How to Choose a Name for Your Baby

How to pick a name for your baby?

When it’s time to choose, you need to choose a name that you will not regret later on. There are so many options that it can get overwhelming to settle on just one. So, here a few tips on how to go about choosing your baby’s name.

1. Always start with the last names first

It is usually easier to settle on the last name first because it is pretty straightforward. Choosing the surname first is a step forward in naming your baby. However, don’t be surprised when you find other babies sharing the same last name. There is a limit to the surname-as-first-trend.

2. Think about your cultural roots

Today, some of the most popular names are ethnic-inspired names. So really, there is no name that is too foreign. If you love your culture and would like to celebrate your ancestry, pick your name from your heritage that has been Americanized. What this does is to make it preserve your cultural love while making pronouncing the name easier. When it comes to cultural names, choose a name that reflects the ‘good’ aspects of your culture that you would want to remember for a lifetime because your child is going to have that name for a lifetime.

3. Bypass the family name

Family names are exciting. It is always nice to remember a loving grandparent by naming your child after them. Some family names, though old fashioned, are still acceptable today because they still sound good. However, some names are completely off the naming list.

You can choose to use a relative’s name for your baby but don’t choose a common name that is given to almost every newborn in the family. It’s interesting how you can play around with your relatives’ names to come up with a new name that still honors your family but is not that common. For example, if you have an uncle named Richard Alan and you would like to name your baby after him but both names are common, you can take the first syllable of the first name ‘Ri’ and the last syllable of the second name ‘lan’ and create a new name, ‘Rilan’. Sounds good right?

4. Blend your two favorites

Before you know you are pregnant or even while you were still single or newly married, there were names that sounded really good to you. You definitely have those favorite names that you promised you would name your child once you had one. Sometimes, it is possible to have more than two favorites. Your partner will also have their own favorites. To find a middle ground, blend your favorites to create one unique name.

5. Don’t listen to critics

Once you come up with a name for your baby, there will definitely be those who will criticize whatever name you choose. Plug your ears from such criticisms because you are naming your baby and not theirs.

It’s exciting to name your baby but it can also be daunting due to the many available options. Nevertheless, you only need to think if your child would be comfortable keeping that name for their lifetime.