Baby Names: 6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Choosing One

Deciding on what name to give your baby can seem overwhelming. Often parents and other family members have very strong ideas about what names are appropriate and what names are not. Unfortunately, some parents later regret the name they have chosen or wish that they would have put a little more time into choosing the perfect name for their baby. A name is forever, and it can make a huge difference in how a child or adult is perceived by others. Below are 6 questions to ask yourself before deciding on a name for your baby.

Is the name too common or too unique?

More and more parents are opting for unusual and creative names for their children and fear sticking to more traditional names. Choosing a name that is too unique can backfire, however, and it is always a better idea to consider the long term effects of the name you choose. While a traditional name might not help your child stand out in the crowd, a name that is too unusual might result in your child always needing to correct others or explain the meaning or origin of his or her name.

Will the chosen spelling make the name unrecognizable?

Perhaps you have decided on a somewhat traditional name, but to spice it up you have changed the spelling in some strange or unique way. The problem with that idea is that no one else will ever spell the name the way you have written it on your child's birth certificate. You might be setting your child up for a lifetime of spelling corrections and mispronunciations.

What will my child's initials spell?

Want to name your daughter Abigail Susan Smith? You might regret that choice one day when your daughter sees her initials printed out for the first time, or when you go down to monogram that lovely travel bag you just bought her for Christmas. It is important to make sure that the initials your child will carry around for the rest of his or her life do not spell out something you would prefer not to see in print associated with your child.

Will your child have a nickname?

This might not be an important factor to you at the moment, but chances are that if the name you choose does not have a nickname associated with it, one will be created for your child - and it might not be to your child's liking!

Is my child's name easy to make fun of?

Keep in mind that kids will be kids, and that part of being a kid is to tease other children. Is the name you are considering for your child one that just screams out to be made fun of? Does it rhyme with a common taunt or can it be easily modified by young children into something just catchy enough to draw the attention of bullies?

Will my child like her name when she gets older?

Some names are cute for toddlers, while others sound nice for teens. Is the name you are considering something that will grow along with your child? Perhaps you might want to consider choosing a name that has several variations that your child can pick and choose from as she gets older. Examples: William (Billy, Bill, Will, William) or Rebecca (Becky, Becca, Rebecca)