Finding the Best Baby Name

10 Easy Steps for Finding the Best Baby Name

Having a new baby means a lot of preparation. Taking child birth classes, preparing the nursery, picking cloths, changing the arrangement of the whole house and of course coming up with the right name for your child. This might not be an easy assignment. Many different options and opinions, many different reasons for naming them one way or another. So how do you decide?? Here are ten tips to guide you along the way, and help you make the right choice.

1. Start off with making a list. This list will consist of ideas you like, and also suggestions made by others (family members, friends etc.). It is important to keep an open mind while making this list and not reject any name without a second thought. Even if you don't have a warm feeling for one name, and are not seriously considering using it, just having this name on your list might help you come up with new ideas perhaps you will come up with a nice name that sounds similar, maybe you will like that name with a different spelling, and maybe you would like this name when it is combined with the right middle name. Your list should be updated all the time, whenever a new possibility comes to mind. For great ideas to get your list started visit Baby names list. 

2. Divide your list into categories: why is this specific name on your list? Is it there to honor a family member? Is it a name that has a nice sound and good feel to it? Is it a popular name? Is it an original name you came up with? Is it a name which bares great meaning to you or to your culture? It is important to realize there are many different reasons for choosing one name over the other, and with time you may find out some reasons are more important to you than others. When having a categorized list, you might realize some of your favorite names fall into the same category maybe it is time to follow this direction and think of more names in that category.
Some of these categories are now discussed:

3. Honoring family members – naming your baby after a relative.
It is important that you don't feel obliged to stick with any family tradition when choosing the right name for your baby. If you really like a certain baby name, use it. However, honoring a loved family member by passing on his/her name to your child might be a great way of showing your respect and appreciation. You should consult other family members, brothers and cousins, to hear how they feel about it. This will also help avoid a problematic situation in case any of them planned to use the same name, which might be a potential conflict.

4. Popular names a great way to avoid wrong decisions?
The answer is yes. If you happen to like a certain name which is also very popular, you can be pretty sure this name will not cause trouble for your child in the future. A few factors to be taken into consideration:
A popular name means others will use this name with ease and comfort, Also, there will be no problem in finding personalized gifts (t shirts, hats etc.) for your child. They will never have to explain or spell out their name, and it will ease their way to social acceptance.
The main disadvantage of choosing a common name for your child, is they will find themselves surrounded by more people who carry the same name. This might cause confusion, and the use of last names or nicknames will be required in order to distinguish them (a subject discussed later).

5. Choosing an original and unique name
Today more than ever, everyone needs to feel they are not just one of many.
Having a unique name causes one to feel special, unordinary. Whenever they introduce themselves their name becomes a cause of interest. However, this should be done with caution, and with the future of your child on mind. Many children are picked upon because of their strange sounding names. Make sure the name you choose is relatively easy to pronounce and read. Avoid names which might result in embarrassing nicknames.

6. Think about nick names.
Often the name you originally gave your child will be altered and shortened by his friends, and even family. Andrew might turn into Andy, Jennifer could be known as Jen. You should consider whether or not you like these nicknames, since they have a better chance of sticking with your child through out their life.

7. Consider the middle and last name as well
Choosing a first name is one thing. But a nice first name which is easy to pronounce and blends well with the middle/last name might be harder to find.
If you have a very original idea but are afraid your child might suffer baring it as a first name why not use it for a middle name? The combination of the three names should be considered. Can you pronounce them easily? Are the three names somehow connected? It might not be a wise idea to give your child a first name originating in Greek with a middle name originating in Hebrew and an all American last name. Also consider the initials, and make sure they don't spell out anything embarrassing.

8. Avoid names that remind you of people you genuinely dislike
It might be a wonderful name. But do you really want to be reminded of someone you don't care for when you hear your own child's name? Even if it is the perfect name, think twice. You might consider altering the name a little, with a different pronunciation or spelling. This might solve your conflict.

9. It is a good idea to use the internet as a source of ideas for baby names.
The site Baby names meaning contains many tools that will assist you in choosing the right name for your baby. Babyhold.com lists the most popular baby names by year, and also offers many ideas for unique baby names, baby names from different origins, baby names by country ( i.e American baby names, Italian baby names etc) and many baby names lists organized by category. You can also try the baby name list tool, offering a different short baby names list each time, for you to get ideas and inspiration.

10. Go with your heart.
Hearing what others think, taking advice and ideas from others is okay. But if you feel strongly about a name even though others seem to dislike it, use it anyway. After all it is your own personal decision, and if no one convinced you otherwise, it means you should go with it.


