4 things to consider when choosing a name for your baby
There are so many things that you need to prepare when having a baby. While a lot of them can feel quite stressful and overwhelming, choosing the name should be a fun, enjoyable process.
That being said, it’s something you want to get right, and getting it right can feel like a bit of a challenge. With that in mind, here are 4 things that we think you should consider when choosing a name for the newest member of your family, whether you’re looking for unique names for boys or girls.
- Meaning
While it’s something that’s often overlooked, the meaning that lies behind a name can be a really important factor for a lot of parents. Some may want to choose a name with a more positive meaning behind it, while others may simply want to avoid a name with a meaning that doesn’t click with them – either way, it’s important to be aware of this.
For example, the name Daren means “born at night”, while the name Naomi means “gentle, pleasant”. Obviously, the meaning of the name won’t be what forms the individual’s identity, but it can be a nice thing to keep in mind.
- Popularity
Another thing to consider is how popular the name is. Some names may be nice, but they may feel slightly antiquated, stuck in another age. Other names may be equally lovely, but you might want to avoid them if they’re particularly popular at that time.
Choosing a unique name can be wonderful, but if it’s difficult to pronounce, that could lead to confusion in the future. At the end of the day, there’s no right or wrong way to approach popularity when it comes to choosing a name for your baby, but it’s definitely something to be aware of.
- Spelling
A lot of names can be incredibly difficult to pronounce and spell – while this isn’t inherently an issue, it’s definitely something to keep in mind. Names that are spelt in a unique way and are difficult to pronounce can be a cause of embarrassment earlier on in life, when a child may not appreciate sticking out from the crowd.
That doesn’t mean you should go with a simple name, that would be a boring way to approach the subject – rather, just think a little about how it could impact them later in life.
- Future implications
Finally, it’s worth considering the potential impacts that the name could have on your child’s future. Names with negative connotations may result in them receiving discriminative treatment later in life, either in the classroom or in their professional life.
Obviously, it’s nice to think that everyone will be treated as unique individuals, based on their individual merits; however, the world is a lot more complex than that, and it’s important to not be overly naive.
By keeping these simple four tips in mind, you should be able to come up with the perfect name for your baby. Remember – this should be a fun process, not a stressful one. Seek inspiration from strange places – read books on the subject and ask your friends for help, and you should be able to come up with some absolutely perfect options.
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