You’re expecting a baby and will meet the new love of your life soon. Congratulations!
That also means that you have only a few months to come up with a beautiful name that will be perfect for your little one.
Coming up with baby names can be hard, and although 9 months can feel like an insanely long time, time flies when you have baby shopping, prepping, and baby showers on the agenda.
There are millions of names out there — how do you possibly find the perfect one?
Whether you’re looking for baby girl names, baby boy names, unique baby names, or even unusual baby names, we’ve got you covered.
In this article, you’ll be walked through what to avoid and the super easy steps to pick a baby name that will suit your little one marvelously.
2 Common Baby Naming Mishaps to Avoid
Before you decide on your baby’s name, there are a few things to take into consideration.
While every baby name is beautiful in its own way, some parents have shared the things they wish they would’ve thought of before giving their baby its forever name.
After all, once you name your baby, there’s no going back.
Here are 3 common baby naming mistakes you should be aware of before setting anything in stone.
Initials that Spell Something Embarrassing
The first common baby naming mistake is accidentally giving your baby initials that spell something embarrassing.
If you’ve met someone whose parents didn’t think about what their initials would spell when choosing a name, then you know exactly how embarrassing it can be.
So, when choosing your baby name, spell it out on a piece of paper and then put the initials together.
If it doesn’t spell anything awkward, funny, or embarrassing, then you’ve got a winner.
If it does, the problem can be easily fixed by changing the middle name or even the spelling.
Names of Not-So-Good Role Models or Meaning
Some parents like to research their baby name options, while others care more about pronunciation and sound.
But doing a tiny bit of research before your baby’s birth isn’t a bad idea, either.
The most beautiful names can have some of the weirdest or darkest meanings, and the last thing you want is to find out you’ve named your baby after a word that means “helmeted head” (the meaning of the beautiful baby girl name “Kennedy”).
How to Pick a Baby Name in 9 Easy Steps
Whether you’re due in 9 months or next week, your baby needs a name.
Hopefully, now that you know a few naming mistakes to avoid, your list has narrowed down a bit.
If it hasn’t, then never fear — your ultimate guide to picking the perfect baby name is here.
1. Use a Baby Names Generator
Coming to find the perfect baby name can feel like a daunting task, but with the help of the Internet, the perfect baby name can now find its way to you.
There are hundreds — possibly even thousands — of baby names generators online and free to use. When you use one of these generators, it will give you a random list of baby names from all over the world (or a region that you select) in seconds.
2. Browse Top Baby Names Lists
Another great way to find your ideal baby name is to go through the multitude of name lists on the Internet.
You don’t have to go through all of them but try choosing at least one.
There are lists such as “Top 1000 Baby Girl Names,” “Top 1000 Baby Boy Names,” “Top 1000 Unique Baby Names,” and much more.
If you want to avoid names that are overpopulated but not unheard of, your sweet spot is right in the middle these lists.
3. Ask Your Closest Friends for Options
Who knows, one of your best friends or family members could end up giving you the perfect name for your baby. Asking other people for baby names can be one of the most helpful ways to finally decide on the right one.
Whether you want their votes on some options you already have, or you still need ideas for names altogether, ask the people around you for some inspiration.
It can be as simple as requesting ideas the next time you’re at family dinner or posting the question on Facebook and reading everyone’s comments.
4. Get Inspiration from Media
This tip works especially well for parents who want rare or unique baby names because as you’ve probably noticed, the media is full of them right now.
Celebrities from all over the country are introducing new baby names no one has ever heard of before.
For example, in 2018 Kylie Jenner named her baby Stormi, and Cardi B named her daughter Kulture. Both are examples of unique names that are also relatively easy to spell.
5. Look for Names with Meanings
Regardless of whether you’re a fan of names with great meanings or not, searching for names by their meanings can get you a great list of ideas.
If you have a specific meaning in mind, you can simply look up the meaning you’re hoping to attribute to your newborn. This search should narrow down your list.
The great thing about searching for baby names through meanings is that the lists are short and meet your primary criteria, instead of a long list of a thousand that can potentially add to your already overflowing list.
6. Dig Deep Into Your Cultural Roots
If common baby names in the U.S. simply aren’t doing the job, consider naming your baby after their ancestry.
It doesn’t matter if you’re half-blood Swedish or .0001%, it’s still part of your lineage, and your baby can be proudly rooted in their heritage through a beautiful and unique name.
Considering foreign names can unveil up some beautiful options.
7. Blend Your Top Two Favorites
Your baby might only have one first name, but you can’t forget about the middle.
If you’re indecisive about a few specific names on your list, consider blending your top two to have a first and middle name that you love. Plus, having two names is becoming more and more popular. It might be worth giving your baby two names, allowing you the chance to see which suits their tiny personality best.
8. Pick a Name that Can Have Potentially Good Nicknames
A mom shared in NBC Today’s Facebook page about how her son’s name, Morgan, created weird nicknames like Morgie and Moo, which they don’t really want to use in public. If you don’t want to be in the same situation, consider all the possible nicknames a chosen name could have before closing the deal.
9. Make Sure It Blends Well with the Surname
Unless you’re too lazy to think of a name and just decided to create it by copying the surname like Robert Roberts and John Johns (they did exist!), make sure the name you have in mind should blend well with the surname.
The Killers’ vocalist, Brandon Flowers, obviously has a pretty feminine surname that’s effectively neutralized by his first and second name: Brandon Richard.
When it’s Brandon’s turn to name his own son in 2009, he and his partner chose the name “Gunner,” which he thought was a tough choice to combat the surname “Flowers.” They, later on, changed the spelling and went with “Gunnar” to soften it a bit. Let’s not even forget about his first son, Ammon Flowers. Interesting name combination right?
Choosing a Baby Name Doesn’t Have to Be Hard
Finding the perfect baby name can be a stressful task, even though it’s supposed to be one of the most exciting parts of pregnancy.
Instead of scurrying around in your own brain for ideas, start looking for inspiration in creative ways that make baby naming fun.
What’s your favorite source of inspiration for baby names? Help those who haven’t still decided!
Share with us your tips and baby name recommendations in the comments below.
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