What's in a name? Shakespeare seemed to think it wasn't that important but I'd say it does have significance if you are the one being named.
There's the story that says a father named his two sons Winner and Loser. Loser became a detective with the NYPD and Winner became a petty criminal who ended up homeless. It almost seems as if Loser tried to prove his name wrong and his brother took his success too much for granted. Who really knows?
Naming a new life is a pretty heavy responsibility. We have a few questions you might want to consider when picking a name.
- What does the name mean in this culture and in others?
- Do you want a name that is significant to your religion?
- Does the name bring to mind a person you dislike? An ex?
- Is it a family name? Some traditions say you should only use a relatives name in memory if they are deceased while others go with the same name for generations creating Jrs, 3rds, 4ths, etc.
- Do you want to use a nickname? They won't be babies forever. Make sure it's something that won't make them cringe when they're older.
- What well known person will people think about when they hear the name? Is it notorious?
- Is the name sweetly unique, or will it be confusing and tiresome to explain for an entire lifetime?
- Is it a throwback name? Sometimes people think they are choosing an old fashioned name and then are dismayed to realize it's made a hard comeback and there are 4 other kids with the same name in their kindergarten class.
- Is it a gender specified name? Is it neutral? Some people are very against girls with traditionally boy names and even more of boys with 'girl' names. Take this into consideration. Your baby won't be a baby forever and will have to live with a lifetime of presumptions based on their name.
- Do you want a name that is at the top of the most popular list and might not be 'in style' when they get older? Do you want a solid name that has stood the test of time? Or do you want a name so original, no one else will ever possibly have the same name?
In some countries, the name has to be on a list of approved baby names. If it's not or if you're picking a name from a different heritage, you either need to get special permission or pick a different name. Here are a few fun facts about name laws in other countries.
Baby names have always been something that I feel like I wouldn’t be good at, and I was curious as to how you would find one. One thing that really stands out to me is that you say to find out if it is a family name. My dad always told me that I should ask him for names, and it would be nice to have a name that has been in the family for a while.
I was always told, “say the name with Dr. in front of it”, it that doesn’t sound like someone you’d trust to do your surgery, pick another name”. I think it’s a good idea.
My brother is about to have his first kid with his wife. They want to do a lot of research before they pick his name. I liked what you said about how you should consider what the name means in the culture.