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A Baby's Name is a Lifetime Gift

by Benedict Smythe

Parents can get carried away in thinking of names to call their baby even before birth. Due to the excitement, parents tend to formulate names from the ordinary to outlandish forgetting that the name which they will bestow to their child will be a lifetime gift. So before your child ends up with a name that he or she may either love or hate, read on some guidelines on naming a baby to avoid the latter.

Pick a name that you like

It is important that the child's name conveys happiness. Avoid names that will bring images of sadness, anger or unpleasant events.

Choose a nice-sounding name

Practice saying a name with the surname. Listen for peculiarities in sound which may end up being used to tease your child in school in the future. Likewise, avoid names which spell out unpleasant or improper words when initials are put together. It is also beneficial for your child to have a name that is easy to pronounce.

Do a research on the meaning of a name

A child will definitely appreciate a name with a lovely and positive meaning.

Be aware of possible nicknames

Just like the formal or real name, the possible nicknames that people may give to the child must be thought of well. Play with the letters of the name to come up with potential nicknames. Choose a name with possible nicknames that you like.

Think about the baby's gender

While it is easy to set your mind on a girl during the early signs of pregnancy, you might just end up with a boy. So be sure to think of possible names for a girl and for a boy. Getting too attached with a girl's name can lead to disappointment when a boy arrives instead. In some cases, names can be used for both genders so that must be considered also.

Consider naming after a family member

Some families carry the tradition of naming babies after older family members. Others choose to name a baby after the mother's mother as a sign of respect and love.

Keep the spelling simple

In an effort for uniqueness, some parents complicate the spelling of simple names not realizing that the child may find it troublesome to keep on spelling his or her name every time. It is more advisable to keep the spelling simple and easy to remember.

Decide whether to use popular or unique names

A popular name is easy for people to spell, recognize and remember. However, your child may find it frustrating to share the same name with a number of people in one group. A unique name, on the other hand, creates recall and the story behind it may be the start of a conversation and making friends.

To help parents decide on baby names, various websites provide a list of possible names for baby girls and boys. The names are provided with meanings or origins. Popular names are also listed. Baby name books are also available in bookstores. With a variety of sources to research on, it has become easy and fun for parents to find a beautiful name to go with a beautiful child.

About the Author

Grunty's day care nursery is a long established Nursery School based in Blackpool. Grunty's is part of Partington's Holiday Centres

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