What's in a name? Plenty, if you're the poor unfortunate tyke whose clueless parents saddle him with a dorky name—or if you're one of eight little girls named Britney who end up in the same kindergarten class!
Yes, choosing a name for your child is an awesome responsibility—one that will probably have you flipping through your share of baby name books. You'll find plenty of books to choose from. If you're lucky, you might already have a few names in mind—names that have caught your fancy over the years and somehow stuck in your head. However, not all prospective parents are fortunate enough to have picked out their baby's name long before the pregnancy test came back positive. Many couples find that there's considerably more work involved in zeroing in on the perfect name.
Also, don't be surprised if you and your partner don't initially agree about names. Most couples find that there's a bit of give and take involved in coming up with a name that both parents can live with. Here are some practical tips if you happen to find yourself in the undecided camp:
Be clear about what you're looking for in a name. Do you want a name that's long or short? Traditional or modern? Plain or flowery? Easy to spell or something a bit fancier? The clearer you are about your criteria from the beginning, the easier it will be for you to make your final decision.
Avoid names that are too pretentious.
Consider naming your child after someone who is special to you—but only if you feel confident that the person in question will remain near and dear to you in years to come and keep his or her nose clean. After all, you don't want your precious baby to end up being named after an ex-friend of the family who goes on to become a career criminal!
Look for a name that will grow with your child. What's cute for a baby may not be so cute when the baby is 35.
Stick to names that will work well with your last name. Keep in mind how the first name and the last name sound together, as well as any short-forms of the first name. Also, look at the initials and make sure they don't spell anything you don't like.
Keep the spelling simple.
Be prepared to go back to the drawing board if it becomes obvious that the name you picked out is becoming too common.
Author of The Mother of all Baby Books: The Ultimate Guide to Your Baby's First Year
© Ann Douglas 2002
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