Check out all our name lists in the other blog section! 

How do you choose your child's name? Part 2

Choosing a name for your child... easier said than done! There are thousands of beautiful baby names, endless name lists, and plenty of apps to scroll through for hours on end. And then, of course, you also have to agree on it together. 😉

Do you have a few favorite names, but you still have your doubts? Hopefully, these 10 tips will make it just a little bit easier to choose the perfect baby name.

How do you choose a baby name?

A good baby name suits your child and your family. When choosing, don't just consider what you like now, but also the combination with the surname, initials, possible abbreviations, pronunciation, and meaning of the name.

And perhaps most importantly: you both need to have a good feeling about the name.

Ready to shorten your list a bit? Here we go!

10 tips for choosing a baby name

1. Remember that the name will last a lifetime

That sweet little baby will one day be a toddler, a teenager, and eventually an adult man or woman.

So try not to just imagine the name for a cute newborn, but also for someone who is 18, 35, or 60 years old.

Still like it? Great! Then it can stay on the list.

2. Say the first and last name out loud

This is such a simple trick, but it really works: say the full name out loud.

And not just once. Just say it a few times a day. That way, you'll naturally hear whether the first and last names sound good together.

Pay attention to the rhythm and length. For example, a longer first name can sound really nice with a short last name, and vice versa.

3. Check the initials

This is surprisingly often forgotten.

Write out all the initials of your chosen baby name and see what they spell. Some combinations can unintentionally form an abbreviation or word that you hadn't immediately thought of.

Also take a look at the rest of the family. When several family members have exactly the same initials, it can sometimes be confusing with things like mail.

My husband's parents hadn't fully considered that, haha. 😉

4. Check a self-invented or unusual baby name

Invented a name yourself or created a creative variation of an existing name? Super original!

Just Google it to be safe before you fall completely in love with it.

For example, check whether the name doesn't suddenly mean something quite different in another language. You might think for months that you've found the perfect name...

5. Think about possible nicknames and abbreviations

Many first names eventually naturally lead to a nickname.

For example, Rosanne can become Roos, and Benjamin might become Ben or Benji.

Do you love the full name, but get the jitters about the most obvious abbreviation? Take that into account when making your choice. Ultimately, you have no control over how friends, family, or later colleagues will abbreviate the name.

6. Look up the meaning of the baby name

Many baby names have a beautiful origin or meaning. It's nice to look into that during your search.

Perhaps the name refers to strength, love, happiness, or light. Or maybe the name has a meaning that suits your family or story perfectly.

It doesn't have to be the deciding factor, of course, but it can give a name just that little bit extra. 🤍

7. Original is fun, but also think about your child

An original baby name can be really fun. Especially if you'd rather not choose a name from the top 10.

But also try to think from your child's perspective.

Will the name probably have to be spelled out every time? Is it clear to others how to pronounce it? And is the spelling unnecessarily complicated?

Being unusual is absolutely fine. But your child will have to use the name for a lifetime.

8. See how often the combination occurs

Do you have a common surname like Jansen, De Jong, or Smit? Then it might be nice to choose a slightly less common first name.

That way, the full name will be a bit more distinctive.

The other way around works too, of course: with a very unusual surname, a simple first name can be just beautiful.

9. Pay attention to the transition between the first and last name

Say the full name slowly again.

Does the first name end with the same sound that the last name begins with? Then the two names can blend together a bit.

That doesn't have to be wrong at all, but listen carefully to see whether you like the sound of the combination.

10. You both need to be happy with the name

Perhaps the most important tip for choosing a baby name: you both need to have a good feeling about it.

You don't both have to be completely in love with it from the very first second. Your love for a name can grow.

But what if one of you really dislikes a name? Then we would say: move on to the next one. 😉

After all, you're going to say, write, and hear this name very, very often.

What if you're torn between two baby names?

Have you finally narrowed it down to two names after all the lists and tips? Then leave them both alone for a while.

Try using the names separately in your mind for a few days. For example, say the full name out loud and write it down as if it already belonged to your family.

Sometimes you'll suddenly notice that you keep coming back to the same name.

And what if you really can't decide? Then you can, of course, wait until your child is born. Sometimes you only need to look at that little face once and you suddenly know:

Yes. You are a ... 🤍

Choosing the perfect name for your child

Ultimately, there is no formula for the perfect baby name.

Consider the sound, meaning, initials, pronunciation, and combination with your surname, but above all, don't forget your own feeling.

The most beautiful name for your baby is ultimately a name that suits you. A name you say with love and hope that your child will find just as beautiful as you do later on.

And be warned: as soon as you've found the name, it will be very, very difficult to keep it a secret for months. 😉

Love,

Maaike 🤍