Naming babies
6/01/2010

Naming babies is a very important step when you become a parent.

Why is it so important? What are some considerations when coming up with a name?

Here are a few things you want to keep in mind:

A name lasts a life time

Your name will usually stay on your ID card or driver’s license for your whole life. The only exceptions are pen names, pseudonyms and artist’s names. Plus you may marry and take on your spouse’s last name. But your first name usually stays the same.

Social interaction based on names

A name often determines how a person will be treated by peers based on cultural background and location.

Make sure that the name you choose for your child is socially acceptable. Calling your kid Engelbert when the going names are Chris, Mike, etc, might not be a good thing. Your beloved child might become subject to teasing and bullying based on your decision. Friends of mine were considering the name Trashana for their baby girl at one time, but they quickly changed their mind, because the spelling implied a very undesirable nickname of “Trash”. They ended up giving the baby a very nice sounding Hawaiian name that seemed just as beautiful as their newborn child.

A name usually has a certain meaning

It has maybe not been published or scientifically proven, but have you ever found that a person you know acts exactly according to the meaning of the name they are being called? It’s very intriguing! I selected my kids names not only, because I liked the sound of them and they matched the last name, but also because they have a historical and cultural meaning to them, based on patron saints and nature of the word they are derived from. So your child may be associated with honesty, integrity and trust, or you might have one that is associated with having a crooked nose or something else interesting. There are many cool websites that let you choose baby names by meaning or you can look up the meaning of names you like. So go online and try it!

Your child will have to write their own name in school

Once your kids go to school they will be required to be able to write their own full name. So the less complicated the spelling of your child’s name is, the better for him or her. If you choose a longer name, it will be easier, if it can be abbreviated. So Timothy can be Tim and Robert can be Bob, for instance. If you opt for a longer or unusual name though, personalized wooden name puzzles, such as available through Mooo.com.au, are a great way to help kids learn the spelling while playing. Since kids learn visually at an early age, you can also use personalised canvas art featuring your child’s name for kids’ room decoration.

Nick names and abbreviations

Will you want to use a full name or be able to abbreviate or use a nick name?

There are many ways to abbreviate names, but there are also some that can’t be abbreviated. So be careful what name you choose, especially if the name is rather unconventional. As mentioned above, some names and spellings can imply certain nicknames you wouldn’t choose on your own.

Honoring the family

Would you like to honor relatives by giving their name to your child? Would you like your child to have a ‘the third’ added to their name to continue the family tradition and carry on a lasting legacy? It is not as common these days, but surely a nice way to recognize your heritage. My son carries his father’s name James as a middle name, while we call his dad Jim. Some names that are being carried forward are a bit old-fashioned, so make sure that it benefits your child in today’s society.

All in all, what’s in a baby’s name can have major significance in later years and through adulthood. So, just like the knight said in the Indiana Jones movie “The Last Crusade”: “choose wisely”!

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