Top Tips for Choosing Baby Names
Baby Names... there are so many to choose from! So how do you make the right choice of baby name for your little bundle? Whilst many parents have already chosen a name long before their baby was born or even in some cases conceived, others choose and change many times before settling on a name or names they love.
Often, parents choose family names as a means of carrying on tradition or honouring loved ones. However, many parents want more unique or unusual baby names. Whatever their decision, the chosen name is one that they and their child will have to live with for a very long time. So it is important to take a few things into consideration before settling on the name that will identify your baby and ultimately become part and parcel of who they are.
Here are a few things to think about when choosing a name for your baby:
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Say the name out loud to check how it sounds with the baby's surname.
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Does the name fit the baby? (We often hear people saying they'd chosen a name only to find their baby didn't look like an Anne/ Thomas/ Amy/ Joseph...)
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Consider how the name may be shortened and whether or not you could live with any nicknames your baby may end up with!
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Check the first initials of all parts of your baby's name - is this going to spell out naughty, silly or crude words?
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Check your spellings... all too often parents spell their baby's name incorrectly making for a lifetime of spelling alterations!
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Consider whether all family members are going to have the same initials as this may cause problems later on with post being opened by other siblings or parents!
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Is the name difficult to pronounce? If so, consider how your child may become frustrated with people always getting it wrong.
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Is the name difficult to spell? When your child starts school is he going to be hindered by your choice?
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Is the name very common? Do you mind that your child may be one of several children in his class or street sharing the same name?
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Will you still like the name when your child is not such a tiny little baby any more? Is the name an appropriate one for a grown up applying for a job?
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Consider celebrities and how their names may affect peoples' thoughts and perceptions of your child.
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Look at the meaning of your baby's name. Is it one that will help or hinder him as he grows?
To help you with your all-important decision, below are links to lists of some of the most popular baby names for boys and girls in the last few years: