A name, it is
everything and nothing. To borrow an idea from
William Shakespeare “A Rose would be sweet no
matter what it was called” and so too with our
children – name choice is important, however, it
is not worth fighting about, the feelings that the
name will generate are evolutionary and the result
of the individual and their actions.
Some parents choose to surround themselves with
volumes of baby name books; others prefer to visit
a quality website such as namestobe.com. There is
no doubt that readings names with your partner and
laughing and creating your shortlist is fun and a
sweet way to anticipate the birth of your
offspring. The secret that you share when you have
selected the name and choose to wait for the
imminent birth before revealing it can also be
amusing. The teasing with family members as you
ask them about their parent’s names and favourite
names can be interesting too.
BABY NAMING TIPS
Take Your Time The worst thing you could do
when choosing a baby name is to rush into it.
Settling for second best may affect you and your
child for a lifetime! Don't commit yourself to the
first name that you fancy. Keep searching until
you find a name that you are 110% happy with. And
don't forget that you don't need to choose a name
for your baby before birth. Some parents have been
known to wait 2 or 3 weeks before choosing a baby
name that they are content with.
What Does it Mean?
Some parents don't really care for the meaning of
their baby's name, where as others base their
decision solely around it. However, in our opinion
a quick check could not hurt. Do you really want
your big strong boy to have a name that means
"pretty flower"? If you have a meaning in mind,
but don't know what names contain that meaning
then click here.
Spelling
Try to make sure you don't choose a name that ends
with the same letter that your last name begins
with. This can sometimes make pronunciation a
challenge. There are some exceptions to this rule,
but in general, it is best to keep this in mind
when choosing a baby name. Try it for yourself and
you'll see what we mean. Letters like "L" and "S"
are especially bad.
Say it Out Loud
Instead of referring to your unborn baby as he or
she or "the baby", try using one of the names that
you like for a week or so. Saying it aloud and
using it in common sentences will give you a
better idea of how much you really like the name.
Don't forget, some names look great when written
on paper, but sound terrible.
Initials
There have been some embarrassing mistakes made
when choosing baby names in the past. One of these
is the uncanny chance of initials forming some
undesirable abbreviation. 'I P Daily' is just one
classic that springs to mind. Always double check
what the initials of your baby name choice are.
Nicknames
We live in a lazy age, everything is shortened,
and even if you don’t want it, people will shorten
your child’s beautiful, carefully chosen name.
Think about what the possible nicknames will be.
You may love the name Robert, but hate the names
Bob, Bobby, Rob or Robby. When it's time for your
child to start going to school, there is a 99.9%
chance that he will be known as Rob or Robby
instead of Robert.
Middle Names
Middle Names are often regarded as an opportunity
to honour relatives whose names are outdated –
make it the middle name…….it is present but not
technically active. Be cautious with this approach
if you are naming the child after your self or you
partner as you will probably end up referring to
the child by its middle name to avoid confusion.
Choosing a baby name can be broken down into
two processes. Choose a name that you think your
child will enjoy and choosing a name that both
parents love. Stay true to yourselves and remember
that it is impossible to please everyone and
ultimately the most important people to please are
you the parents.
