Mommy Wears Heels…

There are hundreds of thousands of names out there… how do you know which is “right” for your baby?  Picking the right name for your child is quite the task. It will stick with them for life, so the pressure is on you and your partner!  I guess you are lucky that in the good ol’ United States, pretty much anything goes.  I mean, come on… Pilot Inspector (seriously, Jason Lee?) and Bronx Mowgli (yes, I am talking about you, Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz). 

With all the name options out there it can be extremely daunting, and at some point, maybe even stressful.  Of course, you’ll regularly be fending off ideas from family, friends and co-workers. My mother hated almost all of the boys names we had picked out and wasn’t afraid to tell me!  Now, it doesn’t hurt to be open to (some) of their ideas, but the decision is up to you, and maybe if he’s lucky, your partner. Don’t be afraid to say thanks, but no thanks!

Where to begin?

Start chatting with your hubby (or significant other) as soon as possible.  Keep a list in your purse or at your desk at work so you can pull it out whenever something might pop into your head.  There are tons of websites out there to help you find ideas as well.  Check out the name finder tools on www.thebump.com and www.babycenter.com for inspiration. 

Now, there are a lot of things to consider when choosing name, such as family name, avoiding embarrassing initials or nicknames and staying clear of any name that has a relation to anyone you or your significant other dated.  No one wants to have a kid named after their husbands’ ex-girlfriend whom their mother-in-law adored and still likes to remind you of.  Here are some helpful hints of what to keep in mind when you are naming that little prince or princess:

• How does the name you have picked out sound with your last name?  The hubby and I loved the name Cole… but think about it… Cole Pipe.  Yeah, not so much!
• Think about the initials.  Might not want to name your little angel Ashley Suzanne Smith.  I have a feeling they might not want to go by ASS.
• Uniqueness: sometimes it’s not all fun and games when there are 5 other Mike’s in your class.  I hated having to go by “Nikki L.” in elementary and junior high because there were 4 Nicole’s in my class.
• Think of relatives and friends.  A lot of people chose to name their kiddies after family members they were (or are) close to.
• Avoid names that rhyme with your last name.  No explanation needed there.  Parker Marker is just not cool.  Talk about getting beat up on the playground…
• Avoid names that could have an embarrassing nickname. Of course, some little snot-nosed third grader could come up with something you never even thought of when you named your kid, but at least try to steer clear of the obvious ones.
• Family traditions could be the thing to do in your family.  If you aren’t sold on having a junior, or even worse, a Joseph James Smith VIII, consider using the first name for a middle name.

Remember, never let anyone pressure you into a name you don’t like. It’s your kid… they either had their time when they named their child, or they will have their chance once they go through pregnancy hell.  This is your time―it’s you and all you!  The most important thing is that you and your partner like the name… who really cares if anyone else does!