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Many parents put months — or even years in choosing their baby’s name. Picking the perfect name can be one of the most difficult decisions parents have to make. And many parents have regretted and feeling ashamed on the baby names they have given to their child. Some fall prey to trendy options and after inking the name to their child’s birth certificate it is already too late to change. While some other parents had to name their kids under the pressure of family tradition.
What are the Top 10 Mistakes to Avoid When Naming Your Baby
Below are top 10 tips on avoid these traps when naming your baby:
- Don’t make your child’s name a joke: You might be tempted to create a “punny” name for your child if your last name is a noun, like Shanda Lear or Hunt N. Chase. But it does your child a disservice when he or she has to live with a name that’s a joke. It’s hard enough to get through elementary school without being teased, but you don’ have to give the other kids an actual reason. If someone laughs when you tell them your potential baby name, then go back to Name Storming! Baby Names Test: ask a couple of kids (5-8 years old) what they think of some of the names on your list. If they scrunch up their face or laugh at the name, maybe reconsider it!
- Take a look at your family tree: A great place to seek inspiration is within your family tree. Perhaps your parents have old records of family names or one of your family members has created a family tree online. Have a look to see if anything catches your eye. There’s something really special about choosing a name that you not only love, but that also has a strong significance for your family.
- Avoid passing trends: Your baby’s name should stand the test of time. Ask yourself: Will this moniker sound completely ridiculous in 10 years, when it’s not trending anymore? Will other children be tempted to chant it in a taunting tone in the schoolyard? Will my child have to spell or explain their name every single day of their lives? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, consider passing on the name.
- Honour your culture: Choosing a name from your cultural background is a beautiful way to honour your heritage. Especially when your baby is born overseas not in your hometown, this will help your child to become interested in their own culture and heritage, and one day when they are grown up, they might feel there is a desire for them to visit where their parents are originally from, and feel proud of their ancestry.
- Search for meanings: This step is imperative so that you don’t end up choosing a name with a meaning that horrifies you. You might love the sound of Giselle, for example, but did you know it means “hostage”? Or that Cecilia means “blind” and Calvin means “bald”? Yikes. You may decide that you love the moniker enough to overlook the meaning, but be prepared to laugh it off when someone inevitably asks you the significance of your child’s name. You could prepare a one-liner such as, “It means ‘blind’, but that felt right because my grandma was blind so we chose it to honor her.” Deliver it with a straight face and watch people’s jaws drop (if you dare).
- Pronounce the name out loudly: Do the first, middle and last names have a beautiful rhythmic flow. Does the full name match to some character or movie star’s name? Clashing names is the last thing you want it to happen.
- Classic names don’t have to be boring: Names like Peter, Paul, Mary, Linda may sound boring. But you can search Google and find dozens of striking appellation to choose from. You may search ‘vintage’, ‘classic’ or ‘pop’ baby names, and this will open your eyes to a vast options of beautiful and meaningful classic names.
- Contemplate all possible nicknames: Brainstorm possible nicknames with your partner or another trusted family member or friend to ensure there isn’t some shocking possibility you’re overlooking. This can avoid embarrassments for your child in school or later in life when someone calls him or her an unwanted nickname.
- Middle name: It is also important to not forget about middle names. This can be simply a name you have chosen because it sounds beautiful or it is a part of family tradition. However it sometimes can be a little boring if the family ttadition has used this middle name for generations. So think carefully whether you are going to continue to use say maybe the same middle name from your family tradition or not. There is no set rules that you have to abide to a Richard or Jane as a middle name for a dozens of generation.
- Don’t stress too much: At the end of the day, a name you choose for your boy or girl should carry some beautiful wishes or/and meanings for him/her, And not a name that can become a burden or embarrassment for your child. However, don’t stress too much when choosing the perfect name, if the worst happens, there is still option to change your child’s name through legal processes after paying some fees.
Popular Baby Girl and Baby Boy Names
Here’s an A to Z list of popular baby girl and boy names:
Baby Girl Names:
• A – Amelia
• B – Bella
• C – Charlotte
• D – Daisy
• E – Emma
• F – Faith
• G – Grace
• H – Harper
• I – Isla
• J – Julia
• K – Kennedy
• L – Lily
• M – Mia
• N – Nora
• O – Olivia
• P – Penelope
• Q – Quinn
• R – Ruby
• S – Sophia
• T – Taylor
• U – Uma
• V – Violet
• W – Willow
• X – Xiomara
• Y – Yara
• Z – Zoe
Baby Boy Names:
• A – Aiden
• B – Benjamin
• C – Carter
• D – Daniel
• E – Ethan
• F – Finn
• G – Gabriel
• H – Henry
• I – Isaac
• J – Jack
• K – Kai
• L – Liam
• M – Mason
• N – Noah
• O – Oliver
• P – Parker
• Q – Quentin
• R – Ryan
• S – Samuel
• T – Thomas
• U – Uriel
• V – Victor
• W – William
• X – Xavier
• Y – Yusuf
• Z – Zachary
These names are not only popular but offer a variety of styles, from traditional to modern, making it easy to find one that fits your little one perfectly!
Healthy Mum and Bub also recommends you to search for your little one’s perfect name from here. It is a great resource which gives you inspirations and meanings of baby names around the world. And of course you can always use our powerful search engines like Google, Bing and Pinterest to cruise your way to find the best name that you wish to gift to your child.
