How To Choose A Baby Name

This is a post by Ellie Jo to help choose baby names.

Expecting a baby can be overwhelming. There is so much to do, from baby-proofing the house to buying a baby crib. Choosing the right name may be the toughest choice of all.  Here are some tips to make the decisions easier. 

Avoid Trends

Your baby’s name needs to stand the test of time. Ask yourself how the name will sound in ten years. Will your child always have to spell or explain it every time they tell someone their name? 

Trends to avoid include misspelled names, random punctuation, pop-culture references, and words names with a spelling twist.

However, it is very important to distinguish between names from different cultures and the invented names talked about here. These are two very different things and should be treated as such.

Remember-Classic Baby Names Don’t Need To Be Boring

When people think of classic names, they think of traditional options, that lots of people are already called. However, a lot of these names can be quite dull, and very common. There are lots of names that have been around for a long time but aren’t quite so common. For example, you could choose something like Ophelia or Celeste for girls, or Miles or Silas for boys. There are classic and beautiful names popular in the African American community too, such as Tiana, Aaliyah, Jaylen, and Malik. 

Look At Your Family Tree

Another good place to get some ideas for a baby name is from your own family tree. Maybe your parents have some records of family names or someone in the family has made a family tree online. Have a look to see if any names stand out to you. There can be something very special about choosing a name that you love and also has strong significance for your family. 

Honor Your Culture

Choosing a baby name that comes from your background is a lovely way to honor your heritage. For example, you could choose Spanish names like Marisol and Javier, French names by Elodie or Laurent, or African names like Cato and Temperance. You can search online for names from your culture or use a baby name generator to help you find some ideas.  

Look Up Meanings

This step is very important so you don’t accidentally choose a name that has an unfortunate meaning that you didn’t know about. For example, maybe you really love the name Giselle but didn’t know that it actually means hostage. You might decide that you really love the name and don’t mind the meaning, but it’s better to make this choice with all the information to hand. Be prepared to laugh it off if someone does question the meaning of your child’s name. It’s also worth checking to make sure the name doesn’t mean anything in slang either. While you’re checking accidental meanings, don’t forget to take into account what your child’s initials will be. Make sure they don’t spell anything unexpected.