Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 2: Brainstorming Options
• Part 2 of 2: Choosing a name
• Tips
• Warnings

Looking for a special name? Approach this question in a sophisticated way and you can give your child a name to be proud of.

Steps

Part 1 of 2: Brainstorming Options

1. 1 Decide if you want a traditional, popular, or unique name. Consider carefully whether you want your baby's name to stand out or be casual and stylish; stood the test of time or was catchy and solid.
2. 2 Consider personal history and traditions. Your family may have special traditions in choosing names. In some families the son is named after his father, others have special "schemes", for example, the names of all children must begin with the same letter. Whichever tradition you choose, make sure each child feels unique and has a unique name. For example, by naming the twins Ira and Kira, you may face great difficulties in the future.
3. 3 Write a list of names you love, people you respect, names that have special meanings, etc. You must do this with your partner. Compare the lists - are there names that both of you like? Maybe your partner likes a name that you hate. Cross out the names you don't like and add the names you like to the list. These lists are likely to change over time.
4. 4 Think about your heroes. Role-playing characters, be they real or fictional, can be a source of inspiration. The name "Hermione" suddenly became popular with the advent of the Harry Potter books. If you admire Mother Teresa, maybe Teresa is one option. Of course, keep in mind that some heroes are considered controversial and some are not culturally appropriate.
5. 5 Be careful with ethnic names. Unfortunately, a name that stands for an individual or is somehow related to discrimination can make life difficult for a child and make it difficult, for example, to find a job.But it could arouse pride in the child's parentage. So choose carefully.
6. 6 Be wary of names inspired by your personal beliefs. In many ways, this is a great way to reaffirm your religious beliefs or your hopes for a child (joy, faith, grace, and so on). But sometimes the child grows up and it doesn't suit him. He or she may or may not convert his or her name. For example, Bogdana - this name may seem very awkward to her!
7. 7 Ignore the rules! A safe, traditional, good-sounding name is good and correct, and perhaps the most desirable for most parents. But there are so many unusual, unique and original names, so the choice is yours.

Part 2 of 2: Choosing a name

1. 1 Remember that your child will carry this name throughout their life. This is your first present for your little one, so this is something special.
2. 2 Make sure it's a name that you both like. Try saying your child's name over and over to see if you get tired of listening to him. As a parent, you will have to say it very often.
3. 3 Consider gender. In the modern world, names are often both masculine and feminine.
   • Do not use a name that is usually of the opposite sex to your child. Your son named Katya, Dasha or Anya cannot be happy if they call him a girl on the very first day at school.
   • Historically, male names have tended to be more acceptable to girls (such as Sasha). But by name alone it may not be clear whether your child is male or female, and this can be confusing.
   • Some names are gender neutral (such as Chris, Dakota, River) or sound like masculine names, but can be written in a feminine manner (Alex, Alexandra). These names have their own problems and advantages.
4. 4 Please note that the child will become an adult. Will his name sound good as he gets older? A very important factor is whether the name will age beautifully. What suits an infant or small child may not fit an older person. Will you burn to imagine an adult named Coco? Or a pensioner?
5. 5 Make sure the first name matches your last name well. You probably don't want your first name to end with the same letter that starts your last name (eg Eva Anderson, Phillip Piper, Roger Ryan).
6. 6 Think how it might sound short. Many people shorten their first names and you have to choose one that you like and that at the same time sounds good with your last name, for example, Richard Wykes sounds good, but what if they call him Rick?
7. 7 Don't ignore spelling. Sometimes there are several variations of a name and different spellings of the same name. Spelling a unique name will help your child stand out, but can be a headache when it comes to correcting people and documents! Plus, your child may never be able to buy something because of their name.
8. 8 Consider if you really want your children's names, especially if they are of the same gender, to have the same initials. When they get older and the letter arrives, for J. Smith, how do you know if it's for Josh, Jack, James, or Jordan? While many families do this and are content ...
9. 9 Try a greeting test. Finally, once you've narrowed the circle for your first name, introduce yourself as your child using only your first and last name. Will this name be able to grow with the child? How will it sound for a future employer? Lucy may sound cute, like a baby's name, but how will it sound to a CEO?
10. 10 Decide in advance what time you want to choose a name. Some couples wait until the baby is born, while others announce to relatives, friends, and anyone who asks right away when everyone already knows about pregnancy.

