Naming your new baby can be an extremely long and difficult process. Nevertheless, it is important to recognize that this will be one of the most crucial decisions that you make for your baby, since he/she will have to live with it for the rest of their lives.

Will my baby be named in honor of someone special? This is a common idea, and is often times harmless. In certain situations, for instance when the child is named after his father, this may cause confusion when yelling for people through the house. Or you may really want to honor your great aunt, but cannot quite imagine raising a baby Gertrude. In situations such as this, consider naming the child simply by using names that have matching initials, or using Gertrude as a middle name. And remember, although you may live your life by the melodic tunes of Sting, or idolize the terribly misunderstood Darth Vader, your son may not feel the same way. It may be a good idea to steer clear of names of rock stars and fictional characters.

Am I letting the constant barrage of suggestions from friends and family influence my decision? When it comes down to it, the only person greatly affected by your choice will be the baby. Sometimes it is easiest to keep your decision to yourself until the baby is born. It may also be the case that the name you have chosen just doesn't seem right once the baby is born.

How will my new child's name relate to the names of my other children? It is common for a family to have a theme for their names, Biblical, for example. Some parents will name their children alphabetically, their first born being Alex, followed by Betsy and Chad. In the case of twins, avoid using names that are too similar, like Crista and Christina, especially for identical twins, since often times they depend on their names for their individuality. It may also be a good idea to avoid using big intricate names for one twin, and a common name for the other. Bill may someday wonder why you put so much more thought into naming Constantine.

How will my child feel about their name in school? at work? Kids will be kids, and they will pick on other kids. It is one of those unavoidable certainties. Consider this before naming your child Ben Dover. Don't forget to consider initials. Pam Olivia Oscar will undoubtedly be known as Poo, and there is no hope at all for Alex Sanoma Stevens. To be extra safe, also check every possible pronunciation before deciding on a name. Remember that your child will carry this name for the rest of his or her life. Although many names work very well for cute little babies, it may be difficult for Fifi Pinkerton to earn respect in the workplace.

Many of these tips may seem like common sense, but then again, David Bowie named his child Zowie.

And of course, these are not the only things to consider when choosing your baby's name. Take your time. Relax, but also remember that this decision will affect the rest of your child's life, and just be sensible.

About The Author: Mary Collins is a freelance publisher based in Los Angeles , California. She publishes articles and reports in various ezines.

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