by Gabrielle Hildebrandt

Created on: August 04, 2009   Last Updated: August 05, 2009

CONGRATULATIONS, you're going to be a parent! One of the first things to start considering is what to name baby. There are several different things to keep in mind as you come up with the perfect name.

IS IT A BOY OR A GIRL?

Are you hoping for a boy or a girl? Do you already know, or are you going to keep it a surprise at birth? Even if you decide to find out if it's a boy or a girl before the birth, it is still a good idea to come up with a name for each. It is also not a good idea to wait until the birth to make a decision on a name.

There are many different resources for finding ideas for names. There are books and websites that give you thousands of ideas on how to choose a name. They give you lists of boy, girl, or unisex names, as well as the origin of the name and what it means. For example, the name Thomas comes from Greek origins and means a twin.

DO YOU AGREE?

First and foremost both you and your partner should be able to agree on the name for the baby. How awful would it be for your child to be stuck with a name you could not stand or brings you bad memories? You want to be able to think of your child's name with love, so try to find a name you can both agree on.

Okay, so you put a lot of thought into what to name baby, but you and your partner just can't agree on any names. What do you do now? Try sitting down with your baby name book by yourself and write down every name you like from 'A' to 'Z.' Have your partner do the same thing. After you both come up with your lists, sit down together and go through them. Chances are you will have found some names you both like, even if they weren't your absolute favorites. Then you can both narrow down the list to the final decision.

HOW DOES THE NAME SOUND?

One thing you need to consider while coming up with a name is how the name sounds. This is especially important when you are considering a middle name. Try saying the name out loud. How does it sound? Does it roll smoothly off the tongue, or is it dangerously close to being a tongue-twister? Does the name have good rhythm? All of these things are important while considering the perfect name.

CHILDREN CAN BE CRUEL

Keep in mind that children can be cruel. One day your child will be old enough to go to school, and the last thing you want is for him to have a name the other children can easily make fun of. Naming your child is not the time to exercise your wit and humor. If your last name is Pitt, don't name your child Cherry. Cherry Pitt may be as cute as can be, but when she goes to school, the other children will find it funny. Autumn Summers might sound nice, but she will never forget the irony of her name.

Try to keep your child's initials in mind when coming up with a name. Samuel Thomas Daily may sound like the perfect name... except his initials are STD.

Keeping these things in mind, you will easily be able to come up with the perfect name for your new baby.

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