Choosing a Baby Name

Small baby, big decision

10 tips for choosing the right baby name

Thinking about baby names can be one of the best parts of pregnancy – or the worst. Some parents agree on a name quickly, while others agonise over popularity, spelling, flow, and family names. Some announce the name early on, others wait to meet their baby before making the final decision.

No matter where you fall on the baby-naming spectrum, you might need a bit of help when you’re first starting out.

Here are our top ten naming tips:

 

1: Check the family tree

If you’re struggling to find names you love, your family can be a good place to start looking. You could choose to honour a living relative with a namesake or look further back to find an unusual or classic option. Either way, a family name can be a nice way to connect your child with there history.

 

2: Consider your surname

Choosing your future child’s last name can narrow down your options for first names. Whether you go the traditional route and pass on the father’s name, switch things around by passing on the mother’s, hyphenate, or combine the two into an entirely new name, it’s important to have it sorted before you start thinking about first names.

When you are considering firsts, write the options down with the surname and say them out loud – some names simply don’t sound right with some surnames, and others can create embarrassing phrases or words when said aloud. It’s better to find out before you name that adorable baby.

 

3: Don’t worry (too much) about popularity

Some parents want a solid, well-known name for their child – others dread meeting another baby with the same name. Remember that popularity isn’t what it used to be. Because the spread of baby names is much broader than it once was, the top ten names are not used for nearly as many babies as they used to be. It’s more about luck and location – if you live in a trendy suburb, your Archie or Lucinda could be one of three in the class, while children with once-common names like Thomas and Lucy stand out.

 

3: Nickname or not?

These days, more and more parents are choosing to give their children longer names without using a nickname. Once you’ve established that you don’t call your child by a nickname, most people tend to accept that decision and move along.

But, as he gets older, your child could end up choosing a nickname for himself, so it’s worth considering the possibility. If you adore the name Timothy but hate Tim, it’s probably best to keep looking.

 

4: Spelling mistakes

Many parents choose to alter the spelling of a name because they like the alternative better, or because they want their child to stand out. Although there’s nothing really wrong with changing the spelling, tread carefully – complicated or unusual spelling choices can end up being more trouble than they’re worth. Not only will you end up spelling the name and correcting people frequently, but your child will need to deal with misspellings when she grows up.

 

5: Ask around

When you’re a first-time parent, popularity can be hard to gauge, unless you happen to be a teacher or paediatrician. Many parents make the mistake of thinking a choice is uncommon because they don’t know anyone with the name, but forget that their thirty-something friends don’t represent the current crop of babies and toddlers.

If you’re concerned about popularity, ask your teacher and parent friends for help. They’ll be able to tell you whether Mia is really the unique choice you think it is, or whether they already know three little girls with that name.

 

6: Unfortunate initials

For most people, initials are pretty far down the list of baby-name considerations. And in most cases, they don’t really matter. But do have a quick look at your first, middle, and last initial choices, particularly if you’re using a middle name that starts with a vowel. Peter Ian Gibson, Anastasia Sara Smith, and Fiona Amy Thompson are all perfectly lovely names – with not-so-lovely initials. Although it can be hard to give up a beloved name, it’s probably better to find out earlier, rather than later.

 

7: Future focus

The more children you have, the harder it can be to choose names. That’s why, if you’re planning on more than one, it’s smart to consider sibling names at the same time. You don’t have to decide on full names for four future children, just think about your naming style and whether you have enough options to fit.

If you love the name Echo for your first, but usually prefer more mainstream choices like Lucas and Mila, think about whether those names will work together. On the other hand, many parents don’t care about sibling name co-ordination, so it’s really a matter of personal taste.

 

8: Test it out

It’s easy to come up with a list of names you like, but harder to imagine whether they’ll work in real life. Once you’re down to a couple of choices, testing the name can be a good way to figure out how you feel about it.

Use the name at a coffee shop or when you order takeaways – does it sound good out loud? Do you have to spell it? Do people understand it's the first time? If you’re too embarrassed to even use the name, that’s good information as well. The yell test is another good one: shout the name across your garden or a crowded playground. Is it easy to say? Does it feel natural or odd? It’s not about how other people react, it’s about whether you can realistically use the name yourself.

 

9: Google it

One of the final tests for a baby name is Google. Once you have the first and last choices sorted, it’s worth a quick Google search to see whether there’s a serial killer or other unfortunate association with the full name. Some parents also use a search engine to check out how unusual the name really is – and it’s not about avoiding popularity. In theory, if your child’s first and last names are unique, it can be a negative, as he won’t have the luxury of online anonymity.

But, as always, this is a matter of personal opinion.

 

10: Your baby, your choice

Ultimately, your baby’s name is up to you and your partner. It can be useful to get feedback from trusted friends or relatives but don’t set too much store by other people’s opinions. No one name is going to please everyone, and since you’re the ones making the baby, it’s really your choice. Many couples choose not to share names before the birth to avoid unwanted opinions – and once there’s a gorgeous baby with the name, people are far less likely to be negative.

 

Preparing for your baby’s arrival? Check out our advice on everything from sleep to strollers here.