Tips

• Check your name through the "bully" test. Come up with a rhyme with whatever comes to mind, look for hidden words in the name, etc. Ask the older child to help you if you can't think of anything. Children very quickly come up with strange associations to names and use them.
• Search the name on Google to make sure it is not associated with any big names of co-opted strippers and pornstars.
• How do name, patronymic and surname sound together? While a name may sound good on its own, things can change when you add a middle name to it.
• If you have a family tree, try browsing the list of names or try talking to relatives for new ideas. Even your grandmother might come up with a great idea.
• It is also not recommended to call your children by names such as: Emerald, Ruby, Opal, Forest, Ocean, River. (Although some families do this.)
• It is desirable that the name is well written and sound.
• Look at the initials - if there is anything offensive in them. Ponomarenko Ustin Konstantinovich can turn into an abbreviation unpleasant for a child.
• Remember, your child can always enter a short name on the birth certificate. For example, Alison could be Alice, Nikita could be Nick, Anna could be Ani, Emily could be Em, Samantha could be Sam, and so on.
• If you're picking names for twins, check to see if they sound good to each other, because you're going to say them together often. But at the same time, aren't they too similar? This will prevent them from developing as separate individuals. Twins Alexander and Alexandra will never forgive you! Just like Josie and Jody, Charlotte and Charlie, John and Johnny.
• Probably the best advice is to have multiple name variations ready. When the baby arrives, your fallback may become the main one. Sometimes the name just goes well with the child!
• If your surname has become the target of many jokes (Dubina, Fool, etc.), do not give children names that underline this surname. For example, Emelya is just cruel.
• Choose short names for long surnames and vice versa. A long name will look and sound strange with a long last name
• Try inserting "aunt" or "uncle" before the name. If your child has siblings, he is more likely to face this issue.
• If you have already matched the first name to the last name, it’s time to check how it sounds with the middle name. You may be very surprised at what it sounds like when combined with a middle name and a surname.
• Go to special sites to check the popularity of your chosen name.
• Do not give your child several "short names" at once, as this can lead to confusion. For example, do not call Lena Alena when she is young, and so on.
• If you've chosen an ethnic name from your country of origin but aren't sure how it would fit in with another culture, ask your husband, a cafe waitress, a shop assistant, or a neighbor to say the full name. Aifi, Padraig or Sadhb may be common names in Ireland, but they can also pose a danger to your child overseas. Come up with a short version, for example, Anya (Aifi) or Sanya (Sadhb.). You can choose a name that is associated with your home country, like Kerry, Patrick or Erin. Please be aware that in some places such names may distinguish your child as a foreigner or 'fake' when the child returns to their home country. Also, choose a name that translates easily into your native language. Mary can live her life as Mary and become Mary only upon her return "to her homeland."

Warnings

• DO NOT just give your child the initials of their first name. He will constantly have to explain that "A.I." don't really mean anything.
• Don't give your child a negative name.Your name Hitler can create problems later in life.
• If you want to name your child after a physical trait they are likely to have in the future, such as beautiful green eyes like mom and dad, make sure the child is not ridiculed for it. For example, if you call your red-haired daughter Ginger, she is likely to be ridiculed in the future, associated with a South Park character.
• Check your initials, and make sure they don't create any awkward / inappropriate word. For example, although Yegor Stepanovich Pastukhov may sound like P.E.S.
• Be careful when naming your child after a celebrity or movie / show character. For example, Maxim, if your surname is Galkin.
• Be careful not to place expectations on your child about their name. If you name your child after your grandparents, keep in mind that he will not become the same as any of them.
• Be careful when choosing a name that is too old-fashioned for your child, like Francis or Hildegard.