After news of pregnancy has spread, family, friends, and colleagues often ask what the name of the child will be.
Even when the gender is still unknown, most parents already think of a girl and boy name in advance in order to be prepared.
It might sound simple, but it can actually get overwhelming because you’re essentially deciding something that will potentially be used for life.
The best way to look for inspiration when naming your baby is to do a quick search for top baby names online, like the ones in a list posted previously here on The Parentian.
That being said, here are some other factors to consider when choosing a name for your baby.
1. Think about its meaning
Lots of parents look at the meaning behind their chosen baby name. The name of your baby can symbolise a very significant time in your life.
For instance, if you’re having a baby for the first time, choosing names that mean “one” or “new beginning” may fit well for you. You may also look into memorable events that happened or an activity you started doing during the pregnancy.
Local places, like London and Camden, can also be great options to honour the heritage of the child.
2. Observe the name trends
Checking out baby name trends may also aid parents who are coming up with zero ideas on how to name their baby. Entertainment Daily revealed the top baby names in the UK for 2018 so far, which can surely help soon-to-be parents in their quest.
Of course, you don’t have to strictly follow the trends either. You even want to avoid them. You could try combining two names in the list or experimenting on different variations if you want it to be a bit more unique.
3. Consider how your child will feel with the name
Creativity is good and welcome, but sometimes, it could get out of hand. The Baby Name Wizard author Laura Wattenberg shared her number one tip for parents naming their baby and she said, “Stop and pretend you’re naming yourself.
If you’re starting out in your life today, is this what you would want to represent you?” Go for names that are easy to spell, is not difficult to pronounce, but is still unique and meaningful overall.
4. Make it a team effort
Bounce off your baby name options with your husband, family, and friends because they may also have something valuable to add to the table.
There’s no need to feel obligated to take all of the options into consideration. It can be quite overwhelming as is. If you have strict naming traditions in the family, Baby Center suggests compromising by adding a second name.
5. Just keep an open mind
The perfect name can also come at the most random moments. You may be discussing a totally different topic, and suddenly you hear a word that sounds like the name you want your child to have.
There’s no right or wrong way when naming your baby, and there’s no surefire formula either. At the end of the day, parents always seem to know when it’s ‘The One’.
