How to choose your baby’s name

Having trouble choosing a name? These smart tips will help you choose a baby name that is unique and suits your baby perfectly.

Choosing your little one’s name is an exciting task, as you are giving a baby their first gift — a name. However, many parents feel a lot of pressure to choose the best name. To ease the stress you may feel, we’ve created a handy find baby name. As you browse our baby name guide, keep the following tips and tricks for choosing a baby name in mind:

1. Discuss wants and needs

It is important to know what you want in one name Baby names vary greatly, as do parents’ expectations. You and your partner should discuss the basics of setting up a foundation such as:

• Want to honor a loved one? If so, does it have to be the first name or will the middle name work? What do you think about using a variation? (eg: Lucia instead of Lucy)
• Would you like to tie into your legacy? If so, you can search our baby name database by girl name origin or boy name origin.
• Are baby names off limits for you?
• How important is nickname potential?

Discussing your feelings from the beginning can avoid problems down the road and helps promote compromise so that you and your partner can eventually choose a first name that you both love.

2. Look for Inspiration

If you’re ready to hit the ground running but aren’t sure where to start, check out our baby name lists for a wide variety of names. We have a range of exclusive listings, from Biblical names for boys to unique names for girls. Each list includes options that vary in popularity and provenance, so there’s something for everyone’s tastes.

Another strategy is browsing popular girl names or popular boy names to see which names and styles catch your eye. If you like a certain sound, you can also check out the most popular baby names with letters.

Or, choose to sort your results by recency or all-time popularity. Of course, you can always browse the baby names in alphabetical order as well.

But if you really don’t know where to start, try the “Surprise Me” feature, which features a random assortment of baby names. You never know: He might introduce you to a new and unique first name.

3. Step outside the box

You might think you only like modern names like Paisley and Kenzie, but a vintage favorite like Sadie or Minnie might win you over.

It doesn’t hurt to check out others origin either, as the wonderful names come from all corners of the globe. You might love Lily, but hate her popularity. Why not consider it Polynesian Princess Leilani? They are similar in sound and have the same floral roots, meaning “heavenly flower”.

4. Explore the meanings

Every name has a meaning and exploring is a great way to find a name you love. For example, if you like strong boy names but you don’t like obvious choices like Valor, you might love Ethan since it means ‘endurance and strong’. In fact, there are hundreds of boy names that mean loud. With our database, you can search by meaning and narrow results by gender, syllables, origins and more.

Meanings are also a great source of inspiration if you’re looking for something to suit your child — or children if you have twins. If you have a lively little one in the womb, a first name meaning ‘life’ like Vida or Eva would be perfect. Likewise, if she’s calm, Salma or Arina could work—both mean “peace.”

5. Think about your Last Name

It is important to ask yourself a few questions, such as:

• What last name(s) do we use?
• Does it eliminate any contenders? For example, you might want to avoid Michael if your last name is Jordan.
• Should you avoid any names that start with a certain letter to avoid offensive initials?
• Should you aim for a certain number of syllables to avoid the name feeling too clunky? You can search our collection by number of syllables if needed.

6. Limited candidates

Be sure to note down every candidate you come across, as you’ll likely face a veto or two from your partner. Once you both have a decent number of options on your lists, try these exercises to test them out:

• Say the first and last name together.
• Write the names by hand.
• Introduce your child using each option. (eg: “This is my daughter, Kylie.”)
• Practice calling your child by name from around the house.
• Use each name as if you were in a job interview. (eg: “Hi, I’m Alexander Johnson.)

Each exercise brings the name to life in a different way and can eliminate any names that don’t feel “right” for your little one. This can also be a useful way to choose from top candidates if you’re stuck between two or three names.

How to resolve name disputes

Sometimes the conflict occurs when you review your lists. Maybe you don’t want to name your daughter after his favorite car, Chevelle, and it’s not sold on your choice, Isabella. Can you settle for Isabel or just Belle? Maybe Cherie or Chanel? You could also agree to use your preferred name as your middle name.

If you’re still stuck, consider solutions like:

• Discuss together the pros and cons of each name. Whichever name has the most advantages wins.
• Use each name for a day in the chat. Sometimes this helps to emerge a clear winner.
• Reach out to family and friends for information. Sometimes strangers can point out things you missed. (Example: You like Bonnie, but your son’s name is Clyde.)
• Declare no winner and eliminate both names if you both dig your heels in. Sometimes starting over is the only way to move forward.
• Guess the baby’s birth weight or height. Whoever is closest without going over wins and gets to use their favorite baby name.

When to decide on a name

Choosing a baby’s little name is a huge milestone, but it doesn’t have to happen at any particular moment. Some parents have a name chosen before conception, while others may wait until they see their little one for the first time on Labor Day. Both are valid ways to name your child. Bottom line: Enjoy the process and don’t rush it.

Should you reveal the name?

Deciding on a name is an intimate process. You are free to keep the name private or shout it from the rooftops. Either option is acceptable.

If you are under pressure to reveal the name, consider the following:

• Can you handle views? Seemingly everyone has an opinion on names and sometimes people can get hurt by what they say.
• Will they be satisfied if you just give the original? (Example: Baby M)
• Can you reveal the first name and keep the middle name private? This can reduce the pressure on you and give you a chance to refine your selection.

Most importantly, don’t feel forced to share the name if you don’t want to. Even if you know the final choice, you’re free to shrug and say you’re waiting to meet the baby.