Naming Your Child

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Naming your child is one of the most fun aspects of parenthood. Moms- and dads-to-be cannot usually wait for the final ultrasound results and come up with two sets of name choices should their child turn out to be a boy or a girl.

Naming your child is also the first step to giving him or her identity. Talking to your unborn baby using his or her name brings an overwhelming array of feelings–joy, excitement, and amazement.

How do you start naming your child?

Fun as it is, your child’s name should also be well-thought-out. After all, your child will be living with that name for the rest of his or her life.

Know the meanings of names. Do not just go for a name simply because it sounds nice. Although naming children out of pure whim isn’t technically wrong, most parents will agree that taking time to know and understand baby names is the better way to go. The common girl name Anna, for instance, is biblical in nature and means “He (God) has favored me.” The boy’s name Sebastian, on the other hand, is Greek for “revered”.

Go for names that are easy to learn. Giving your child a name that’s easy on the senses will greatly help him or her make sense of words better as he or she grows up. Names whose spellings are too far from how they sound may not allow your child to understand phonetics just as easily and immediately. As they grow, children will need to associate sounds with words–and having a name that’s simple enough to understand but unique enough to be truly theirs is the best way to go.

Consider culture, religion, and other influences. There are many societies who put a high regard to their culture or religion and believe that naming their children after any of these is a way of starting them off early into the same path.

Foresee how your child will receive his or her name. If you were named Amos or Martha, or Pinky or Collette, would you want to spend the rest of your life using it–from school to work to your official documents? Your child may eventually ask you why you named him or her such. What would you answer?

Resources for naming your child

The Internet. The Internet is a treasure trove of names, classified according to origin (biblical, Hispanic, Greek, unusual, unisex, etcetera) which is convenient and free. Parenting articles online usually consist of parenting tips on child naming as well. Take advantage of this wealth of information and start your very own list.

Search baby magazines and books. If online information can get overwhelming for you, opt for books and magazines with parenting articles. Chances are, you’re going to stumble upon useful parenting tips from industry experts and fellow parents. You’re also assured that the information contained in these publications are updated and correct. This is also recommended for parents who cannot always go online and would prefer to have their handy book with them for reference.

Join a network of parents. Looking for like-minded individuals is fairly easy if you have a big family–your siblings and their respective spouses, or else your friends who are expecting their own baby as well. You can seek groups that gather expectant parents every week for some sharing. You will find this therapeutic, enjoyable, and helpful as you learn from others’ experiences.

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