What's in a name?

Mon, 07/07/2008 10:31 AM | Supplement

Picking a baby's name is a monumental task has a huge impact on the future and well-being of your child. A name will determine how an individual will be addressed all of his or her life, and many cultures of the world give their babies both first and second names.

While surnames are inherited, given names represent the thoughts and feelings of the name giver, as well as his or her expectations for the baby. According to Alfred J. Parker, founder of the Kabalarian philosophy, names could even be the single biggest factor holding back personal and business success! For this reason, parents should always so choose names carefully for their children.

Here are just a few baby-naming ideas to get you started:

Step 1: Brainstorming

* Popular vs unique: Choosing a popular name means there will be many other children in your community with the same name. This may make a child feel not as unique. On the other hand, a name no one has heard of (or one too difficult to pronounce) can bring unnecessary attention to the child. One balancing act is to choose a familiar first name if your last name is unusual, and vice versa.

*Initials and nicknames: People, especially kids, can be cruel when it comes to nicknames, so try to anticipate any potentially embarrassing ones. Be aware of what your child's initials spell, and find a name that's difficult to make fun of. A child called Dorian, for example, will most likely be teasedby his friends, but the derision will still be a lot more tolerable compared to someone called, say, Adolf or Judas.

*Meanings: Almost every name has a meaning. Although no one is likely to treat Ingrid differently because her name meansdaughter," the derivation of your child's name may be something you want to consider in deciding between favorite name choices.

*Ancestry and heritage: Family history often comes into play when naming a baby, as do religious preference and traditions. A child's heritage is an essential part of who he or she is, and a family name can be a wonderful way to tie the younger generations to the past. If you have to use a family name that youhappy with, consider using it as a middle name.

*Pronunciation and spelling: This is an important factor to keep in mind with unique names. Apart from initials, it's also a good thing to sound your baby's name to make sure it goes well with the last name. Often, longer first names work better with shorter last names and vice versa.

*Significance: Do you have a favorite singer, actor, author or celebrity? Consider their names as an inspiration. Other fertile hunting grounds include history (figures from the past you admire), literature (a character from a favorite novel, etc.) or favorite holiday places.

Step 2: Narrowing it down

After getting to be creative with your naming options, it's time to narrow that long list down to a manageable size. Some things to consider:

Which names sound good when said aloud?

Which names still sound good when said repeatedly (say, 100 times)?

How unique is the name and how is it spelled?

Are there any names that carry a negative connotation, or remind you of another person you know who drives you nuts?

Another essential step is to talk to family and trusted friends to find out what they think of your potential names. They might even be able to alert you to aspects of the name that you hadn't considered. Ask yourself and your partner the following questions:

Can you both live with the name?

Will you be able to stand hearing it repeated so many times for the rest of your (and the child's) lives?

Step 3: Name intuitively

Despite the long list of names you've compiled, most of the time it is the baby itself who will point you to the right name. All you have to do is lay eyes on the newborn baby and there you'll find the name you've been looking for! Remember that aside from being a fun, joyful and exciting experience, baby-naming is also the first of many important decisions you'll be making as a parent, all of which is best done instinctively.

- Compiled from various sources by
JP/Andrea Tejokusumo

Comments (0) | Post comment

A | A | A |