Baby Naming Tips
Choosing a baby's name can be a difficult and daunting task, one that many parents leave until late in the pregnancy or after the child's birth. Some parents have difficulty finding a name with meaning, while other couples have trouble agreeing on a name. There are many steps that expectant couples can take to choose the ideal name for their baby and make sure that they both agree on the choice.
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Finding Baby Names
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Expectant parents can look online and in baby name books to find the names that the like the best. Often, it is possible to search for baby names by their meaning, allowing parents to choose a name that they feel is special and describes their baby. Baby name websites and books provide parents with thousands of options for both boys and girls, along with gender-neutral names. Some parents may also wish to name the baby after a close family member or friend. Parents should consider whether they want to use a popular or uncommon name, along with which letter they'd like the name to start with. For some parents, it is also important to choose names from a certain world culture.
Considering the Options
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Parents can make a list of all the names that they like, along with the meanings of the names. While making a list, it helps to think of possible nicknames for each name and decide whether the nickname is something that they want their child being called. Parents should also think about any possible ways that the name will affect the child through school and through life; choosing a name that can be easily made fun of or sounds too childish may trouble the child later in life. Many parents also like to make sure that the name sounds nice when paired with the family's last name and that the initials go well together. Parents with more than one child often discuss whether the name works well with the names of the other children in the family; some families like to starts each child's name with the same letter, or simply coordinate names with similar sounds or origins.
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Negotiating Between Parents
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Both parents should play a role in choosing the baby's name. They should both sit down and discuss which names they like and which of the choices they disliked. Negotiating helps both parents to decide on a name that they would both enjoy calling their baby. Some families negotiate by allowing one parent to choose the first name and the other to choose the middle name. Both parents should also agree on the spelling of the name before the baby is born, to avoid the risk of mistakes on the child's birth certificate.
Putting the Baby Name to Use
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During the pregnancy, both parents can begin to refer to the baby by the chosen name. This will help them to decide whether they are happy with the selected name or would like to choose something different. Parents can talk to the unborn baby through the mother's abdomen, using the chosen name. This helps the baby to become familiar with not only his parents' voices, but also the sound of his name.
Celebrating Baby Names
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Families can celebrate the name that they've chosen for their baby by sending out baby shower invites and birth announcements that highlight the infant's name. Personalized baby items that show the infant's name are available online and in many baby stores, allowing parents to decorate the nursery with the baby's name or initials. When the baby is born, parents should use her name often when speaking to her as this will help her to quickly learn what her name sounds like.
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References
- Photo Credit Baby image by annettregh from Fotolia.com
