Choosing a name for your new bundle of joy is something that most parents look forward to. Heck, I’ve come across countless books and have been overwhelmed by a flood of baby names from online searches. With limitless possibilities, the quest of unearthing the best-suited name for your little one can be both exciting and nerve-racking for new parents.
I remember that the process of choosing a name for our little guy began right from the moment I found out we were expecting. However, what we didn’t realize, at the time, was just how many factors would change our minds as we searched for the perfect name for our son.
The act of naming comes into our lives at a very early age, and it’s a responsibility that even the youngest in our society take to be incredibly important. It starts with naming your first pet and teddy bear, and later it evolves into deciding on whether we want to continue to go by our given name or by a shorter version of it instead. Nicknaming friends and significant others provides a great deal of joy for us later in life, as well.
I remember, as a child, being so proud of choosing the name for a kitten that my mom had gotten just for me. I agonized over what would be best. Should I name him after my favourite character on television? Or should I choose something that held a little more meaning? It was a daunting task for an eight-year-old.
In the end, I followed my mom’s recommendation and named him based on one of his physical traits. The little furball had a black smudge under his nose and, after considering several individuals bearing a memorable “stash,” I landed on what I believed to be a creative name for him. Man, I miss Chaplin. He was just the sweetest cat in the whole world, and even to this day, whenever I hear that name, he is the one who comes to mind. Sorry, Charlie.
And that’s the thing—name associations can become your worst enemy while naming your baby. I lost track of the number of names that my husband and I vetoed throughout the process. There are endless reasons that a name might not make the cut, whether it’s something unique that can’t be used because someone has already taken it for their pet ferret, or the name that you absolutely love … only to find out that it’s also the name of your significant other’s childhood friend-turned-nemesis. Having an association, to someone or something that doesn’t fully represent the bond you want with your child, is a powerful thing.
Typically, we want only positive connections with the name we choose. This is why so many parents feel very protective of the names they select. Giving a name to your child is the first gift you give them—besides life (but that’s obvious). So when we finally find the name that seems perfect, the last thing in the world that we want is for something to come along and take that gift away.
One of the most-depressing moments that a parent-to-be can experience is when they excitedly share the name they have chosen, only to have the person they’ve decided to tell respond with a scrunched-up face and with telling them they don’t like it.
If you’re guilty of this, you likely won’t hear anything else on the topic until the name is announced (after the baby is born).
To be fair, though, most people who aren’t a fan of your choice will likely just provide you with a list of three alternatives that they prefer. However, more often than not, parents should prepare themselves for the gut punch this situation will throw their way at some point.
In our case, we made the eventual decision to keep our son’s name private until he was born. We figured that once a name was announced officially, people would keep any reservations they might have about it to themselves. We were correct and are firmly confident that we did indeed choose a name that suits our son completely.
However, what I didn’t know, at the time of enthusiastically agreeing with my husband’s name choice, was that he had heard the name in a Nicolas Cage action romp. While I still love the name, it is a little humorous to know that he is named after a fictional killer/convict. Hey, what are you going to do? He’s sweet, I swear!
In the end, parents will likely always choose a name that brings a smile to their face. The name could represent a beloved family member or pay tribute to an iconic piece of popular culture. It might even be the name of a location that holds a special place in your heart. Regardless of where it comes from, though, the name of your child will forever bring a smile to your face—even when you use the full version (middle names included), when they inevitably drive you up the wall.
