How to name a baby is one of the first and most important decisions expectant parents face. How you choose a baby name is something that varies between parents, depending on personal preferences, family history, religion, culture and much more.
Choosing a baby name becomes more complicated when parents disagree on specific baby names or types of names. One parent may want to choose a baby name that they consider classic, while the other parent may want something more trendy.
Parents’ relationship with their own names can also play a role: If a parent grew up with a rare baby name and doesn’t like to stand out that way, they might avoid an unusual name. But what if their co-parent grew up with a common name and wants to give their baby a unique name?
It’s also important to consider a name’s popularity in a given year and how naming your baby one of the most popular names in the school years could turn out. (Olivia and Emma top the charts for girls these days, and Liam and Noah are the most popular for boys.) Even if you like a name, won’t you feel comfortable if your baby might have a few friends with the same name? It’s a matter of personal preference.
TODAY.com consulted four baby name experts for their top tips for choosing a baby name.
How to choose a name, tip 1: Look at the stars
Maressa Brown, an astrologer and author of the book “Raising Baby by the Stars,” advises parents to look to the zodiac and choose a baby name that is consistent with the personality traits she believes match their birth sign.
“You may want to consider your baby’s birth astrology when choosing a name. Your due date can give you an idea of their sun sign, which can set the tone of your child’s name,” she tells TODAY.com.
“For example, if you’re expecting a little Libra, you can look for names that are graceful and reference the air sign’s priorities, such as peace, harmony, and connection.
‘And if you’re not quite sure about a name before the baby arrives, take a look at their full birth chart for more information, which could lead you to the most suitable name. You might discover that even though their sun is in an air sign, several planets were moving through water signs at the time of your child’s birth, so a sea-inspired name is actually the best choice.
How to choose a name, tip 2: Trust your intuition (and that of the one who gives birth)
Colleen Slagan is a baby name consultant and the founder of Naming Bebe. She wrote in an email to TODAY.com:
“Go to the delivery room prepared (that’s not necessary). the one chosen, but limit it to a few), trust your gut and make sure your partner knows that the person giving birth to the baby has a 51% share in the decision ;)”
How to choose a name, tip 3: Say it out loud
Sherri Suzanne is the founder of My Name for Life and a New York-based baby name consultant who provides hand-picked name recommendations to expectant parents around the world. She tells TODAY.com that parents should choose a name they can introduce with confidence.
Practice saying, “This is our son___” or “This is our daughter_____,” she suggested.
“When parents introduce their children with confidence, children also learn to introduce themselves with confidence – on the playground or in the office.
“Whether baby name candidates are very traditional or very creative, parents need to take them off the page or screen and say them out loud in real-life circumstances,” says Suzanne. “I ask parents to imagine if the name was theirs. Can you say, ‘Hi, I’m ____?’”
She also suggested parents ensure that the first and last name pair do not form jokes, rhymes, puns or phrases. Don’t forget the middle name either.
“Parents may be enamored with long-lost vintage names, or they may prefer modern choices, such as a word from nature or a meaningful place,” she says. “In either case, I recommend taking special care to ensure that the final selection can be said out loud confidently and comfortably. After all, they will say it often.
How to choose a name, tip 4: Limit yourself to a maximum, not downwards
Laura Wattenberg, founder of Namerology and author of “The Baby Name Wizard,” tells TODAY.com that her top tip for choosing a baby name is the opposite of how most people approach the task.
“Rather than making a list of names and then finding reasons to remove them from the list, focus on what you like about each name.”
She added: “You can talk yourself out of anything. Instead of limiting yourself, limit yourself and you will see which name rises to the top.”
This article was originally published on TODAY.com
