by Helium01

Created on: January 08, 2009

Choosing a Name for Your Baby

Congratulations! If you are reading this, you are probably expecting a little boy or girl in the near future. One of the biggest decisions that you will have to make before he or she arrives, or immediately after, is what to name your little darling. When choosing a name, there are a number of things to keep in mind.

Common or Unique?

There are advantages and disadvantages to giving your baby either a common or unique name. Common names are easy for others to understand, usually easy for your child to learn, and if your son ever wants to buy a personalized mug at Wal-Mart, he can probably do so. On the other hand, having a unique name means never having to use your last initial (think Jimmy S. and Jimmy G.), never feeling like a plain Jane, and always having a sense of being one of a kind.

Last Names Matter

When considering names for your child, it is important to keep your last name in mind. Ideally, the name you choose will have a different number of syllables than your last name.
For example, Brittany Moore sounds better than Beth Moore. Then again, Brad Pitt seems to have gotten away with it, so if you have your heart set on a name that doesn't follow this rule feel free to break it!

Future Board Meetings

If you've got a name picked out, imagine using it in various scenarios. At the park, would you feel comfortable calling your child's name? When your child grows up and has to answer the phone at work, will she be embarrassed to say her name? If she's being introduced in a board meeting, how will others react? Although the opinions of others should not matter, children and adults do get teased because of their names. It just makes sense to steer clear of obviously embarrassing monikers.

Family Names

Sometimes a family name stands out as a good choice. But if great grandmother was named Gertrude and you are being pressured into using a name that you just don't like (nothing against Gertrude, but I wouldn't give that name to my daughter), be firm and stand your ground. A less popular family name can always be used as a middle name to appease relatives if necessary.

In the end, the choice is yours. These are just a few things to keep in mind as you get the ball rolling. I know in my case, the right name didn't stand out for me until the last few weeks of pregnancy. And if, after choosing the name and announcing it to the world you get negative feedback, let it roll off your back. You know why you made your choice and that's all that matters.

(In case you are interested, I named my daughter Morgan. I haven't gotten direct negative feedback, but I know that some people wonder why I gave my daughter what they consider a boy's name).

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