Article Source : http://www.articlesbase.com/womens-issues-articles/10-easy-steps-for-finding-the-best-baby-name-64458.html

 

 

Baby Names Meaning

Baby Name Meanings

Speaking as a Michael (a Hebrew name, meaning "Who is like God"), I'm really proud of my name.
And I think that I -- mostly -- live up to the title!


Of course, my mother would probably disagree;  I think the phrase "little devil" would probably pass her lips if she was describing me during many stages of my childhood.
But then, my mother has her own issues;  apparently her name (Kathleen) is a Celtic name meaning "Little Darling".
Hmmm, that isn't the way I used to think about her during those regular occasions when she was punishing me for my "not like God" behaviour...!
And that's the fun of baby name meanings -- parents make naming decisions based on many, many different reasons, including family traditions, religion, culture, uniqueness and "it just sounds really nice."
But -- in the Western world -- we rarely do any real research into the history or real meaning of baby names.


So when the poor/lucky child finally finds out the meaning of his/her "really nice sounding" name, the results can be interesting, ironic, unfortunate or just sometimes hilarious.
You can have a lot of fun thinking up family/friends names, finding out the meanings and trying to make a connection between the two.
For example, my eldest brother Clive is apparently "a cliff dweller", which is coincidental, since he lives at the top of a very long steep hill!
Or why not play the game with celebrities -- consider the following:

• Badu (as in r n'b singer Erykah Badu):  African name meaning "Tenth born child"
• Winona (as in actress Winona Ryder):  Sioux name meaning "Firstborn daughter"
• Aaliyah (the late r n'b singer):  Arabic name meaning "High, exalted"
• Hilary (as in actresses Duff/Swank):  Latin name meaning "Cheerful"

Some cultures have very interesting traditions when it comes to baby name meanings.
For example, Hindu names usually have connections with very positive things such as truth, beauty, happiness, blessings, etc, or one of the Hindu gods.
In the Sikh culture, girls traditionally have the middle or surname "Kaur", meaning "Princess", whilst the boys have the middle or surname "Singh", meaning "Lion".
An African friend of mine once mentioned that many Africans are given a second name corresponding to the day of the week on which they were born.


I think is a really nice tradition, but in my case, my middle name would be "Sondo" (born on Sunday)!!
Hmmmm ...
Whatever type of name you have chosen, or are thinking about for your "bundle of joy", its worth doing a little research into the meaning.
And it's never been easier, with the wealth of Internet resources and books available, which is jam-packed with resources, tips and information on baby names, baby name meanings and baby products.
Your search may yield some surprises;  for example, the lovely-sounding name "Malory" is French and means "Bad luck".
You could get round this by spelling it "Mallory", but this means "Without good fortune" in Old German!
Alternatively, you may end up a little confused by different meanings of the same name;  for example "Leah" is a beautiful girl's name, but what does it mean?
Well ...

• In Hebrew it means "Cow" or "Weary one" -- uugghhh!
• In Greek it means "Glad tidings"
• In Assyrian, it means "Mistress, ruler"

And a final warning: if you are planning to go for a funky, unusual-sounding name, be sure to avoid "Bacia", -- its Ugandan meaning is "Family deaths ruined the home!"

Article source :http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/baby-name-meanings-2413594.html

Unique Baby Names

Tips For Selecting Right And Unique Baby Names

Selecting unique baby names is a big deal. It is one of the most important things that you should consider, and it is by far one of the most unforgettable things that you could ever do for your child.

Most of the parents spend many hours in preparing the nursery, buying baby toys, and other things for their baby, attending child birth classes and sessions without even thinking for what name will they create for their child.

Some parents will decide their child’s name within a matter of seconds after the baby is born.

Selecting unique baby names is very difficult to make. As we all know that unique baby names are representation of the child’s existence and identity.

Your baby will bear it for a life time. So, a well chosen and unique baby names will impart a sense of satisfaction and pride for your child’s lifetime.

Because of this, finding the right and unique baby names is crucial and it is a vital factor on how your baby will be known for the rest of his life. It can be exciting and enjoyable. You should not pick a name that would drive your child to hide in his closet.

While, there are a lot of things to weigh out when choosing unique baby names. It is possible that you have a long list of names before you finally figure out and settle on a particular one.

There are many possibilities to miss the unique baby names, if you have given a chance to choose from out of the tens of thousands of baby names.

So the question is how and what are the most brilliant suggestions for naming a baby that could help soon-to-be parents decide on calling their child? The below mentioned tips are useful for you while selecting unique baby names.

