I have a not-so-secret obsession: I love baby names. I think about them almost every day. Family members are constantly asking if I’m pregnant because of the sheer amount of baby name books I have. I have a list of baby name choices that I will guard with my life so no one else steals them. It doesn’t help that I also love writing fantasy and sci fi stories- I’m constantly on the hunt for new, unique, but wearable names. Long story short, I’m extremely picky about baby names. Some would even say I’m a baby name snob. Oh well. Here are my tips to make sure you don’t scar your child for life:
-Make it wearable. No matter how pretty the name Anastasiana Neveah Tatiana Belladonna Ravenna sounds to you, you have to think….. Could you seriously give a baby a name like that? Can you picture yourself calling a three month old “Rocky Dexxxter Blaze Savage”? A twelve year old? A forty year old? Probably not. At least, I hope not. Say it out loud. A lot. Start calling your pregnant belly by the name you are going to give your kid. If you can’t stand it for a few days, it’s not meant to be.
-Avoid trends and pop culture references like the plague, unless you can be subtle about it: Don’t name your child Brayden Hayden Aidan Bentley or Katniss #Selfie Beyonce Sherlock.
-Be original, but don’t go crazy: There is a fine line between giving your child the name that 10 other classmates will have, and naming them Contezza Anjelyyna Jaxxon Deziray. Also, I’d avoid any bizarre spellings.
-If you have to be “kreative”, save it for the middle name: there is a current trend of kids having “word” names, like River, Sonnet, Lyric, even “Infinity” and “Ocean” etc. I think it’s a bit kooky, but it’s more acceptable for a middle name.
-The Golden Rule: Think of your child. This is their name, not yours, and they will grow up to be a real live adult someday. They have to live with it every day, and it will be their entire identity. Your pick has to be absolutely perfect. No pressure though.
-Don’t listen to anyone’s advice: if you’ve found a name you love, that you know is THE ONE, even if it’s one of the ones I listed above, don’t let anyone talk you out of it. Unless you’re going to name your child Jezebel Renesmee St. Nikolas Eleven O’ Hara. Don’t do that.