Choosing your baby’s name can be a daunting task. The name you bestow upon your baby is a life-long gift. It will shape the baby’s identity and impact how others will relate to him or her. The pressure is on to get it right. There are many factors to consider when choosing your baby’s name. And chances are, you will go through a multitude of combinations before settling on the “right one.” Choosing the name for you baby is always a difficult decision. The following advice will help guide you through the decision making process.  

Tips for choosing your baby’s name:

Family traditions are often popular. It’s considered an honor to be named after a family member, but if you are not comfortable with the name, don’t feel obligated to use it. Or, use it as a middle name instead.

Consider what nicknames can be derived from the name. If you’re not thrilled with the diminutive form of the name, you may want to steer clear of it.  

Beware of what the initials spell out. If the child’s initials form an acronym, such as COW or MAD, they may be in for some unmerciful teasing. Christopher Owen Wilson, or Mark Anthony Davis may not be too pleased.

It’s best to avoid cute names. This includes names that rhyme (Sally Tally) or names that form a play on words (Candy Kane). Your baby won’t be a baby for very long. Consider how the name will work as you child matures.  

Choose a name based on its meaning. Choose meanings that are associated with positive qualities. For example, the Hebrew meaning of David is “beloved one” — a positive connotation. Sheridan, on the other hand, is derived from the old English for “the wild man” — not a quality everyone wants to be associated with. Choosing a name with a meaning that has significance to you can make the name all the more special.

Names that are trendy today may fall out of favor in later years. Also, choosing a name that is popular, means your child will most likely be sharing the same name with friends and classmates, a situation that can be frustrating for your child.

Obscure or overly unique names may be hard to spell or pronounce, setting your child up for a lifetime of correcting people. Having a unique name may make your child stand out in a crowd, but it may also lead to embarrassing situations.  

Think about the surname. Will the first name work well with it?

Once you have pared the names down to a short list, try them out. Repeatedly say the name out loud. Try it with different inflections. Keep in mind that you won’t be the only one saying the name. Your child will be addressed throughout life by a multitude of people and in a variety of situations. How will it sound when spoken by a teacher, boss, sales associate or significant other?