Throughout your pregnancy, you will encounter people asking when you are due, whether you know the sex of your baby, and perhaps most importantly, what you plan to name the baby when he or she arrives. What to name your baby is not a decision that you will make lightly. Looking through a book or website of baby names brings up thousands of possibilities, and nearly everyone you know offers suggestions. Narrow down your list of potential names and choose the one that is perfect for your new bundle of joy.
Step 1
Look in your family tree. If there are any family names that you may consider, write those names down. Also consider any names that you've heard in passing, names of acquaintances and names of people that you once went to school or worked with. Write down any that appeal to you.
Step 2
Look through baby name books and websites to find out the meanings of the names that you are considering. If you have a particular meaning or characteristic in mind, try typing that into a baby name finder, including Think Baby Names website, for suggestions.
Step 3
Say all of the names that you are considering out loud with your last name. Also, look at the initials to be sure that your child will not be embarrassed when he is asked to initial documents as an adult.
Step 4
Talk about the names that you are considering, recommends Babies Online. Running your choices by your family and friends can help you to gauge what people's reactions will be to your baby's name. If you are sure what name you want to use and do not want to be swayed, however, it may be better to keep your name choice to yourself to eliminate unsolicited opinions.
Step 5
Look up how popular the name is, suggests Adoption.com. If the name was in the top 10 or 20 names for the past several years, consider whether you want your child to have three or four other children with the same name in her class. On the other hand, if the name is very unique, people may have never heard it before and may ask questions about pronunciation or spelling throughout your child's life.
Step 6
Make the final decision when your child is born. Don't feel rushed to settle on a name before you see your child, says Babies Online. You may look at your child and decide that he looks like he should be named something other than what you have already decided on. Be open to changing your mind if it feels right to you.
Tips and Warnings
- Think through how you will spell your child's name, suggests Babies Online. Trendy or unusual spellings may cause your child grief as an adult. Also, while you may call your child by a nickname throughout his childhood, it is best to use a formal name legally so that he can go by a more adult version later.
Things You'll Need
- Baby name books
