Help Choosing Baby Names

When you choose a baby's name, in a way you make them who they are. Some people think that the name given to a baby affects their personality to a degree and moulds them into the person they eventually become. If you accept this as a fact then you should also accept that you must spend some time considering your new baby's name.

Be careful that the baby name you choose will not sound silly in the future and will not give other children ammunition to mock your child; you may love your favourite actor or singer but will their name really sound ok in everyday use? Some of the more traditional members of your family may try to influence you to name your baby after a family tradition, whilst this may be wonderful in your eyes it may not be such an ideal name for your baby, that family name may sound old fashioned or silly today, remember that it is your decision.

It is nice to be inventive when spelling a baby's name but you have to think through the long term problems with this such as your child constantly having their name spelled wrong or constantly having to spell their name out over the telephone. Be careful that the initials of your baby don't make a funny acronym, like GBH or IRS etc, again this could be a source of mockery.

Sit down with someone you trust when thinking up baby names, it is good to have a sound board, especially when it is someone who is not afraid to say what they think, be objective, listen to the criticism but ultimately listen to your own thoughts on this matte.

You will also have to decide if you will give your child a middle name, many people are embarrassed by their middle names but this is usually because the parents have used an old family name which sounds old fashioned today, if you do go for a middle name please try and make it as right for your baby as the first choice name. A middle name is useful when you can't decide between two different names or when two partners each like a different name, using one as the middle name is a compromise.

There are hundreds of baby name books out there and there are thousands of websites devoted to this subject, just get out there and take a look around. This should have given you some guidelines to use when choosing a baby name, please check back for the next article 'Choosing a Pram.'