) Avoid names that when spoken fast with the surname could become a swear word or profanity. Sadly, there will be children who will pick up on this very quickly and make fun of your child. The effects could bring on childhood oppression.

4) Avoid names that rhyme so that they become a joke when unruly children are around them. This taunting will make the child insecure and opens the possibility of them becoming introverted to escape the ridicule.

5) Avoid naming your baby after a popular fictional character. For one, other children can address your child as this character instead of as who they are, and that could stunt their ability to move beyond what others determine them to be. And two, even if it's the name of a cute cartoon villain, your child is being labelled as a villain and it could subliminally predict how they may see their own future.

6) Choose a name that when put into its short form it doesn't become something silly or rude to say. It may sound cute and funny when your child is a baby, but as they grow and get into school, it can cause them a lot of heartache. The child could lose respect for you because you chose an undesirable name for them.

7) Don't name them after a worldly product or object such as a car or a piece of furniture or a toy. You may be searching for something different, but when the child is old enough to play with other children, you may learn that they are being laughed at for their name. Some children won't even try to apply themselves in school because they feel they are as useless as their name.

8) Choose a name that you want and not what someone else wants. This is your baby and your responsibility. Sometimes an elderly family member will insist on you calling your child a certain name to carry on the family tradition. Weigh out all the possible scenarios of how this name will affect your baby as he or she grows up and becomes part of the community. If you are happy with the name, then select it, otherwise, don't.

It's a big world out there so send your child out with a name that will make them proud of who they are and of who they belong to.

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