Names are a vital part of a baby’s identity and will remain with them for the rest of their lives. So, no pressure, right?
Names are a crucial part of a baby’s identity and will remain with them for the rest of their lives. So, no pressure, right? We asked professionals and parents for their advice on choosing the correct name.
These are the top things parents wish they knew before naming their baby.
Table of Contents
This name is trendy.
Mari Carmen Vega, mom of Mari Carmen, wrote that she had only known of a few people named my daughter before naming her.
It is a common complaint: you may not have heard of Isabella or Aiden until you give it to your child… and then suddenly, it’s on the charts. Name regret can occur if you had hoped to name your child something unique.
Do your research: Sites like lookafterbabies.com can help you determine if a name is in trend. Many first-time parents don’t spend much time with their children. Talk to teachers and new parents to discover if your “secret” name is trendy.
The entire family will love it.
If you speak out your ideas, you may face a lot of resistance. But you’ll be surprised at how many people will love a name that they once hated.
Jessica, the co-founder of lookafterbabies, said that parents often wish they knew that grandparents could learn to love the names they objected to during pregnancy. Sometimes grandparents have old-fashioned baby names ideas. But, once they realize from real-life experience that names such as Elsie and Juniper are not considered strange, they are OK with them.
Some people won’t get it.
Some parents choose to keep their picks private until the delivery.
Jessica said, “The downside to keeping your name choice secret is that nobody knows how to pronounce Kelilah and whether Rowan is a girl or a boy– and people say that they wish they knew they’d have that kind of confusion every day.”
You can join anonymous online forums to discuss name ideas and get honest opinions from your colleagues and friends. Ask for honest opinions, don’t be defensive, and you can still choose your name in privacy. You won’t feel overwhelmed by confusion and questions after your baby arrives.
Most name associations don’t last.
It’s difficult to avoid bringing up every personal reference in our lives when choosing our babies’ names. But, unfortunately, this kind of elimination can lead to the end of everything.
Jessica,” advised that name association are often fleeting. For example, you’d regret giving up the names you love for that weird client or supporting character from Glee you worked with last month.
Pop culture can make everything possible.
Let’s suppose you have the perfect name, but then a celebrity comes along with it a few years later. It connotes an image or notoriety that you don’t want to associate with your child.
Even more benignly, celeb associations may cause the popularity to skyrocket — Terresa Smith describes this phenomenon on our Facebook page. Mason was her son’s name, and he soared to the top of the charts after Kourtney Kardashian chose the same name. Of course, we can’t forecast the future of pop culture, but we can be confident in our choices.
Names may not be appropriate for the child’s personality.
Practically, it is a good idea to name your baby before leaving the hospital. It can be challenging to deal with all that paperwork retroactively. You might not be able to identify your child’s personality by then and may choose a name that isn’t a good match for them.
One approach:
One approach? She stated, “For our daughter’s middle names for Reese, we wish we would have stuck with our creative guns and chosen Reese rather than the traditional family name Anne.” But, unfortunately, it’s too formal for my little whirling devil.”
Names are not allowed for the name.
You can think about this issue in advance and possibly research nicknames for the pick you love. Unfortunately, it might not be possible to find one that you like. For example, Missy Mercurio Haney posted on our Facebook page that she loves Morgan but doesn’t have a good name for her. My brother-in-law calls her Morgie. I find that a bit morbid. She is referred to as Moo by us, but she won’t use that name with her friends or public.
Consider all possible nicknames before you settle on one.
Unusual names can be problematic
Some people prefer unusual names to make the child stand out from the rest of the class. However, Jessica warned that you need to be aware that not everyone will like your name. The strong style will always cut both ways.
She also said that you should be aware of the possibility that a child’s name might not be as distinctive if it is spelled differently than you would like. A familiar name with an unusual spelling can still sound common. Even if a name rhymes with another common name, it tends to blend in with the crowd.
Your name will be perfect
It’s difficult not to obsess over a decision that feels important and weighty. What if we were able to let go of our obsessions and relax? Jessica said that choosing the right name can be a significant obsession. Many parents regret not realizing that once their baby is born, they will feel a sense of fulfillment and the ability to choose a name that feels right for them.
