by Janeen Elite

Created on: August 03, 2009

One of the most important things you will do when becoming a parent is naming your child. After all, this will be a name they will most likely live with for the rest of their lives.

The following are some things you should think about while trying to come up with the perfect name.

Listen To How It Flows

Write down your favorite names and say them out loud. Does the name seem to flow or does it seem "off" or not right to you. How does it go with the baby's last name? This too should flow easily and you should be especially careful that they blend together well. For example, if your last name is Dover, chances are you would not want to name your child Ben.

Consider Any and All Nicknames

Consider all of the possible nicknames your child might be called. For example, if you are considering naming your daughter Barbara but hate the nickname "Babs" understand that somewhere down the line she might be called that by people anyway. If this is something that will really bother you, or you think might bother her, you might want to rethink the name altogether.

Consider The Teasing

Reconsider names that can possibly cause teasing in the schoolyard. Quite often people will name their children after family members out of respect or because they like the idea that their child's name is unique. While it might be easy for an adult to not worry about what others might have to say about it, keep in mind that it can be a really big deal if your little one goes to school and has to deal with constant teasing. If you are truly set on a certain name due to familial obligations, consider giving principals and teachers an acceptable nickname that you would like your child to be addressed by.

Beware of The Over Popular Names

You should also be aware of a name that is too common or popular. Quite often parents will make the mistake of using the most popular names of the current year. The problem with this however, is that many other parents do this as well, which will lead to your child having two or three Matts' in their classroom or two or three Heathers' in their neighborhood. The next thing you know, your child is no longer known as Heather but Heather D. for most of their school years.

Pay Special Attention to The Spelling

Think carefully about the spelling. Many parents love the idea of spelling their child's name in a different or unique way than the usual common spelling (my father was one of those people). This can be a wonderful way to make your child's name unique. It is important to remember however to double check that the new spelling is still easy to pronounce or your child might spend a lot of time in their future correcting people.

It is also important to remember that chances are most people are going to misspell it over their lifetime and that it should not be taken personally. People are just spelling it the most common way they know how.

Keep It To Yourself

If you and your spouse have both agreed on a name it might be best to keep it a secret until after the child is born and you make it official. This is especially true if you have family members or friends with unusually strong opinions. Don't tell anyone until it is too late for them to attempt to change your mind or give you their own ideas.

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