CHOOSING A NAME FOR YOUR BABY

By Temitope Rotimi

Naming your baby is one of the most important steps that will be a part of his or her life forever. Some parents pick out names before their child/ is even conceived while some wait till the child is born. Either way, be careful! Picture your child not as a little baby but as a grown-up bearing the name you picked out, would he or she be proud of the name? Check out these few tips that will be really helpful when choosing a name for your baby.

MAKE A LIST

Write down the names you and your partner love. Check for their meanings and correct pronunciations. Start to rule out the names you prefer less after analyzing their meanings, spellings and pronunciations. Next, search on the internet for people who bear the names you have left and pick the one you love the most.

BEWARE OF HIP CELEBRITY NAMES

When you choose to name your baby after a celebrity’s kid, think if it will work for your baby. Rapper T.I certainly had his reasons for naming his daughter Heiress Harriet and so did Kanye West and Kim Kardashian who named their daughter North.

CONSIDER NICKNAMES AND POTENTIAL SPELLING ERRORS

Whether you’re a fan of nicknames or not, your child may pick one up at a point in his or her life. So make sure you’re happy with the long and short form of the name you choose (e.g. Liz or Lizzy for Elizabeth, Mimi or Shelly for Michelle). Also, save your child years of making spelling corrections by simplifying the spelling. Being unique is a good thing but Jasmine is definitely safer than Jazzmyn. While checking for potential spelling errors, also go easy on the syllables. As your child gets older, he or she will have to fill out forms and applications. Giving long first and middle names might just make it frustrating especially if your last name is already lengthy.

INITIALS MATTER TOO

As ridiculous as it might sound, high school kids have a way of picking on these little things. Bruce Anderson Duke is a great combination but the initials B.A.D? Alice Samantha Simon is also an adorable combination, hello bullies!

Parents have the exclusive right to name their children whatever name they choose. These tips might just be helpful when naming your child.

How did you choose your baby names?