Many of us have the perfect baby names picked out by the time we hit fifth grade. But what happens if you aren’t one of the “lucky ones” that made up your mind well before puberty? Or what if your spouse completely derails your plan and vetoes all of your favorite baby names because they are “too girly”?
Don’t let the baby naming blues get you down! Whether you are totally stumped or just can’t come to a compromise with your spouse, here are a few tips that you can use to pick out the perfect name for your bundle of joy well before he or she born:
- What is your baby naming style? This could be where you and your spouse fall into a disagreement. Perhaps you are a traditional namer who likes Michael or Jessica. Your spouse, on the other hand, maybe a trendy namer who prefers newly popular names like Leonardo or Harper. Try to come to a compromise between the two by choosing a unique, classic name that you both can agree upon.
- Consider a gender-neutral name. If you are waiting to find out the sex of your baby until it’s born, why not consider a gender-neutral name for either sex? A gender-neutral name can be strong and unique and work for a boy or a girl. Examples include Robin, Evan, Ashley, or Reese.
- Think about your inspiration. Many people are happy to name their baby after a beloved family member, like a grandmother who has passed away. Or perhaps your religion can inspire you to name your child after a saint or after a character in the Bible. Baby names are often much more meaningful if they have inspiration behind them.
- Think twice about nicknames. Today, there are no rules when it comes to baby names. Many people choose a longer name specifically for its nickname, like Ben for Benjamin. But who says you have to name your baby a longer name first? More and more couples today are naming their baby a nickname instead of a longer name that will be shortened later. Examples include Bo, Jess, Jodi, or Katy. Think outside of the box and don’t be constrained to a longer, traditional name when you could use a shorter version instead.
- Consider an unconventional name. If you keep going back and forth between old favorites like Jennifer and Alexander, consider an unconventional name instead. It may be difficult for people to pronounce or understand an unusual name at first, but unusual names are easier to remember. Why not name your baby Ireland, Althea, Griffin, or even Selma?
Photo by ElisaVarelaT
Well if couples cant agree for a name because of these and that, why not try to break their own names and make it one. It if sounds great then so be it. It’ll even make your child proud when he or she grows up because he or she’s carrying his or her own parents name. Just please spare your child if it turn out that the result of both of your names sound weird or something. You dont want your child carrying the shame for the rest of her life would you?
I agree– spare your child the humiliation that will certainly follow a “unique” name. Don’t get too crazy with it. Each of you make a list, compare the list, give it time to sink in and maybe a compromise can be found.
Yes I agree that baby names should be unique and short. My daughter’s name is sara. Thanks for sharing an interesting post.
when you name your baby, also consider how she will feel about her name, will people joke about her name, will it be too common that she may get a problem with name duplication or will it be too long that she’ll have a hard time filling up form, etc.
Keep it simple and have a good meaning behind it. with our baby we gave her 2 short names, we decide each name.