The Name Game

Posted by mamas

Posted: May 11, 2008 - 10:02 pm

Naming a baby is not a task to be taken lightly. This person will have to live with this name for their whole life. I believe that what you name your child will have a huge affect on them. I know, it sounds crazy. But I have seen people who have been mocked because of their name or respected because of it. I know people who have hated their name their whole life and have decided that it will never fit their personality. Other people seem to grab hold of a name as part of their core and not just a title.

Naming a child is nothing like naming a pet. The sheer responsibility of the task weighs on me even now. There are many things to consider. The meaning of a name has always been an important factor to me. My own name means “victory” and there have been times in life where I needed to remember that a crown of laurel was placed on the head of a victor. It became a root encouragement to me during my wobbly teen years and solidified into identity with time, one small victory after another. So with our own children, I believe that the meaning of a name can play an integral part in their lives.

The debate of traditional names verses modern or creative names continues nation wide. Naming trends tend to circulate back through over the decades. Currently there are several dominant themes such as Celtic names, fantasy names, or made up names. Then there is the issue of a how a name will sound when it is fully pronounced. Typically there is a first, middle, and last name. But sometimes there are several middle or last names or even titles that will be included in the official naming records.

These days, it is a good idea to do a web search of the name that you have in mind, prior to cementing it on a birth certificate. Some names, when “googled” may bring up websites that you would not want your child associated with. Often parents would like their children to be able to have a website in their own name eventually, but many web domains have already been claimed.

Personally, I tend toward names that create poetic alliteration when put together. First letters that are the same, make for a strong sounding name in my opinion. But I also like the ones that have a certain syllable pattern that just rings with completeness when spoken aloud. There is no guarantee that your child will like the name that you pick, but they do deserve to know that you seriously contemplated this matter prior to settling it on paper.

When looking for naming inspiration, parents turn to a variety of sources. The traditional name books now are more specific with advertised topics such as “modern names” or “unique names”. Even more popular are the giant baby name websites where one can shift through seemingly endless possibilities for hours. There are still those who will look for more traditional naming solutions, such as a family name or a Bible name. Others work to conjure up a never-before-heard name from the recesses of their mind. We currently reside in an “anything goes” society, where a simple whim can become a new name.

My husband and I have been throwing names out into the air for the last several months. Usually one of us will suggest a name and the other will play devil’s advocate. We will test to see if it’s something that could easily be shortened, and if so, would other children view it as an unsightly name and mock the child? Do we like how it sounds altogether? Does it reflect our family? Is it going to suit this baby perfectly? We don’t know. Some parents actually want to wait and see their baby first to find out if a name would be a good fit. However, we like to have the name pre-picked so that we can speak to the baby by name while in the womb.

Once you find that perfect fit, you do not have to seek the approval of others. Many parents just don’t tell anyone until the name has been finalized, while others want to give relatives a chance to get use to the name. Either way, you should be sure that you both like it, and then stick with it. Enjoy the fulfillment that comes with bringing a baby into the world, and with it, the naming rights.

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