How to Create Baby Names Using the Parents' Names

What to name your son or daughter?

You're having a baby! The nursery is ready, the car seat purchased, the gifts from the baby shower ready and waiting to be used. All that's left is the naming. This may seem a bit overwhelming, since the options are endless when it comes to deciding what to name your child. People take inspiration from everywhere: characters in books and movies, song lyrics, favorite relatives, Biblical names, even sports heroes. But the time-honored method of naming children after their parents is still going strong as well.

Things You'll Need

• Parents
• Baby

Instructions

1. 

   Naming a daughter after her father is an option.

   Use the father's name. This works for both sexes. Naming a daughter after her father is an option, whether by passing on the actual name---giving girls masculine names such as Ryan, Avery, Devon or Jude is popular---or by using a feminine version: Lucy for Lucas, Eddie Mae for Edward, Nikki for Nicholas, Denise for Dennis, Allana for Alan. Naming a son after a father has long been common, although to avoid the confusion of having two people with the same name in the house, the son is often referred to by a nickname: Junior, Robert Jr., RJ or a similar version.

2. 

   Consider using the mother's maiden name as a first or middle name.

   Get inspiration from the mother's name. Naming a daughter after her mother is less common than it is for the opposite sex but is still an option. The daughter could also be named a shortened version of the mother's name: Ella for Gabrielle, Lexi for Alexandra or Annie for Joanne. Another trend is using the mother's maiden name, done usually so that the mother's family name won't be lost. This technique can be used for boys and girls. If the name doesn't work for a first name, consider using it as a middle name: Carson, Fletcher, Elias, Sullivan, Alvarez, Harmon.

3. 

   Give children names that start with parents' initials.

   Use both parents' names. This creative option can be done in several ways. One way is to do combinations. Stephanie and Andy: Sandy. Veronica and David: Rhonda. Mickey and Danielle: Michelle. Paul and Esther: Peter. Or, give all the children first and middle names that start with the mother's and father's first initials. If you want names that are more unique, try the inventive technique of seeing what names can be created using some or all of the letters in both parents' first names.

References

• Parentdish: Naming Baby After Dad--Classic or Showy?
• Namenerds: Boys' Names Into Girls' Names