How do I Choose Compatible Baby Names for Siblings?
Parents are faced with the lengthy task of scouring through thousands of baby names from almost every culture, civilization and country imaginable to find the right ones for their children. With so many options, there's little wonder why some parents begin their search for baby names long before conception. Factor in the desire to choose compatible baby names for siblings and the process becomes even trickier. Fortunately, finding interesting baby names isn't difficult if you know how to begin your search.
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Instructions
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Use the characteristics of your first born child's name as a basis for selecting names for younger siblings. For example, if you named your oldest child after his father, consider naming his siblings after other family members or give them a variation of their father's name. If your son's name is John, perhaps you could name his younger brother Giovanni or his younger sister Gianna (the Italian male and female forms of John).
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Keep the naming style consistent with all of your children. If your first child's name is traditional, consider traditional names for his siblings. The same holds true for contemporary names. Names like Henry, Georgia and Luther are compatible because they share a traditional style. Mackenzie, Tyler and Desiree blend nicely because they're contemporary.
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Make the names either simple or complex. Names like Malachi, Evangeline and Christiana are compatible because of the complexity in their spellings and pronunciation, despite not sharing a similar style. Mary, Devon and Gia are compatible because of their simplicity.
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Use either all gender-neutral names or all gender-specific names with your sons and daughters. Your daughter, Billie, may feel inferior to her little sister Angelina or your son, Kelly, may feel embarrassed with a brother named Bruce. Choosing a gender-neutral name after naming an older child a gender-specific one may relay the message that you wanted a child of the opposite sex.
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Shorten sibling names if your oldest has a nickname. For example, if you refer to Elizabeth as Lizzie, refer to Madeline as Maddie. If Thomas is Tommy, William should be Bill or Billy. People often associate nicknames with affection. Shorten names that sound stifling or lengthen shorter, harsher names by adding a vowel sound at the end to soften them. For instance, Angelica becomes Angie or Ange and Ruth becomes Ruthie.
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Avoid cute, matching or rhyming pairs. Jamie and Amy, Carrie and Terry or Tony and Toby may sound compatible but rhyming pairs can make distinguishing one child from the other difficult at school. Children with names that rhyme may not feel comfortable standing on their own away from their brothers or sisters. They may not get a sense of individuality because they're often associated with the other sibling.
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Tips & Warnings
Avoid first and last name combinations that can encourage teasing later in life.
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