Naming your baby is a personal decision, but the choice is affected by family, cultural and social influences. Parents choose names for a variety of reasons.
For example, they might choose a name because it:
- describes the qualities they want their child to have
- has religious significance
- is a family favourite
- is the same of that as a famous person or fictional character
- is the same as that of someone close to you
- is the mother's maiden name
- is traditional
- is in fashion.
Whatever reason you have for choosing a name, you might like to take the following into account:
- choose a name that both parents like
- avoid names that could embarrass your child
- avoid embarrassing combinations of initials
- choose a name that is easy to say
- choose a name that fits with the family name (say it out loud)
- give your child a full name rather than a diminutive, such as Robert instead of Bobby or Katherine instead of Katie. This will give the child the option of using either version
- add a middle name. If your child doesn't like the first name, he/she can use the second
- avoid fashionable names or when he/she goes to school your child will have the same name as six other children in the class
- if you choose a name with a meaning, choose a pleasant one.