What is important when choosing a name?

[Notrobusta]

Trying to come up with aa name for a baby boy. Currently expectingDC 3. Don't yet know if it is a boy or girl but really struggling with boys names. All the boys names either seem too obscure or too boring at the moment. My husband brought up a good point last night. He asked me what I wanted from a name? It made me think about how and why we choose certain names. Do we choose unusual names for our benefit to appear original etc . would a child prefer a solid traditional name even if there are a few in their class. Interested in heating peoples thoughts as I think I'm possibly over thinking this and stressing myself about finding the perfect name. My husband is happy with a traditional uncomplicated name.

[MrsLeighHalfpenny]

We chose our DDs' names for their meaning.

[Notrobusta]

Definately think it's easier to do that for girls names than boys. Thanks.

[MrsLeighHalfpenny]

Most boys' names are also surnames: Oliver, Thomas, Andrew, John, David, Christopher, Mark, Jeremy, Nicholas, Edward, George, Zachariah, Harrison, Cole, Paul, Philip etc. But they all mean something too.

I don't like "made up" names, or traditional names with "funky" spellings.
I also don't like names being abbreviations of other names.
I'm quite fussy!

[Notrobusta]

My sons name is Oliver ans we choose it because we love it and hadn't really considered how popular it would be. that being said he is the only one in his class. I would be keen to avoid another top ten name in case I'm accused of following trends.

[Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost]

There's so much to consider.
Does it suit your culture, religion,
if you have subsequent dcs does it go with their names
, Does it go with your surname
. Does the name match the time of year the child is born eg you wouldn't name a child Summer who was born in Winter
. Do you like all the abbreviations of the name. No good naming. your child Daniel if you can't stand Dan.

[Thurlow]

We just wanted a nice name, that we liked, that wasn't so unusual DC would forever be spelling it out to people, and that we could imagine saying bellowing for the rest of our lives.

[Notrobusta]

Thurlow that's the difficulty we are having. I really like one particular name but feel that it will be a name our son would have to spell for the rest of his life and correct pronunciation. It doesn't really go with our other children's names either . the trouble is I love it, but thinking it wouldn't be fair and would be better to go for a simple name.

[Thurlow]

What's the name you have in mind?

The spelling thing... well, for us it was more a made up or very foreign name, like Zaiyira, rather than a less common name, like Ezekiel.

[Sallyhasleftthebuilding]

I dont get the `go with sibling names ... they arent a pop band! We chose names for the individual not a group. Made sure the initials didnt spell something, or rhyme etc.
We have a solid boys name, traditional but popular girls name and one unusual name - needs spelling!!

[villainousbroodmare]

I don't think names necessarily have to be simple. It would be a very boring world if everyone had standard names.
The most important thing imo is that, contrary to the title of this forum, you are not actually naming a baby. You are naming a person. For me, that means that you should save cutesy for nicknames and if applicable, afford the person the long version of the name so that they have options in the future, should they wish.
There does seem to be a MN obsession with deciding the nn their child will use before he or she is born, and also an assumption that nns derive from given names. That's not the case. Most nns are organic.
What's the name you love?

[OurBlanche]

I'd forget the idea of matching names and even spelling, just go with a name you like - but check the initials first.

SIL was almost WC, sadly when that was pointed out they changed it, to DIC.

Much merriment has been had over the years, by one of her DBs... and it hasn't been the one I married

[Whoknewitcouldbeso]

I have to disagree about nicknames as some names will always be abbreviated and if you love the full name and hate the nn it's always going to rankle.

I speak as someone who has an acceptable full name but the abbreviation is that of an 80 year old who wears curlers and a house apron. I've had to go through most of my life asking for people to use my full name and still some don't and it's as irritating as fuck.

So one of the major selling points of my sons name was that I like the full and shortened versions.

[LetsSplashMummy]

For us, we wanted names that seemed neutral and tried to avoid names that engender preconceptions - so nothing too overtly feminine for a girl, nothing too out there, nothing with a class connotation and also not something trendy that would date them. We preferred names like Elizabeth (nn Beth) which has been consistently semi popular than Isla, for example.

I realise I haven't actually said what we wanted, just what we didn't want!

FWIW I can't imagine many names going really badly with Oliver, I think you might be over thinking that bit!

[BertrandRussell]

The single most important thing is that it should not make the child's life an iota more difficult than necessary. It should not be difficult to spell or pronounce. It should not be the sort of name that means the child has to explain it 90% of the time they give it. It would not be the sort of name that makes even the nicest people quickly hide a smile. It should not be a name that could be seriously at odds with the child's physical appearance. And it should most definitely not be part of a parent's ego trip, or attempt to appear a "free spirit"
Somebody will immediately tell me I'm boring and want everyone to be called John or Mary. This just shows what under active imaginations they have!

[Notrobusta]

Thurlow the name we had in mind is Ephraim.

[Thurlow]

That's a lovely name, and I'd imagine most people would know how to spell it.

[OurBlanche]

Oooh! Nice, old and biblical but not obvious. Shortened to Eph, maybe... or Ray... but may never find a regular shortening.

Go for it. Oliver and Ephraim... not a bad mix.

[mudandmayhem01]

If you lack imagination look at the names/ nicknames of the royal family and you cant go wrong ie Edward, George, Charles/ Charlie, albert, Henry, harry, William, Alfred/freddie. I am not a royalist at all but they seem good at names and from working in secondary school boys seem to be embarrassed by unusual and hard to pronounce names, its not an ego trip for parents but a name a child has to live with.

[CelestiaLuna]

Names are so subjective, that I would choose one that you loved. As long as it's not made up and is spelt correctly then it should be ok. People tend to become their names

[hawkmcqueen]

Our son is named after two of his grand fathers on my DH's side. It worked out that was but in fact they are my two favourite boys names anyway. These names are classic, not stand out, as I didn't want my son to have an unusual name - I do and you stand out and everybody knows who you are. You don't need your name to do this for you, I would rather the person stands out through their actions. Then I followed suit with my two DDs. They can stand out themselves if and when they want to.