How To Choose Baby Names: Top 16 Baby Naming Tips

Deciding on a baby’s name is a fun part of your pregnancy journey. It is not an easy thing as your child will hold the name for the rest of their life. What you choose may greatly influence your child’s destiny as it is believed that each name has hidden energy behind it. If you already have a few names in mind, or waiting until after childbirth, here are a few tips to consider while choosing baby names.

16 Expert Baby Naming Tips For Parents To Consider

Here are some significant principles to help you choose a name for your baby.

1. Notice initials

If you are planning to give more than one name to your child, pay attention to how the initials spell out. For instance, Alexander Steven Scott may sound impressive for your boy, but he will be unlucky if he is being called ASS. Another instance is Charlotte Olivia Weston, which condenses to COW. Note down all the name combinations and the initials to ensure you do not have a namingdisaster.

2. Analyze the meaning

Try to choose a name with a special meaning or association. Though some names sound strong, they may have horrifying meaning. Some of them are Calvin meaning bald, Cecelia meaning blind, or names like Adolf that do not have a pleasant reputation. You can prepare a one-liner so you can respond when someone asks about the significance of your child’s name.

3. Consider nicknames

Contemplate all the potential baby nicknames, both long and short versions, that people may call your child with their name. Sit with your partner or any other family member or friend to make sure there isn’t any shocking possibility. For instance, Katie for Katherine, Nate for Nathaniel sounds good, and there is no chance for any nasty nickname.

4. Look for uniqueness

Giving a unique name toyour child makes them stand out in a crowd. The name will be remembered, whether in a group or the classroom. In the quest for looking for a creative and different name, do not create names that sound irrelevant or have no meaning. It should also be easy to pronounce and spell so that others don’t find it difficult.

5. Have it short

Keeping a short name could save your child from future frustration when your child is about to fill all those forms and applications. There will also be no trouble with correcting their names as they are easy-to-pronounce and spell.

6. Check sibling names

You may look for names that have the same first initial or names that sound good together. This will ease your burden, and you will not fall in a situation to explain to them why one has a superior or unique name while the other has a normal or traditional name.

7. Honor tradition

Choosing a name from your cultural background is a great way to honor your tradition. You may use your mother’s maiden name, a passed-down family name, or the name of a favorite relative. If you have any old records of family names, have a glance to see if anything works. It is really special to choose a name that has a strong significance in your family.

8. Bring diversity

If you are not confident about a unique name or a traditional name, balance it out with a middle name. Pick one unique or traditional name, and add a conventional name to it as a middle name.

9. Say the name aloud

Check if the names you select, the first, middle, and last names, sound good and not harsh when you say them out aloud. Be careful about the combinations, and do not pick names that may sound funny when said together.

10. Avoid trendy names

If you are considering a popular name for your child, know that they will be sharing it with many others. Selecting any lead personality or celebrity name may seem cool, but it might not be relevant a few years down the line.

11. Language matters

Names in one language may completely mean weird things in another language. For some parents, it might not matter at all, but it is good to background-check the name and what it means in different languages. For instance, Gil, a Hebrew name, means ‘joy’ whereas, in Poland, it refers to ‘snot.’ Krysa is a pleasant name in the US, meaning ‘Gift of God’ butrefers to ‘rat’  in the Russian language. It is, therefore, good to check beforehand to avoid nasty interpretations of the name.

12. Picking gender-neutral names

Choosing a gender-neutral name is a distinctive choice that is gaining popularity. As parents, if you believe it will help prevent gender stereotyping, or you may just like the idea of a unisex name, think of gender-neutral names that are meaningful and familiar.

13. Go for classic names

Classic names are always better. Most parents prefer names that are timeless rather than trendy. They never sound outdated or identify the child as a part of a specific century. You will find a good number of striking names to choose from that have been around for generations and remain relatively unchanged.

14. Convincing for parents

Both parents may have their preferences and interests while finding a name. It is necessary to reach a common conclusion and then find a name together. This way, you need not impose or force a name that your partner does not like.

15. Have an open mind

If you are ultimately confused while choosing the name as you want to fulfill the family’s tradition, cultural heritage, or whatever it could be, go cool with it. You can go with common and top names that do not raise confusion. If you have to experiment with names, add a middle name but always have a meaningful first name.

16. Make a list

If you are in trouble deciding a name, make a list of names preferred by you and your partner.  You can categorize them whether modern, classic, royal, inspired by famous characters, etc. Each of you can rate them on a scale of one to five, and then re-order to find the right name.

Finally, take your time to give an ideal name for your little one. This way, you will know your final choice is the best name for your child to carry for the rest of their life.

10 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Deciding A Name

To help you double and triple-check that you have selected the right name, ask yourself these questions again.

1. What does the name mean?
2. Does it sound good to say?
3. How popular is this name?
4. Does everyone like saying this name?
5. What nickname will my child be given?
6. Is it trendy or classic?
7. Does the name carry a strong association and has no negative connotation?
8. Are there any alternative meanings or meanings in other languages?
9. Is it too diminutive, or too long?
10. Can my child introduce herself/himself with confidence?

No matter what name you choose, wait to announce it until after the baby’s birth. Rather than finding every possible fault, learn to focus on what you love about the name. Put some thought into it, and you surely have fun with it. Choosing your baby’s name adds memorable and special moments, so enjoy it.