How to Choose Your Baby's Name
The nine months of pregnancy can be an exciting time of anticipation
and preparation for welcoming not only a new family member, but a new human
being into the world. We are full of wonder and curiosity about what this new
person will be like. We hope and pray that we can give this special child
everything he needs to grow into the best person that he can be. To
this end we make sure that mom stays healthy and eats well during her
pregnancy. We prepare for the birth, so that it will be a positive experience for the
mother and the baby. We also carefully consider the name this child will
be called throughout his entire life. What factors and considerations do
parents take into account when deciding on a name for their baby?
Every set of parents has a different way to pick a name for their baby;
and each baby, even in the same family, can have a different reason for how and
why they got their name.
Names "In Memory Of"
In more traditionlly-oriented families it is common to name a baby after a departed
grandparent, or other relative who they wish to honor and remember. A baby can
also be named for a beloved friend, teacher or other respected person who they
would like their child to emulate in some way. In some cultures it is considered a sign of
great respect to name the new baby after someone while they are still
alive; a grandparent or even a parent.
April, Come She Will
Some parents like to remember the particular circumstances surrounding
the birth of the baby, such as the season he/she was born in, or the day of the
week. They might choose to name the baby after flowers that were blooming; the city or country of birth, or even the
way the birth went. We therefore see
many names like 'Summer', 'June', 'Iris', 'Joy', and many others. In these cases, the only
limiting factor for the parents is their creativity and ability to connect
otherwise seemingly unconnected things.
Scarlett and Rhett, Jack and Rose
If parents are literature buffs, they might look to the classics, or any
beloved book, movie or poem to find a name for their baby. Even movies are a rich source of possible
names for parents to choose from.
Naming a baby is not only a great responsibility- it can also be great
fun!
