If you’re expecting or TTC, you’ve probably given a decent amount of thought as to what you’d like to name your child. Sometimes, this is a lot more challenging than you might have anticipated. At least, it always is for me. There are so many factors that come into play when trying to choose the “right” name. Therefore, I’ve put together a list on how to pick the perfect baby name, questions to consider, and tips to try.
– Do you name he/she after a family member? If so, will it offend somebody else that didn’t make the cut for such an honor? If you don’t go that route, will you receive judgment and other “hints” that you should have?
-Do you have a particular name that you’ve always loved and dreamt about naming your child, but your spouse can’t get on board because they knew someone with that name they didn’t like? One thing that’s for sure, is that when deciphering list after list of hundreds or thousands of names, you realize just how many people throughout your life have made a bad impression on you.
-Then there’s the list that comes out each year of the top boy and girl names. For me, if I pick a name that would be a top contender, I immediately go to the top ten or twenty list for the past few years and if that name has been repeatedly popular, it gets the ax. I know there is obviously a reason those names are in the top 10, and there is nothing wrong with choosing a beautiful, popular name. However, I know what it’s like to be named one of those insanely popular baby names. My name must have been one to top the charts in the 1980s, because there was never a year in school where there wasn’t another Amanda (or two or three) in my class. I hated being “Amanda M.” and even though I like my name, I always wished I had something less common that did not require any additional designation. So, for that reason, I’m out when it comes to over-popularity.
-To what extent do you let others (besides your partner) aid in the naming process? Do you take suggestions? Do you secretly choose a name and not reveal it to anyone until the birth certificate is signed? These are all very personal decisions. I have no problem taking a suggestion, but don’t give me a hard time when it doesn’t translate into the final product. Chances are the person giving you the suggestions already had their opportunity to name their child (ahem, Mom, ahem).
-Then you have to consider the acronyms, nicknames, and cruelty levels of other children. In a perfect world, it would be the last thing one would have to consider. But let’s face it, it’s a tough society and kids can be nasty. National statistics from stopbullying.gov show that 70.6% of young people have reported witnessing bullying in schools. So if your favorite name is something that could be a lifetime of trouble for your little one, maybe cross that one out, too.
-Finally, there’s that aha moment I think a lot of us have as mothers. I am pregnant with my third child, and for the third consecutive pregnancy, I have experienced what I refer to as baby-naming nirvana. I go through family names, I spend hours on Nameberry, I cross-reference all of the top 10, 20, and 100 lists I can find, I look up meanings, etc. Yet, I always seem to have that moment where (insert eye roll if this sounds cheesy—I won’t be offended) the baby tells me that yes, that is indeed his or her name and that’s it—that’s the name of my child and nobody can change my mind. It happened with my firstborn early on, with my second it took a little longer but it happened, and just recently I experienced it with this pregnancy, about 14 weeks in. Am I nuts or has this happened to anyone else?
The naming process is a fun, exciting, and frustrating experience. I know some people that still don’t have a name picked out when they go into labor. So, don’t stress, have fun with it, and please don’t let others influence one of the most sacred choices we get to make as mothers.
Do you have any tips on how to pick the perfect baby name? Let us know in the comments below!
