Choosing a baby name can be a daunting task for new parents. Thinking too much about the effect your child’s name can have on their life can lead to serious anxiety for future mommies and daddies. But we’re here to help! Read on for tips on how to choose a baby moniker with ease and, hopefully, lessen any worries you may have about naming your little bundle of joy.
If You’re Really Stressed, Find Out the Gender
If you’re a naturally anxious person or couple, one way to narrow down your name choices and make life easier for you is to find out the gender of your child. It’ll cut your research time in half! Or, take a look at our list of cute gender neutral baby names.
Think About What Matters to You
Are you and your spouse both diehard Bruno Mars fans? Are you religious and attend church weekly? Thinking about your lives and what matters most is often a wonderful jumping off point to how you’ll approach naming your child. By the way, the name Bruno is German and derived from brun, which means “armor or protection.”
Consider Your Last Name
My last name is part of the reason my parents went with simple first names for my siblings—our full names are Katherine, Elizabeth, Anne, Matthew and Margaret, or Kate, Beth, Annie, Matt and Meg for short. Paired with Oczypok, it makes life a lot easier as we often spell our last names at least once daily.
Think of Extended Family
Are there grandparents or great-grandparents that you’d like to honor? This article offers some excellent ways to creatively honor loved ones. One idea is to use a name with shared sounds—think Willow Smith, named after her father Will Smith. Also, for a more subtle way to honor a family member, use the birth month they were born in. If your grandmother was born in June, there’s an idea for a name!
Utilize Meaningful Places
Think of the city you got engaged in. Perhaps you attended college together in the same town? It’s no coincidence that names like Dakota, Cheyenne and Savannah are growing in popularity. Choosing a name based on a location that has sentimental value can be an excellent declaration of your love for your child.
Be Wary of Trendy Names
Don’t forget, names that are popular today may not be next year (or next week for that matter). If names like Blue Ivy or Apple sound cute to you today, consider what your child will think of the name as he or she gets older.
Consider Using a Last Name as a First Name
If you want to be a bit more unique in your baby name choice, try last names as first names on for size. It has recently grown in popularity with names like Anderson, Brady and Campbell especially taking off. We also think it might have something to do with news anchors like Anderson Cooper and Campbell Brown.
It’s Perfectly Okay to Wait Until They Arrive
If you’re a laid-back couple, or the type that believes in seeing a face first, it is perfectly fine to wait until your son or daughter arrives and then take things from there. Sometimes an Annie may look more like a Bentley or a James may be more of a Beckett.
It’s Also Perfectly Okay to Not Listen to Anyone Else
Does your mother insist your child be named after her grandfather? Or perhaps your father is adamant your future little one be named after his favorite movie growing up. However ridiculous or out-of-this-world crazy the requests and suggestions you receive are, just remember that choosing your baby’s name is ultimately up to you and your partner—no one else.