1. Collect the thoughts… ask the expert!

Most of the parents usually settle on a name that first exploded into their minds. Well, it can be a helpful consideration that most names that first came into your minds are the names that you really like for your child. Though, this is not always the case.

Some of you think for a name that sounds silly or funny; most of them don’t even fit with their surnames. So, instead of jumping immediately into a doubtful decision, it is best to collect the ideas first by perhaps asking the experts.

As you already know that, the name choices today are stumbling with over a thousand of common names and these names differ according to sounds and spelling.

So, before you are going to choose unique baby names from these tens of thousands, start doing your homework first.

You can find a lot of unique baby names books in the market. You can also find a number of baby name software programs that could give you ideas on what to name for your child.

You can check out for these software programs either online through those baby name sites or offline through those baby name stores.

When talking about online, the internet is highly available for you to make use of. So if you know how to operate your computer and you have an internet connection, then start using the cyberspace for gathering ideas and suggestions to choose unique baby names.

Note all the names that best appeal to you and somewhere in the middle of your pregnancy start sorting out some of your favorites.

2. Don’t get your skates on! Take your time

One of the worst things that you could do while choosing unique baby names for your child is to hurry into it, thinking that your baby is soon to be born and you don’t have a name yet for him or her.

The idea here is that not to hurry on deciding for a name. Take your time. Nothing is too late.

Don’t forget that settling for the second best may greatly affect you and of course your child for a lifetime. Your child will carry the unique baby names for a life time that you have addressed him or her on his or her everyday dealings.

So if a certain name abruptly popped into your mind and you are not happy with it, then there is no reason for you to commit yourself to that first name.

Do some homework or keep on searching and settle only if you really find unique baby names that you are more than hundred percent happy with. Always remember that there is no deadline for getting a name for your baby.

Some of the parents in fact have been known to wait for about two to three weeks before deciding on the unique baby names.

3. Think for compatibility and consistency

Well, you have started finding the names that you think.

The next thing you have to do is make sure that the unique baby names you chose has a sense of compatibility and consistency.

The idea here is the name’s compatibility in terms of sound with your last name. Start mixing or matching the first name and the middle name along with your last name and see how a variety of combinations appear to you.

Observe that whether the unique baby names sound great or not. Try to say it loudly and ask yourself if the name you picked sounds pleasant to the ear. Remember one thing that your baby will hear that name again and again and you will have to say it over and over again.

A different way to create unique baby names based on compatibility is to use it in sentences aside from saying it aloud. This will give you a better idea of how much you really love the name.

And don’t forget to see whether the unique baby names really look great on a paper or not.

Most of the experts said that, there are names that look great when written on paper, but the truth is, they sound very bad when said.

Away from compatibility with sound, you can also choose a unique baby names based on the spelling. Spelling is also a great matter of concern.

So, instead of focusing just on how the name sounds, try to consider on how the name appears on the paper.

Note that the names that are complicated to spell make your child’s life difficult before he/she entrance to school. The idea here is to consider the vowels and consonants in the unique baby names.

•    If your last name is multi-syllabic, then it is better not to pick a first name with a number of syllables.
•    In addition, don’t select the first name that ends with a vowel if for example your name begins with a vowel and if the name you choose rhymes with your last name, disregard it.
•    Most of all don’t prefer unique baby names that can be spelled as a word or can create an acronym. If that occurs, your child would no doubt be a subject of ridicule.

Along with spelling consider pronunciation of the baby name. Pronunciation is really a challenge and it goes hand in hand with spelling.

If the unique baby names are hard to pronounce, chances are it would be hard to spell. So, never make your child’s difficult life with names that are hard to pronounce and hard to spell.

4. The meaning of the unique baby names is a big matter of concern

Do you know the meaning of your name? If not, then start knowing the meaning of unique baby names. Do you prefer your big, strong boy bear a name that means “pretty flower”?

Consider that though name meaning may sound less important, it does a big deal. So it is then necessary to create unique baby names that contain a positive meaning for the reason that it sometimes be associated with personality or character of your child.

Ensure that the unique baby names you have created for your child has a pleasant origin. So, if possible, try to decide for a name that has positive meaning. Choose the unique baby names that are associated with good qualities and desirable traits that you wish your child may possess.

However, it is not an easy task to create a name that is associated with good qualities or traits.

If you have selected unique baby names that means “kind”, for instance, then it follows that you must teach and show your child the virtue of kindness. Raise him or her up with kindness in your heart, in your mind and in your deeds.

If the meaning of the unique baby names is “brave”, then you should also show the difference between braveness and foolishness to your child for him or her to deserve such name.

