by M. Ranard, M.Ed.
730 words
“Names matter immensely.
They tell the world in one stroke a lot about you and your family.”
~Jennifer Griffin
Are you or someone close to you expecting a baby? Congratulations! Choosing a name is one of the most thrilling and potentially stressful duties on your long list of preparations. Stressful because names matter!
Expectant parents today are much more adventurous in terms of naming their children. There are endless trendy, traditional, Biblical, and unorthodox picks to choose from, yet it still seems many parents remain reluctant to break away from the pack in choosing a name for their baby. That’s why maternity floors are full of bassinets marked “Madison” and “Jake.”
The Beauty of Traditional Names
While traditional names may sometimes lack “cool factor,” they make up for it with their solid history. Author of Bring Back Beatrice! Jennifer Griffin would like to see more folks choose traditional names and not feel shy about ignoring trends. Griffin says good names are “names that will stand the test of time, reflect your values, and bring joy to your child” and that “You can’t go wrong with something traditional, no matter how popular the name becomes.”
Since trendy names get vogue for awhile then disappear, it is a good idea to think long and hard before using them. Traditional names are not always in vogue, but Griffin compares them to heirlooms. In other words, even if a traditional name like Emma rises in popularity, since it has stood the test of time, Griffin says your child will be better off in a classroom full of Emmas than a classroom full of a trendy name that fell from favor.
Smokin’ Hot Right Now
* Names with exotic letters. Especially X, Y, Z, J, K, V, and W. Names with more than one of these letters are fashionable right now. Examples: Maddox, Vivienne, Elijah, Olivia, Wyatt.
* Old New England names. Examples: Hannah, Sophia, Noah, Benjamin, Gabriel.
* Unisex names. Examples: Peyton, Jorday, Taylor.
* Frankennames. Mashed up names like Ashlynn, Jayla, and Kyler.
* Names from pop-culture. Characters on TV and in films as well as the names of actors.
10 Tips To Decide On the Best Name
After reading Griffin’s book, I came away with a newfound respect for the baby naming process. These are her suggestions organized in ten smart tips.
1. Give your child a tie to the past. Consider family names of beloved relatives and cultural traditions.
2. The big three. Will the name stand the test of time, reflect your values, and bring joy to your child?
3. Think meaning. Think about how you will answer your child when he asks you someday why you chose his name.
4. Think nicknames. If you’re torn between a traditional and trendy name, one option is to use the trendy name as a nickname.
5. Think contrast. “Better to pair two or three-syllables with a single-syllable last name or a short first name with a long last name.”
6. Consider the American Express card test. Rule out names that are too long to fit on plastic.
7. Think monograms. RAT doesn’t look great embroidered on a spa robe.
8. Consider the school playground. You can probably remember certain kids who were teased mercilessly because of their name.
9. Don’t forget your last name. The name needs to make sense with your last name. If your last name is long, complicated, or exotic, it may be wise to give your baby a short and easy first name.
10. You don’t have to sacrifice the trendy name you love. If there’s a trendy or unorthodox name you adore, use it for a middle name.
Does the Name You Like Pass the Flaky Test?
This is excellent advice from Bring Back Beatrice! because it is grounded in reality and puts into perspective for parents that their little bundle of joy is going to be an adult someday with a real job. Here are three of Griffin’s tests for flakiness.
*"Imagine your child saying 'Ladies and gentleman, I’d like to welcome you aborad the aircraft. I’m your captain…'"
*"Imagine your doctor tells you that you need to see a specialist about your condition and hands you a business card. Imagine your child’s name on that card with a medical specialty below it."
*"Imagine a political advertisement with your child facing the camera saying, 'I’m…and I endorse this message.'"
The writer? Agonized with her husband for days in the hospital when their second child was born before finding peace with the Biblical name they chose. She has a master’s in counseling, a freelance writing career, and blogs at hellolovelychild.blogspot.com and hellolovelyinc.blogspot.com.
Resources:
Griffin, Jennifer. 2011. Bring Back Beatrice! Workman.
