Are you struggling to choose the perfect name for your baby?
Choosing the name for your baby can be tough. In fact, some parents even experience baby name remorse, in which they decide later on that they dislike the name they chose for their child.
You obviously don’t want this to happen to you. You want a name that your child will eventually feel speaks to their identity.
Feeling pressured? Don’t worry. Just use these five tips for choosing a baby name and the process will be a lot easier!
1. Start With a Baby Name Book
Beginning your search for the perfect baby name with a baby name book is a great way to see if you and your partner are on the same page.
You should each take turns looking at the books and writing a list of names that appeal to you. Then, compare notes and see if any of these names match up.
If the names seem completely different, don’t stress! After discussing why you chose the names you chose, you should be able to find some common ground to work with.
For example, you may find that both of you want names that can be easily shortened into nicknames, or that you both want names that end with an “e” sound.
Discussing and being honest about each other’s preferences should help eliminate a lot of names, as well as any problems down the road when it comes to making the final decision.
2. Think About Nicknames
Speaking of nicknames, you want to make sure you don’t overlook matter this when choosing your baby’s name.
You may find that you love a certain name in it’s full form, but dislike the nickname. If this is the case, don’t fool yourself into thinking that just because you don’t like the nickname, the child will never use it. Nicknames are often coined by peers, and you could have little to no control over the version your child eventually ends up preferring.
3. Analyze the Trends
Yes, it sounds a little intense, but analyzing baby name trends is a great way to narrow down your list.
Baby name trends are often influenced by popular celebrity names, as shown in this article. So ask yourself: Do I want my baby’s name to be unique or common? Or, do I want to follow the trend of the moment?
Social media can be a great resource for discovering if you like trendy names or not. Just check out your friends’ profiles to see what names their choosing for their babies to decide whether or not you’re on board with the trends.
4. Ask for Opinions
Asking the opinions of friends and family on names can be a bit nerve wracking, as you don’t want to receive harsh criticism on a name you love.
However, it’s the easiest way to find out people’s general reaction to a name. And, it might just happen that someone mentions a name that you never thought of, but end up falling in love with.
In the end, remember to choose the name because you love it, and not because it got the most votes at a dinner party.
5. Say it Out Loud
You may love the way a name sounds in your head, but when you say it out loud, that can all change.
Perhaps you realize the name is a bit of a mouthful, or simply that it just doesn’t sound as pleasant as you thought it would.
So, practice saying the name out loud and even using it in sentences to decide if you really love it.
Choosing the Best Name: Final Thoughts
Using these tips should help you really narrow down your list of names and finally settle on one you love.
Got a great story about how you chose your baby’s name? Let us know in the comments below!
These are really great tips. Choosing a name is difficult but this should make it much easier!
I used baby name books but never found anything I liked. But these are helpful tips. I got several of my kids names just from other kids around me that I didn’t even know, like at parks and restaurants and thought oh I like that name.
I’d make sure that I’d think about the child, how they may feel about the name, if it is too unique in a way they may be teased or not like it, so many of the stars pick really strange names for their kids. Another thought is keeping in mind all your relatives, you might want to name your child after someone you would like to honor by naming after them.