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There are infinite choices when it comes to naming your baby, but you need to make the right one. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re finally asked to name your new child. That’s why it’s important to do your research and plan in advance to avoid any last-minute confusion or stress. As long as you feel confident in your choice, you’ve made the right decision. That being said, you should avoid some mistakes when naming your child! Here are five mistakes to look out for when naming your baby!
1. Avoiding popular baby names
A lot of people in recent years have been looking to find unique names for their babies. This is because names like William, James, and Mary feel overused and boring. Growing up as one of five other Ashleys or Johns can be annoying, definitely, but that doesn’t mean we need to shy away from common names. Popular celebrity names and historical names might actually be the perfect fit for your child!
If you like a name and feel it’s a great fit for your son or daughter, it doesn’t matter if you’ve seen it on all the Top 10 lists of names! Sometimes, choosing a name that is too unusual or unique creates another problem where the child has a lifetime of correcting people.
2. Using traditional middle names
There’s nothing wrong with using a traditional middle name. Middle names like Ann, Grace, James, and Lee are all common middle names, and they might fit your child or family. When paired with a traditional first name, these middle names can get boring and repetitive. You have a lot of freedom when it comes to deciding the middle name of your child! Consider a unique alternative which complements a more traditional first name. While Margaret Ann isn’t anything to write home about, Margaret Faye or Margaret Daisy are memorable and beautiful!
3. Keeping the name to yourself
It’s worth taking names for a test drive if that makes sense. While you might think you’ve decided on the perfect baby name, you might not realize other people can’t pronounce it. You shouldn’t be afraid to ask your close friends or family for their opinion on your name choice. If you’re worried about asking those close to you, consider an online chat group where you can ask for feedback in an anonymous setting.
4. Choosing a name that is too gender-neutral
There’s nothing wrong with a gender-neutral name. Recently, these names have made a major comeback and more kids are named things like Taylor and Rowan which can be unisex. The issue with these names comes when they’re too-masculine or too-feminine and it’s impossible to know the sex based on the name at all. In these cases, sometimes it’s worth choosing a feminine or masculine middle name to balance things out. It still might be confusing and challenging for a child growing up, so use these names with caution.
5. Worrying too much about the rules
Finally, sometimes you just have to follow your gut. If you feel a baby name is a perfect fit, it’s okay to commit to it even if it breaks all the rules of naming. Only you can decide what name is right for your child!
Naming your baby the perfect name
Names make up much of a person’s identity. Having the right name can lead to a more successful life, research shows, so it’s important to take this task seriously as a parent! As long as you’re confident in your name choice and you’ve given it a lot of thought, your baby will have the perfect name. Follow your intuition, and don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself when making this choice.
