Baby Names - Do's and Don'ts

Here is a list of some of the important do's and dont's related to selecting the right baby name. One example would be - Don't name your baby with terms that have slang meanings related to parts of the human anatomy.

Dont's

• Don't call the fetus Jellybean or Ladybug. Such names stick even after the child is born.
• Don't name your baby after someone you hate or dislike.
• Don't name your baby with terms that have slang meanings related to parts of the human anatomy.
• Check your baby name initials together with your surname. Initials of names like Christopher David Player (C.D. Player) or Annie Sue Stiles could be embarassing.
• Don't make your baby name sound like a tongue twister.
• Consider the confusion involved in naming your child after yourself or someone in the family.
• Make sure to fully research your chosen name, especially if it seems unique and foreign. It would be embarassing to discover later that your child has the name of an infamous character from history or a foreign country.
• Avoid involving your friends in your name search. Their input will only complicate a process that is already difficult with two people. And, in the worst case, someone might 'steal' your perfect name for their baby before you have claimed it.
• Don't wait until the delivery to decide on the name if you want to have any say in the matter. If you do, make sure you're ready to give in to whatever your wife decides. When the baby is handed to you, the doctor or nurse will ask what you have decided for a name. At this point, it is very difficult to argue with a woman who has been in labor for eight hours. Forewarned is forearmed.

Do's

• Use online naming engines to help you throw a wide net for your name search.
• Select the top 5-10 names you like. After your baby is born, you might find the fifth name more suitable to his or her appearance.
• Let the baby's appearance dictate the final choice. Of-course, you wouldn't keep terms like Toothless Wonder or mashed potato in your list.
• Meaningful names or names of historical personalities you admire can help children gain direction in their lives.

Baby Name Meanings

There are a number of reasons why parents select the baby names they do. It could be because they admire someone who has the same name. It could also be because a name is popular at a given time. On the other hand, unusual baby names can be chosen precisely because they have novelty value. Sometimes, parents may even pick a baby name simply because they like its 'sound'.

Baby name meanings, thus, are not always the primary consideration while selecting a baby name. Having said so, it is important to realize that most baby name meanings also have a definite historic or cultural meaning and significance. Here is a list of some popularly chosen baby name meanings.

• Andrew is a Biblical name, which means 'brave' or 'courageous.' Andrew is also the name of the first apostle.
  
  
• Anna is a Native American name that stands for 'mother.'
  
  
• Christopher is Latin for 'one who bears Christ in his heart.' According to an ancient belief, Saint Christopher carried the infant Christ across a river.
  
  
• Daniel is a name meaning 'God is my judge.' It is also the name of the prophet from the Old Testament.
  
  
• David in Hebrew stands for 'beloved.' According to the Old Testament, David was a king of Israel.
  
  
• Elizabeth stands for 'oath of God.' In the Bible, it is the name of the mother of John the Baptist.
  
  
• Ethan is a Biblical name that occurs in the Old Testament. It stands for 'strong,' 'constant,' or 'enduring.'
  
  
• Grace means 'God's favor.'
  
  
• Isabella is a Hebrew name that means 'devoted to God.'
  
  
• John stands for 'mercy of the Lord.' John the Baptist and John the apostle are two Biblical instances of the name.
  
  
• Michael is a Biblical name that stands for 'one who is like God.'
  
  
• Natalie is a Latin name that stands for 'born at Christmas.'
  
  
• Samantha is the female version of Samuel. It can be translated as 'listener.'
  
  
• Sarah is a Biblical name that means 'princess.' In the Bible, Sarah was Abraham's wife.
  
  
• Sophia is a Greek name meaning 'wise.'
  
  
• Victoria stands for 'victorious.' It was the name of a Roman goddess.

Unexpected Baby Naming Issues

Sure, you can wade through 60,000 names and look for the one that catches your fancy. Another approach is to sit down with a glass of wine (grape juice for mom-to-be) and make the following questions into a game. Brainstorm using some or all of these questions and see what kind of ideas they spark.

You may have expended thought and consideration in selecting an appropriate name for your child. However, some things you could overlook may result in your child's name ending up with an unintentional blooper attached to it.

Consider the following points while selecting your child's name:

• Avoid names that lead to cruel nicknames: Accepted, kids will always be kids, and almost any name can be twisted to conjure up an appropriately cruel nickname. However, try to avoid names that obviously lend themselves to a negative nickname.

• Consider your child's initials: While choosing a name, always keep in mind the initials that the name will form along with the middle name and the surname. Write these initials down and check that they do not connote something negative or undesirable. For instance, if your child's full name is Peter Oliver Taylor, the initials will spell out as 'POT,' which may not exactly be flattering.

• Consider how the name will be shortened: Almost all names having two or more syllables invariably get shortened to an informal abbreviation. Consider what the most obvious shortened version of your child's name will be. For instance, its fine when Timothy becomes Tim and Daniel is shortened to Dan, but remember, Madison will be Mad, and Fatima, Fat!