Choosing A Creative Name for your Baby
Choosing a baby name can be difficult. At first it seems like a fairly straight forward task but when it comes to settling on the final name there is so much choice and the result is often so final that the task can become difficult. If you are choosing a name before the baby is born and you do not know the baby’s sex then the task is doubly difficult as you need to have made two selections. So how can you make the job easier and more enjoyable? First consider the type of name you want for your child. Are you looking for a unique name? Are you or you’re partner a member of a religious faith and want a name that reflects your baby’s religious culture, are you a member of an ethnic group and want to give the child a name that reflects this background? These are some of the parameters you can set to reduce the search for a name down to a manageable size. You can no doubt come up with other parameters. The next step is to collate some research on names, their meanings, and their origins. Your sources for this material can be wide and varied. The advent of the internet makes this task easy. There is a plethora of websites dedicated to helping you choose a name or do a background study into the origins and meanings of names. Often these resources will list names or allow you to input a name into a search to track down their meanings and origins. If you are stuck for internet access you can buy specialist books or loan books from libraries. Once you have got your research material you can start listing the names you like best or find most suitable. List the name, the meaning and any possible nicknames. Pay good attention to the nick names because any name you choose is likely to be shortened by friends or acquaintances of the child in the future which, if you don’t like the nickname, will lead to endless corrections on a daily basis. Compare your list of names with your partners. Do you share choices or are you completely at odds with one another? Try combining lists and choices, try mixing potential first and middle names to find a choice of name you like and sounds good for both of you. Shortlist a number of options then don’t be afraid to ask family and friends what they think of the names you have come up with. Often they will have an opinion good or bad as to how to name your baby, but remember, the final choice is yours, you can’t make everyone happy. Before you make your final choice, consider how the name will affect your child in the future as an adult. Think about how the name will look on a business card or other business stationery. Does it look professional or like a joke? Will the name be dated and unfashionable or can it stand the test of time? Your child has to live with this name forever so be sure to think of their future.

A Little Creativity in an Old Process of Choosing A Baby Name

Naming your child is never an easy process. Not only is there pressure from your family and friends, but society will also help accept or disprove of the child’s name very quickly. There are so many possibilities and options, like naming it after a loved one, or famous person, or literary icon, etc. But hopefully, above all, there is one thing you will be with the name: creative. Sure a lot of the common names are nice, and you shouldn’t have to look them over just because they are common, but keep in mind there is much more out there than just what you may be familiar with.

First and foremost you have to think about how it will affect the child. Let’s face the facts about this. Your name is one of the first impressions you will have on another person. It may seem that it’s just a word or two, but it can give potential acquaintances and more a look at your family history, culture and upbringings, and tell them just how you might stand in the world.

Therefore you want a name for your child that will stick out in a good way from others. Sure you can’t tell how your child will turn out, what personality and likes they will have, or even if they will like their own name, but you can know how good the name sounds and how people react to it beforehand. You want to find a name that will get them the kind of reaction you think they deserve. Any parent that would want people to react badly to the name shouldn’t be a parent, so let’s only consider the positive reactions.

As a baby, you will probably want people to think “that’s a pretty” name for a girl or “that’s a cute name” for a boy. These are great reactions to have, as they not only tell you that you chose wisely but also that they already are becoming a bit affectionate towards your child. Of course you have to consider what the reactions will be when the child grows up. You want a name that will not get them insulted or picked on by peers in school. You want a name that will make people take them serious in work.

You could go with a classic, simple, overused name that you already know will work, but why? Why make your child one out of ten Rachel’s or Matt’s or anything like that when you already have a good chance knowing they won’t be the only one with the name?

Think of something new. This can be done in many different ways. First, the most simplest, is just finding new ways to spell the name. Sure pronunciation-wise there is nothing new or creative about it, but if the name already means that much to you even though it may be common, you shouldn’t have to at least consider it. Give it a chance and revive it a little for the next generation.

You can also adapt and play with familiar names. Add onto them, combine them, subtract from them. There are so many possibilities. Just keep in mind you want something that will have a positive effect when people hear and read it. Don’t make it too long or too strange. This is also important when you choose a new word to become a name. You want something that could pass for a name, not something that just sounds different. Whether it is in your native language or in some other language you enjoy, using common and even uncommon words for names is a great thing. You could make something new yet familiar to people when they hear it. Maybe its not so familiar or even quite rare, yet has a nice meaning and flow to it.

There is also the opportunity to completely make up the name. Start from scratch, create something truly unique, entertaining, inspiring, positive for your child. You can give them a strong foundation to create who they are. This is not an easy task of course and can be very confusing where to go, but try to at least come up with something on your own. Start with letters you like and syllables that sound good. Even if the name or names you come up with isn’t used, it may help you realize other names that you enjoy and would like to give to your child.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to pitch your name ideas to others. Feedback before the name is confirmed will give you the truth. Most people may not want to insult the child’s name once they are born. It’s a very serious process when you consider all the effects it could have on your child. Hopefully you can make it a fun and creative one too!