Learning that you are about to become a parent is both exciting and a little frightening. This little miracle will soon appear into the world, needing a name. While most parents do the responsible thing, choosing a unique name but one the child can pronounce and spell, some parents go way over the top. If you are expecting a new member of the family, we suggest you consider a number of things prior to choosing your child’s name.
Remember, there is certainly nothing wrong with choosing a fun and even unusual name but try to remind yourself of the child and his or her future associated with that name. For one thing, you want to choose a name that is pleasing to hear and one that goes well with the last name. Now, if you have a girl, she will likely get married and the last name won’t really matter. However, the first and middle names should flow. In addition, consider the acronym of the name. For instance, if you were to name your child Paul Earl Edwards, then his name would spell “pee” of a girl would not do well with the name Paula Irene Gilbert or Pig. You can be sure he will be teased in school.
Any name that could cause teasing should be avoided. Although names such as Sunshine and Daisy are relatively common, other names we’ve seen in the media such as “apple” leave us to question why. In other words, look beyond the cute baby to the teenager in school. A boy or girl walking around with the name Diamond or Honey may find fitting in difficult. Obviously, you love your child and want to give him or her, the best possible chance at life.
Trendy names are fine but again, they will go out of style, leaving your child with an unwanted or embarrassing name. Remember, babies are cuddle and small so names like Chubby or Dimples could be used as nicknames but to carry those names through adult life is simply cruel. Then, think of any ways the name might be shortened that could cause problems. Finally, try to keep with somewhat common spellings. To be unusual, some parents will choose the hardest way to spell a name, which only causes confusion for the child and frustration for the teacher. Sure, you want to enjoy naming your baby but this is a lifetime commitment so take time to choose wisely.