A lot of pressure comes with choosing a name for our baby. There are a million options and no official rule book to follow. There are so many potential mistakes to make when it’s a decision that’s so big. We’re giving our kids a moniker that will define them, and the last thing we want is to end up hating the name ourselves, or for our kiddo to hate it later on down the road.
Of course, there’s no guarantee that we will pick the right name, and there will always be the chance that it could be the wrong decision. But there are some things parents-to-be should consider before making the birth certificate official…
Check the initials for any iffy acronyms
We spend a lot of time choosing the first and middle names for our little one. And some families even go back and forth on the last name in their decision-making process. But it’s important to remember to look at the initials altogether. Are they going to show an acronym that maybe isn’t the best? Like William Timothy Fitch or Sarah Olivia Sampson or Evelyn Fiona Fox?
How the initials *sound* together
If the baby name initials aren’t an issue, it’s essential to look at how those initials sound together. For example, Isabelle Carmen, the first and middle name, and Ulmer-Palin, the hyphenated last, would have the initials “I-C-U-P.” While it doesn’t create an acronym for anything, when you say the four letters together quickly, it sounds like someone is spending time in the bathroom.
Is it impossible to spell?
Making sure the name itself is easy enough to spell might help ensure no baby name guilt later. Of course, this isn’t a hard rule. Some great names are more complicated than the ones we always see. But if the decision to use a popular name but flip the spelling is being discussed, parents will want to think that one through.
Check the popularity over the past few years
Many parents check out the popular baby name list to help them choose a name or avoid super-popular ones. Those are helpful, but it’s also handy to look at the handful of years before and any lists that predict what names might gain in popularity. We often see baby names rise in popularity after pop culture trends, such as in the case of “Eleven” or “Arya.”
Google the first name and the last name
Google should play a part in vetting a baby’s name before it becomes official. For example, we often check for the first name’s meaning to ensure it’s not something negative. But we should also check for the full name in Google to make sure nothing comes up in the search that might make us hate the baby name down the road.
Investigate the potential nicknames
Kids can be cruel and creative, so it’s essential to think about that before gifting a name that will cause many issues when school hits. Of course, we can wish for a world where this type of bullying doesn’t happen, but being aware is brilliant, too. Richard will be shortened to Dick, Florence to Flo. And names like Chad or Karen each have negative connotations lately.
What rhymes with the name?
The chances of a kid having their name rhymed in a nickname, whether negative or positive, needs to be considered. And rhyming words are something that even the youngest kids like to pick up on. So Dolores, Bart, Tucker, all of those have a high probability of later feeling some way about the name.
How will the name age?
Some names sound adorable for babies and kids, but those little ones grow up to be adults. So finding a name that grows up with the baby will be necessary. For example, Barbie or Bear might sound good when the kiddo still sleeps in a bunk bed, but how will it look on a business card one day? Still, if there isn’t a meaningful, personal history with the name, it might not grow up with them.
Look into the family tree
Looking back in time and checking out the names on the family tree is a common source of baby name inspiration, and parents should also look at the family lineage even if they have no intention of using those names. It’s possible that later down the road, during a family reunion or something, finding out that the excommunicated uncle from your dad’s side shares the same name as your son might change your feelings about a particular moniker, so avoid it while you can.
How the names sound together
It seems obvious, but sometimes the ones that are so in your face are the rules we forget to check for. It’s important to say the full name out loud to make sure it doesn’t sound like something that’s not intended. For example, Amy Schumer and her husband welcomed a boy named Gene Fisher. His middle name was inspired by their close friend Dave Attel. His full name was Gene Attel Fisher, and when it’s said quickly, it sounds like “Genital Fisher.” They eventually changed his name to Gene David Fisher.
How solid the inspiration source is
Many parents already know that when it comes to choosing a name for their little one, they want to name them after their best friend or grandparent. It’s a lovely gesture, but it’s also essential to ask whether that source of inspiration might someday turn negative. It will not be fun if the tide changes on that one.
