by Marcelle Mccallum

Created on: September 04, 2008

With the advent of globalisation and the internet, naming a baby has become even more tricky than it used to be. We have access to thousands upon thousands of names from every culture that was or is, as well as names based on works of fiction, conjured up by desparate parents or plucked randomly from the worlds wealth of words. What are you to do then? Thankfully there are few very important things to keep in mind when choosing a name.

I shall start off lightly with initials. Think about what your childs initials will be. Do you really want them to be two (or three) of the same letter? Say for example - M.M. Not that I think doubles are bad, but it bears mentioning as you may not like doubles. Then there are two letter words and abbreviations. Do you really want to call your little boy B.O.? Naturally, if you are using a middle name, you then need to be on the look out for three letter words. For example Benjamin Ulysses Macintyre may not be a great combination. Also be wary of using initials which someone else in the house shares, this can easily lead to confusion regarding post.

Does it fit the surname, surely no one's proud when they realise the implications of Ben(jamin) Dover and other similar names. But it is not simply double entrendes that are traps. Some name endings make it difficult to pronounce the beginning of the surname. Staying away from any names that end with the first letter or syllable of the surname is always a good rule of thumb.

Try and imagine all the different nicknames someone of that name would have earned in the schoolyard when you were a kid. If it's too easy or lewd, it's probably a good idea to stay away from it.

Even though it may seem like a great idea to name your child after the latest fad, Lord of The Rings say, remember everyone will be doing the same. Check out lists of popular and 'hot' names and stay away from them. I have very rarely come across someone of the same name, let alone name and gender as me, that I never needed an extra nickname or qualifier, ie Ann C or Ann Z, miss? By the same token you should refer to the tip above to keep imaginations in check.

Be sure you like the meaning, or at the very least are not utterly offended or repulsed by it.

The two most vital tips are:
Have some options and be flexible, we had decided on Noa ( a Maori word which means strength) for our eldest. When he arrived he was so definitively not a Noa or a Noah that we had to start again, his nickname when I write about him now is the Tazmeister, so I will leave it up to you to be inventive abuot what we chose.
And
It must be sayable and spellable. At first sighting. Life is difficult enough sometimes without having an unintelligible name.

Good luck and have fun!

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