How to know the meaning of unique baby names that you have chosen for your child?

You can find hundreds of books out there that contain information about baby’s name and their meanings. Away from this fact, many of websites are out there today that could help you generate unique baby names for your child and find that name’s meaning.

All you have to do for the meaning of unique baby names is, enter the names that you are considering and you are on the way to knowing what those names mean. In addition to this, you can find many online portals that display hundreds of names in alphabetical order with their corresponding meanings.

5. Be real, but not too imaginative!

You may already hear someone saying be imaginative or creative, but not too. This is definitely true while choosing unique baby names. Remember that creating unique baby names is not a bad idea, but to make it with too much uniqueness and imagination may end up your child regretting the name and blaming you in the end.

A name that no one has heard of or can’t pronounce can bring embarrassment. It may also bring unwanted attention to a child. So if possible, don’t be too imaginative when deciding for unique baby names.

6. Think twice while deciding Fashionable and popular baby names!

Popularity of the unique baby names is also a matter of concern while choosing. You must remember that names that are too fashionable are likely to go out of style in the years to come. Choosing the name that is on top of the popularity list may also have certain risks.

Having a name that most everybody around you has, may create some trouble and confusion particularly in schools. Your child finds difficulty with three or more of his or her classmates answering to the same name.

The idea behind this is it is better to avoid the so-called names. Look for unique baby names, but are not too, or simply look for a name that is mid popular and not too trendy.

7. Consider nicknames

It is another important thing to consider, creating a nickname for your child. You have to remember that most children are addressed by their nicknames. So while thinking about a nickname for your baby, always consider what possible nickname can be derived from the first name.

Before you choosing the nickname, again test it for compatibility. Think about the nickname that you chose for your child.

Article source: http://www.articlesbase.com/babies-articles/top-ten-tips-for-selecting-right-and-unique-baby-names-1834060.html

Baby Names for Girls

New Ideas About Different Baby Names For Girls!

Starting with the moment when a couple find that will have a baby girl, they will spend many hours and even days thinking about "how to name the baby?" Some of the parents wish to give to the baby a different name, a unique one. Unique names for girls are usually those that others will observe, but should not think "oh, how unfortunate that your parents named you like this!" A strange name could be sometimes embarrassing and of course, you do not want that for your baby girl. If your little girl will be named uniquely, she will typically be the only one in a class or large group with that name. Maybe she will not be the only one in a large city, but her name will be very special! There are many chances that she will be the only one in a large region with a particular combination of first, middle and last names; unless of course, the last name is very common.

All the parents want that their kids to become successful, smart and happy adults. So much the better the baby's name is a stimulating one! Some parents pick up from a large list of different baby names for girls, to call their baby after a quality they revere. Choosing a unique name with a certain characteristic, can offer you the occasion to name your child according to an important human quality that you find important. Let us imagine that a baby is born in a family of farmers. The main qualities for becoming a successful farmer are strength, sturdiness, endurance and independence. There is an abundance of names that could be given, hoping that the child will succeed his father in the field's work or her mother in household jobs.


The researches over more names etymologies found out interesting meanings to common names, seemingly meaningless:
- Abigail as "source of joy";
- Anastasia as "the one who shall rise again";
- Frederica, "peaceful ruler";
- Hortense, "gardener";
- Phoebe as "goddess of the moon";

Maybe you want that your baby girl to be one of the kids who have a special name in her kindergarten class. Perhaps you have a common name growing with it, but same time desiring for a different one than the most of the people. You also may choose a popular or family name as a first name, but want to pair it with middle rare baby names. For example, you could choose from some different baby names for girls, as Seraphina, Genesis, Evangeline, Brooklyn, Tyger, Choral, Twyla, Ireland, Camisah, Picabo, Natasha, Quayle or Raina. For example, many Scottish surnames have already turned into common usage as first names. Just think to Ross, Keith, Kyle, Allison, Leslie, and Lindsay. Today they are so common that we hardly think of them as being surnames any more. Another suggestion is that you could adapt a last name or names of places like Madrid, Indianapaul, Addis Adeba - maybe with a slightly tweaking of their spelling - into unique names for girls! It is also interesting and nice to choose from the names of flowers, butterfly, exotic plants or even latin names.

There could be a challenge coming up with memorable, different baby names for girls. Unique names for girls could often come across as difficult to spell and pronounce. You just must think that is not about you, but about your little baby girl. Think well to the unique name you search and choose the most proper one but do it with great responsibility!

Article source : http://www.articlesbase.com/parenting-articles/new-ideas-about-different-baby-names-for-girls-4506467.html