Choosing the Right Name for your Baby

Some people get excited about choosing a baby name, but for others it can be stressful. After all, this is a name that your child will have for the rest or his or her days. So you don’t want to make a mistake.

You’ve got plenty of time to think about a name that you want. Here are few things to consider when you’re making your choice:

Trending Baby Names

If you want your baby to have a name that’s popular now, have a look at this article from the Guardian newspaper. The top girl’s names in 2015 were Amelia and Olivia and is still popular, whilst Noah is a top ten name for a boy. Trends come from celebrities, the royals, social media and even politicians.

Say it out loud

Say the names you like out loud and add on your surname, to make sure you don’t have a name that will rhyme. Some people don’t like names with a continuous vowel sound like, Ollie Edwards or Alison Arkwright. If you’re going for something unusual be sure that you won’t be embarrassed to say the name out loud in public.  Daisy Boo might be okay for Jamie Oliver, but are you sure you want to be calling out that name in the park?

Check Spelling and Pronunciation

Look at the spelling and how a name is pronounced. Is it something which will often be spelt incorrectly or one that you are constantly having to pronounce for other people? Your child might get fed up of always having misspelt school certificates or birthday cakes and he or she might get teased. So, think about spelling and pronunciation.

Traditional Baby Names

Do you have a name which is a tradition in your family, or do have someone in your life that you admire and look up to?  Some families like to call their first child after their maternal or paternal grandmother or grandfather. Other families use traditional family names as second names. If you have a traditional name in the family that you don’t like very much, is there a name that’s similar, which you like better?

Meaning

You can also find a name by looking at the meaning of the name and choosing something that has significance for you and your partner. Browse the Name Berry website. It gives you a whole list of names and their meanings. For instance, Callum means ‘dove’ and Pippa means ‘lover of horses’. You can have a look at the different categories and choose something you like for the meaning.

Look to the future

Remember, your baby won’t always be a child. How will the name you’ve chosen sound when he or she is an adult going into further education or looking for work.  Honey Boo Boo might be a brilliant name if they go into acting, but will it be taken seriously in the corporate world?

Of course, when it comes down to it, you should follow your heart and pick a name that you love. If your child hates the name you’ve chosen, you can be sure they’ll invent a nickname or change it when they are older, just ask Zowie Bowie…

How to stay active during pregnancy