Choosing a baby name will have an impact on your child's lifetime, is one of your biggest decisions as a parent, and is a special and meaningful process that you and your partner will go through. Whether you choose a name that has personal meaning, or pick a name that sounds good, the number of children's names you can choose from is endless. Just be sure to avoid some of the common pitfalls and mistakes, and you'll be able to come up with the perfect name for your little one.
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Method 1 of 3: Picking a Name That Has Personal Meaning
Step 1. Make a list of names that have personal meaning
This name could come from a family member, friend, or influential person in your life. There is no limit on your baby's name.
Don't be afraid to name certain sources. A favorite book or movie character, a favorite song, a childhood pet, or even the name of the street you grew up in can become a child's name with special meaning and full of meaning
Step 2. Consider names that share meaning for you and your partner
Maybe, you were introduced by the same friend and named Dora, your first chat was about Charles Dickens, or your first kiss was under the Eiffel Tower, Paris.
If both you and your partner have an equally long list of child names, it's a good idea to compromise by choosing a name that has meaning in both of your past
Step 3. Ask about naming traditions or inherited names in the family
A family tree can be a great source of inspiration for finding baby names. Some families insert the same middle name or use certain surnames for generations.
- Don't feel compelled to use family naming norms, but it's best to ask your family to keep the options open.
- Using naming traditions or trends in the family is one way to compromise to choose a name that is meaningful to the child.
- For example, you may have the same grandmother's name, or an ancestor from another island.
Step 4. Wait for name inspiration to come during pregnancy
Let inspiration come during pregnancy. That way, you have about ten months to decide.
- For example, you and your partner may feel your child's first kick while taking a walk on the beach. Therefore, you are inspired to use ocean-themed names, for example Ariel or Ombak. Leonardo DiCaprio's mother was at a museum in Italy when she was pregnant, and was looking at a Leonardo da Vinci painting when she felt the first kick in the womb.
- Dreams and memories are common symptoms of pregnancy, and many expectant mothers claim to get their child's name inspiration when dreaming while pregnant.
Step 5. Name the child according to the season or major event
Perhaps, children are born in the summer when the roses bloom or when the first snow falls, giving rise to names like Summer, Eden, Rose, Rosalie, Snow, Elsa, Winter, or December.
Step 6. Wait until you meet the child
You and your partner may decide on the perfect name after meeting your baby for the first time and getting to know him.
- The baby may be born with red hair, like Aunt Josephine's hair color.
- If your son was born with a serene face, maybe you were reminded of a poem by your favorite poet and chose the name Chairil or Ernest.
Method 2 of 3: Picking a Fascinating Name
Step 1. View a baby name book or online database
You can find baby name books in libraries, and there are many baby name database sites on the internet. If you have a specific category for baby names, such as natural names, classic boy names, gender neutral names, or ethnic names for girls, include them when searching online.
When looking at a list of names, try not to be overwhelmed by the sheer number of choices. Just read and search until a name stands out and sticks in your memory
Step 2. Choose a name from the pre-approved list
Some countries, such as Iceland and Denmark, require babies to be named after state-approved names. To narrow down your choices, consider choosing an ethnic name from an approved list, such as in Iceland.
Step 3. Monitor various media
Try reading mother and baby magazines, watching the news on television, and even listening to popular songs on the radio that you love to get inspired by the latest and greatest baby names.
- Be on the lookout for name trends that are rapidly disappearing in popularity. For example, classic names like “Charlotte” and “Poppy” may be making a comeback, but so can very modern names like “Meadow” and “Story.”
- Even though the current names "Meadow" and "Story" are very good, make sure you and your partner still like them even though their popularity has disappeared and is being replaced by new name trends.
Step 4. Make a poll or baby name survey on the internet
This strategy doesn't work for everyone, but some parents want public opinion. At a baby shower, ask guests to write down the name they chose, or hold a vote on social media so your friends and family can choose one of the five best names.
- You don't have to pick the name that gets the most votes, but make sure you reveal it before voting takes place.
- Do not make the voting participants expect too much so that their feelings are not hurt. Say you're doing it for fun.
Step 5. Choose a nickname
Sometimes a nickname can inspire a baby's full name. If you want to call your baby a cute or informal name, try finding a long name that matches the nickname you want!
For example, if you want to call your child “Sunny” or “AJ”, try choosing “Sonora” or “Amelia Josephine” as their full names. Nicknames can be used as long as the child is young, and formal names begin to be used when the child is an adult
Method 3 of 3: Avoiding Baby Name Trap
Step 1. Double-check the meaning of the name to be given
A name can have many meanings and sometimes one meaning is not better than the other. Even if you don't give a name that has personal meaning or comes from a family, it's a good idea to check the formal meaning of the name you choose.
For example, "Portia" sounds like a beautiful and exotic name for a girl. However, the word means “pig” in Latin, which may not sound good to some
Step 2. Pronounce the baby's name
Make sure the name sounds good when spoken aloud. For example, “Maharani” sounds a bit pretentious, while “Upin Santiago” sounds like a cartoon character.
Step 3. Avoid word games
Never use word games when choosing a child's name. Young children can sometimes be very mean in making fun of other children so it's best not to use popular word games or phrases.
- Ken Tuti and Judy may sound funny and cute, but imagine a child who has to endure the ridicule and laughter of the name!
- You shouldn't use wordplay on twins either. Twin names like “Dilan and Milea” or “Harry and Sally” are pop culture references that are hard to lose in society, even if you don't mean to be funny.
Step 4. Choose spelling and pronunciation carefully
Your child will be irritated if his name is repeated incorrectly or has to be repeated many times because it sounds strange, long, or difficult to pronounce.
- For example, if you like a name like “Lusi” but choose the spelling “Lucy” or “Lussy,” people will assume a generic spelling instead of an exotic one. As a result, you and your child will continue to correct their misspelled names.
- "Alex" is a cute and modern boy's name, but is prone to being made fun of as "Alex kelek".
Step 5. Test the durability of the child's name
While some names are very suitable for baby names, sometimes they are not suitable for adults. Make sure the name chosen is still appropriate until the child is an adult.
For example, “King” is a cute name for a boy, but his colleagues will find it difficult to take him seriously when he is giving a presentation at the office
Step 6. Test the initials of the child's name
Some of the best names can come up with the worst initial combinations. So, make sure you initialize your favorite name before assigning it a permanent name.
For example, the names “Bryan Alejandro Bagas Irawan” and “Agus Setiawan Ulung” don't have a good initial combination
Step 7. Keep the name secret until the child is born
Whatever name you choose, you won't be able to please everyone, and negative comments will cast doubt on you. If you wait for your child's name to be announced until after birth, others will be hesitant to criticize and approve of your chosen name.
Tips
- Compromise with your partner. The hardest part as a parent is choosing a name for your child that you both like! If you can't find a name you like together, it's a good idea to share a naming task. Perhaps, you can choose the first name and your partner can name the next child.
- To adapt a personal name that is long, difficult, or only suitable for one gender, look for alternative root names for babies. For example, if you were inspired by a Belgian grandfather named Rivaldo, but your child is a girl, look online for a name that has roots or is part of a related name, such as Riva.
