How To Choose A Name For Your Baby

In a short post over on andrew-scotchmer.com, I introduced the names both Y and I have chosen for our baby. It certainly took a lot of debate and serious thought but it was worth it and we are happy with our final choice of names. If you haven’t already read that post, why not go over and find out what those names are.

Choosing a suitable name for a baby is probably a couple’s first encounter with what is called “parental responsibility.” Our names say so much about who we are as individuals and can determine how others, who know us by name alone, will perceive and welcome us.

After wading through countless lists and possibilities, I can well sympathize with those who are only now starting to think about a name for their baby. If this is you, I hope this post will offer some help and will assist you in choosing the name your child will carry through life.

There are many reasons people choose the names they do for their child. Some name their children after personal hero’s, such as sporting personalities or historical figures. For others, family tradition may dictate at least one chosen name, where a name has been passed down through generations.

Whether a child receives one or two names is something else that needs to be decided. We chose to give our child two names. I have two names, my middle name is John, but Y only has one being Japanese. We decided on two names as its sounds very international to Japanese ears and it therefore seemed appropriate that our half British, half Japanese child should have an international sounding name.

For the most part however, names reflect the generation into which we are born. Fashions change and with them so do names. What was popular 10 or 20 years ago may not be the case now and what was “in” during your grandparents time may be seen as old fashion today (think of the name Albert or Edna for example).

With this in mind, whether we decide to give our child a popular name or choose something a little different is a personal choice. There are certain benefits with having a popular name. One is that popular names are easy to remember and another is that they are easy to spell. On their own, these benefits may not seem so important but remember that one day your child will be an adult and will need to fill out administrative forms and give their name to others over a telephone or in person. I have an unusual surname and the number of times I need to spell out each letter to someone on the phone, or correct another’s spelling even when they’ve just copied it from a form is unbelievable. Life would be so much easier with common name.

However in saying that uncommon names are not without their advantages. One advantage with uncommon names is that they stand out. They are immediately interesting and make people look again. If you want your child to make an instant impact then naming them with something unusual will give them that edge. This of course can be an advantage when they are older and applying for jobs where the recruiter may only have a C.V. from which to decide upon a short-list for interview.

If I was to give any advice however I would stay away from those names that are common and popular but have the spelling changed to make them different or unusual. These can be more confusing than just having an uncommon name. At least people then expect an uncommon spelling. Having a common sounding name with an uncommon spelling just adds confusion. As I mentioned above, names can give a powerful first impression to someone who as yet does not know you personally. If their first impression is one of confusion, this can adversely influence their later perception of your child. That is why we decided not to choose a Japanese spelling for our choice of girl’s name. It would be too confusing since the name sounds the same in both English and Japanese.

Names are important and should be thought about with care and some forethought. However, at the end of the day, I’m sure you’ll be pleased with your final decision and find pleasure in your choice and I’m confident your child will carry their name, whatever that may be, with pride.

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