Some people have their future baby names picked out from the moment they can push a doll around in a toy pushchair. For others, the process is a little more difficult.
It can be really daunting choosing a name for a new baby, especially because it will be the name they will most likely keep for the rest of their life. It can be easy to get a name wrong and a name that sounds adorable for a newborn might not be quite as cute as the child gets older. In fact, a recent study by domain name company Siteopia revealed that as much as one in three people are not happy with their given names. Not only that, but also one in five parents ended up regretting the name they gave to their child at birth.
The study said that this was sometimes because the name they chose ended up being too common or used by a celebrity they didn’t like. These figures are actually quite staggering and show important it is for parents to get it right. With this in mind, what are the things you should be thinking about when it comes to choosing a baby name?
Does the name fit with you and your lifestyle?
Of course, parents want to get creative and be unique, particularly as there are over 7 billion people in the world to compete with in the name stakes. However, it’s important to think about if your child’s chosen name fits with you and your lifestyle. Names play a big part of shaping an individual’s identity and creating a sense of belonging. For this reason, your child might feel alienated if your family has predominantly traditional names and you choose something much more uncommon. This isn’t a case of being conservative or boring when it comes to name choosing, it’s just recommended that you think about how the child will feel about their name.
Is there a ‘tease factor’ associated with the name?
This is a big worry for a lot of parents and there is a lot of debate as to whether it should be a criteria to consider when picking out names. It certainly should be something parents should be aware of, however it is a good idea not to go too overboard. Kids can be cruel, but they wont go out of their way to come up with unusually inventive name-calling. Whilst it’s worth keeping this in mind, you should also make sure you have ‘tease proofed’ your chosen name as much as possible. This simply means thinking about possible nasty nicknames, whether the initials spell something unpleasant (Peter Ian Goodwin, anyone?) and if it’s something too bizarre.
How will friends and family shorten it?
Lastly, simply think about how your friends and family are likely to shorten the name and if you are happy with that nickname. According to the Siteopia research, a third of people in Britain are known by a nickname, which really highlights the popularity of nicknames. So, if you love the name Charles, but can’t stand the nickname Charlie, you may want to reconsider your name choice.
These are just a few tips on what to think about when picking a new baby name. What is important to remember is not to pay too much attention to what is trendy or in fashion at the time. It goes without saying that fashionable names tend also to be common names, so if you are concerned about your chosen name being too ‘everyday’ then it’s best to simply think about what is right for you. At the end of the day, if you love a name and it feels like the perfect name…then it probably is.
