A Philosophy of Baby Naming

I have been thinking about what to name my own child since I was a child myself. The importance of names has always been obvious to me. A name can help to guide one's feelings of identity. It can express heritage, ideals and so much more. Now that I am pregnant, an inner poet yearns to share some of my thoughts regarding the momentous task of baby naming.

Balance Creativity and Tradition
I want my child to have a name that expresses individuality but is not so strange that it will be mispronounced or misspelled on a regular basis. In a social context, what possible nicknames will people give her? What do her initials spell?

Consider the Language
The right name will please both semantic and aesthetic sensibilities. What do the first, middle and last names mean? Research word origins and imagine alternate interpretations. How does it sound altogether? Consider rhythm, repetitions of consonants and vowels, and how the name feels to say.

Keep an Open Mind
It is good to have some ideas, but I don't want to make a final decision until we actually meet the baby. Verification or denial of a certain name could be waiting there in the newborn's face. I imagine a moment of clarity and inspiration, but I am not completely depending on it, either.

Research
Not only have my husband and I been pouring through the family tree, baby name books and websites, we've also been learning all that we can about who our baby is. We know her likely due date, her zodiac sign, her birthstone, her entire family, and even a little of her personality. On ultrasound we have seen her smile and play with her toes. I pay attention to her movements and we try to interpret meaningful contexts like "I agree with what you are saying" or "I wish you'd eat some pizza." Every detail of her, real or imagined, goes into an identity I want to name.

Room to Grow
Who is this child? And how much does who she is now have to do with who she will become? I want a name that will spell out our love for her and hopes we have for her future, while still leaving room for her own directions.

Choosing a name is only one of the many challenging decisions parents must make for their children. We will do our best, of course. And, hey, if she doesn't like it, when she reaches an independent age she can always head to the social security office to have it changed!