You are having a baby and you have to give it a name, now what?
One of the first big decisions you, as a parent, will face is what to name your child(ren). The name this tiny person (whom you don’t even know, yet) will carry for the rest of their life. Their name becomes an incredibly important part of who they are.
With this important decision looming, you face one of the first bajillion paradoxes you will face as a parent. (Hey! No one said parenting was easy.) This name will have a lot of meaning to you, and you want it to be something that they can grow into and not outgrow - bringing you back to that paradox.
How do you create a name that is unique, but not so unique that upon hearing the name, people’s first response is usually “Well, that is certainly unique” ?
Family Tradition
If you have a family tradition of passing on names, this can be a great place to start. It’s a good way to honor family members. It’s also a way to remind your child that they are part of something larger than themselves. (And trust us, they will need to be reminded of this often). Use your family tree to identify the names that are passed down in your family. This can be a great way to find out if there is a particular name or spelling you prefer and want to use for your child. If you don't have such a tradition, this is still an excellent method for choosing your child's name.The tradition can begin with you and then passed on to your future grandchildren! .
Honor your culture
One of the first things you should do is think about the meaning behind a name.
"I love it when people choose names that honor their culture," says Rachel Cohen, owner and founder of Baby Name Worldwide. "When you're naming your child, it's only natural to want them to have a name that reflects your heritage."
But don't go overboard: The last thing you want is for your child to be teased in high school because they were named after an obscure family dish or something.
A great tool for making sure the name isn't too embarrassing for them when they're older is by asking yourself:
“Can I pronounce it?”
“Is it embarrassing if people hear me say this out loud?”
“Will my children be teased at school because of their name?”
Think about nicknames
When you're thinking of a name, it's important to consider how it sounds when shortened. Does that name create any negative or embarrassing nicknames? Middle school is already brutal, but add a name that lends itself to an embarrassing nickname. Therapy sessions will add up.
Another thing to consider is will they go by their first name or middle name? Most schools and companies now create e-mail addresses with first name dot last name.
Example, if you choose the name, John Mark Brown, but have him go by Mark, people may be confused when they receive an e-mail from John.Brown instead of Mark.
Look at the Initials
This can be a great way to honor a family member, such as your spouse, or even an older sibling. If you don't have any names that start with the same letters as your own and want your child's name to do so, this is an option!
Remember, initials can be just as embarrassing as choosing the wrong first name or nickname. Go through the steps of asking yourself, “Will my children be teased at school because of their initals?”
Make a List of Names
You may have already started day dreaming of names for your future children, or you are like many couples and find yourself reading a blog about how to choose the name of your child…because that child you are currently carrying!
WhosZat App is a great tool to keep a list of names you like, dislike and names you are unsure about. The best feature of WhosZat is being able to give each name a note to help remember reasoning for choosing name.
WhosZat App is great for the pregnancy brain because you will need something to help jog your memory.
Naming your offspring is a very personal decision that everyone should make based on their values and the image they want their child to have.
In the end, choosing the name of your child is a very personal decision. People will always have opinions about the choices you make while parenting your child, and their first opinion will start with the name you have chosen.
Do not let other's opinions deter you from a name you love. It’s important to choose a name that you like and one that you think will be appropriate for your child. Don't stress because it will all come together. You've got this!