Choosing a name for your newborn is always a difficult decision. Names come loaded with a host of social and psychological baggage and choosing the right name has never been more important.
Ten Points To Consider
1. A name that is currently very popular will probably be borne by several children in the same class at school. It is probably best to avoid the top ten names.
2. Listen to the sound of the fist name with the surname to avoid falling into the 'Ann Teak' kind of trap.
3. It can help to 'balance' the first name with the surname. If the surname is a common one, such as Smith, a slightly unusual first name is probably a good idea. An unusual surname can be balanced with a more familiar first name.
4. Make sure that the first name, middle name and surname do not form an unfortunate set of initials, such as MAD.
5. Avoid names that begin with the same letter as other members of the family. This can be very inconvenient later on.
6. Remember there is often a difference between what a child is called and what it is named. Make sure you like the pet forms of a name, such as, Rick, Ricky, Dick, Dicky for Richard.
7. Even if you intend to call your child by a pet name, it is probably best to use the full form of the name when you register the birth. This keeps the child's options open. A Catherine, for example, may always be Katie to you, but later in life she may prefer to use a different pet form of her name or the full name.
8. It is probably best to avoid names like Taylor which do not make clear the sex of the child.
9. When you have a name in mind, it could be wise to check with relations and friends that they know how to spell and pronounce it.
10. Inventing a completely new name is dangerous for many reasons; for example, other people may not know how to spell it or pronounce it. There are plenty of well-established names to choose from. A child who has a name other children consider 'odd' may suffer at school.
Before you decide on a name for your child - go out to the back door and shout it out a few times!
