Say the potential name aloud. Does it flow well? Write the name. Does it read well? This is pretty simple if you have a name like, Smith or Jones, but what about if you have a surname like Deakle? If the last name is anomalous, you might want to stick with the common first names.
Can you spell it?
If you have trouble spelling the name, most likely the child will too.
Look at the family tree
Sometimes you can draw inspiration from what your ancestors were named.
Do you want a popular name?
If so the Social Security office publishes a list of the most used names for each year. Keep in mind that a popular name is not always the right way to go. For example, look at the girls that were named Ashley in the 90s. A mom would yell 'come on Ashley, time to go' when leaving the park, and turn around to 10 kids looking puzzled.
Include your family
The name should be something the both you and the babies father finds appealing. However, grandparents, parents, friends, etc.. may have some suggestions that you like. Just do not let anyone pressure you to use a name that you do not like. Grandparents can have a tendency to desire a namesake, but they had their chance : this is yours!
Look at potential ways a name can be shortened
Nicknames and initials are common usages today. They often do not originate at home; peers find nicknaming and shortening a name to serve two purposes- to befriend or to belittle. For example: Adam Shawn Smith sounds perfectly harmless, but kids may use his initials to form 'ASS'.
Get a name dictionary
Where a name may sound pretty, it may have a derivation that means ugly duckling or sour grapes, etc..
You probably want to avoid official cutesy names
Naming your little girl muffin may seem harmless, adorable, a loving display. However, think about when muffin gets to be 30 and is trying to start her own law firm. Muffin will not sound so cute then.
Once you determine exactly what type of name you are looking for, you can move on to the final phase of naming the baby. Each parent should make a list of 10-20 names. This will give you both a basic idea of what the other likes. Take a separate page and rank the names. Any names that are on both lists, put at the top of the page. Here is where the compromise comes in- trade list and rank the other persons list from most liked to most disliked. Take the top two or three names from each list, and write them on the common like page. This will give you a great place to start debating.
Choosing a name for your baby is the most crucial decision you have to consider. It is very exciting and quite difficult at the same time. During the pregnancy, you will spend many hours trying to decide on the baby's name. You have to choose and select from a huge names list and consider suggestions from family, friends and other relatives...
In fact, you are going to face a big challenge, really.
In this article I will help you to manage all those factors and give you important ideas to come up with the perfect and ideal name! And then I will show you an easy yet powerful software that you can use to make advanced and personalized search into a huge names database easily. This tool will literally make naming your baby a very enjoyable task!
But before that, there are 6 imprtant aspects you have to be aware of before we can go any further. And that's what we will discuss right now.
Important Note:
You can apply the following simple tips whatever the origin of the name you are considering. Feel free to apply them if you wish to invent a new name, use a place name, honour a family member...
The 6 Simple Rules to Keep in Mind:
Rule #1. Uniqueness: Having a unique name, may make your child stand out of the crowd. It is always good to feel "special"... Not being one of the several "Johns" or "Taylors" in the classroom. The downside is that "invented" or unusual names may be mispronounced or misspelled by others most of the time. And this could be frustrating for the child.
To resolve this dilemma, you can balance an unusual surname by a more popular first name. For example, a name like "Kyle Minkowsky" may be preferable to "Regenweald Minkowsky".
On the other hand, you could balance a common surname by a creative first name, say, "Eleonora Smith" rather than "Jessica Smith".
Rule #2. The Rhythm of a Name: How your baby's name sounds is very important. Before you go any further, try to say it aloud with the middle name you are considering and your surname too. The full name should be sweet to the ears with no harshness. Please, don't get me wrong, what I am trying to say here, is that your baby's name should be fluent. You can achieve that if you keep in mind the following tips:
* Balance a short surname with a longer firstname, and vice versa. There is no good if it takes your child five minutes to write out their full name! e.g. "Jake Huntington" or "Elisabeth Wood" are fine examples.
* Avoid names that end with the same letter as your surname begins. I will try to illustrate this second rule here: The following names tend to merge together: "Alexis Smith", "Erik Kramer" or "Jarod Deals"
...Do you get my point?
Rule #3. Alliteration: Alliteration brings a kind of fine "decoration" to the baby's name. If used properly, it is a combination of letters that make the name easier to say and to remember. e.g. "Len Livingstone", "Opal Ohara" or "Jerry Johnson".
Rule #4. Meaning of the Name: At this level of the search, you should find out the meaning of the name you are considering. It is always gratifying to know that your baby's name means: Love, hope, joy, life, tolerance, peace...
Rule #5. Check the Initials: Once you have an idea for the baby's name, always check the initials! While the full name may sound pretty, the initials may bring some surprise! Imagine the feeling of a child who grows up and realizes that their initials are: "N.I.L.", "Z.I.P." or "S.A.D."
In order to avoid such embarassment for the child, check the initials before you make your decision. You will be glad you did.
Rule #6. Nickname: Make sure you like the pet forms of your baby's name. e.g. If you plan to name your baby boy: Richard, then expect him to be called also: Rick. So, if you don't like this shortened name, you may reconsider your decision.
Now you have all the elements to come up with the perfect name!
The challenge is that you have to combine ALL these factors and apply them to EACH of the thousands names available! Do you really think it's too much work?
Both Simone Butler & Mouloud Siaci Siaci are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Simone Butler has sinced written about articles on various topics from Common Cold, Heart Conditions and Movie Reviews. Simone writes for , an online dictionary of baby names and their meanings.. Simone Butler's top article generates over 5400 views. to your Favourites.
Mouloud Siaci Siaci has sinced written about articles on various topics from Site Promotion, Parenting and Writing. What if There Was a Piece of Software that Could Help You to Create The *Perfect* Name for Your Baby? "Baby Name" is a brand new software... Request the instant download link:. Mouloud Siaci Siaci's top article generates over 1000 views. to your Favourites.