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The Great Baby Name Debate
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by: Claire Kolarova
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Winifred or Willow? Thomas or Troy? The name you
choose for your child will last a lifetime. Whether you're looking for
something original that will stand out from the crowd or a traditional name
that people will instantly recognize, choosing a name for your new baby is
a huge responsibility.
It goes without saying that you as the parents must like the name. Names
that hold bad associations for you are out (Jeremy was a bore at school,
you can't stand Bella in the Tweenies), and if you consider your own name
uninteresting, you may wish to choose something more exotic - or vice
versa.
Think carefully about combinations of first name and surname. Are they
compatible? You may like a mixture of an unusual first name with a more
familiar surname (Zara Phillips), but be careful about rhyming the two
names - Mark Clarke won't thank you for it. Beware initials that could
cause hilarity to your child's future friends - Ethan Thomas or Peter
Oliver Ogilvie won't be joining in the giggles! Trying to be clever can
also cause grief - Poppy Fields or Summer Winters may sound cute at the
time, but can eventually grate on everyone's nerves!
If she's called Grace, will she turn out to be butter-fingered? Will
Maximus grow into a Mr. Puniverse? Is Jordan a boy or a girl? What will
Elizabeth grow up as? Lizzie? Beth? Liza? And as for Ashleigh, Ashley,
Ashlee, Ashlea and Ashlie - all in circulation at the moment - how is
anyone supposed to find a name that is both special and appropriate?
Fortunately, sources of inspiration can be found everywhere. You can avoid
the throng of Chloes, Emilys, Jacobs and Jacks topping the baby name charts
for the past few years, and choose from a huge variety of names collected
in specialist books and on the Internet. Some parents prefer biblical names
- Rebecca, Abigail, Joshua, Samuel and Joseph are all very popular at the
moment. Names inspired by nature include Blossom, Lily or Skye and even
Tiger for boys. Place names (Paris, Lamorna), colours (Coral, Ebony),
astronomy, music, and sport - all provide a wealth of ideas and choice.
Naming twins presents its own set of challenges. You may wish to link the
names in some way using the same first letter (Jack and Jill?) or a theme
such as Liberty and Faith, or even similar names like Leo and Eleonora.
However, you might end up having two very independent children who don't
wish to be connected by name as well as birthday. A less obvious connection
involves using different names with similar meanings such as Columba and
Jemima (both meaning dove), or Jonathan and Matthew (gift of God).
For those of us who still haven't decided even when the stork delivers, the
arrival of your newborn may give you all the inspiration you need!
Christmas babies often appear as Noel or Noelle, Natalie or Natasha,
nighttime births produce star inspired names such as Stella, Esther or
Sterling, and for thankful parents after a difficult birth, Nathaniel (gift
of God), Abigail (father's joy) or Miranda (wonderful) might fit the
bill.
So whether you plump for Clifford or Condor, Harriet or Harmony, above all
have fun choosing that special name - and with careful thought, your child
will grow up bearing a name you can all be proud of!
About the Author:
Claire Kolarova is a busy
mother, teacher and webmaster. Visit her baby shower
games pages for more ways to celebrate baby!
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