Do you have any 'rules' that you use/used to choose a name ?

Rules were:

Not directing/defining. Ie Grace was out as was sure any child of mine called Grace would have to turn out a snarling heffalump. Hope, Honor etc I love but same pressures.

Also had to be not too 'marked' or with strong associations, so could suit someone serious or frivolous, posh or plain, shy or outgoing and so on. Just can't be sure how your child will turn out, I thought. And think the great aunt test is a great idea, too.

A nice sound and easy to say. DH's surname 'difficult' to say the least, so first name had to be simple, particularly as DD got both surnames so she can mix and match/pick and choose at will. Needed a name that would sit comfortably with most other surnames in case she ever decides to change.

Able to travel. Chose mainstream English versions of internationally used names.

Not TOO popular. Final choice did turn out to be outside top 100 but just because it was out of fashion, not outlandish. Perhaps it's a bit dull but have never met another child with same name, not that it would bother me. Less is sometimes more - got over my wildly exotic ideas for middle names once I thought them over a bit and remembered my mother had planned to call my sister Freesia, for goodness sake.

Suiting the baby. Could only decide once DD arrived and could size her up a bit!

nothing that makes me and dh out to be pretentious twats

I did the What does it sound like when shouted across a busy shopping centre in the manner of Bianca from Eastenders test. It put me straight on quite a few names I can tell you

My "rules" were:

Must be easy to spell
Not too outlandish
No silly spellings
No silly initials

Not our initials
No surnames as first names
With 2nd and 3rd DCs, must sound good with other DCs names.
With boys, must have full name on birth certificate, even if NN used in daily life.
Contrary to many people, we chose names in the top 10/15.
One middle name each (don't want them to feel different).

We stuck to most of our rules although DD does have the initials KLF but we figured she won't get teased about it by her peers.
Also her name can be spelt 2 ways although hers is the most "common" way.
But otherwise, we followed them.

Our rule was that it had to sound well with either of our surnames.

I did give my child a name that broke one of my rules

his name is a shortened version of a name but the long version is ... well....gopping

truly so - his name is heaven but it IS in effect a shortened version and I am not proud but still LOVE love love it

if you shout it at the playground at least four kids to turn and see who's calling them

Rules we observed last time and are attempting to observe this time:

Nothing too over-used (in the top 25 or so).

Nothing wacky or outlandish.

No daft 'alternative' spellings. They take about 20 points off perceived IQ of parents, and I think the child gets a few extra s.

No nicknames - full name given even if we would use a shortened version. I think you need to give the child the option of using their full name.

No names ending in 'an', 'am' sounds, as it'll sound too like the surname.

We didn't veto religious names or names that meant something religious, if we liked them otherwise, which is why DS is called the Greek equivalent of 'God's Gift', much to MIL's not-so-secret satisfaction. And he thinks he is, too!

We just tried each name with 'Great Aunt' or 'Great Uncle' in front of it. If it sounded silly, it was off the list.

I'm intrigued by people who specifically don't want a name in the top 100. Why not? Surely names that are used a lot are chosen because they are 'good' in some way? Why rule out a name you like just because other people like it too?

We had terrible problems finding names to suit both us and our children.

I have just explained why, but realised it was just going to be too much of a giveaway: they were very specific issues.

All 3 DC's middle names are places in France which have meaning to us.

DC1 & 2's shortened names are of people we knew as students (the nicest people we have ever known including ourselves). These people dont know they have our first two children named after them.

DD's names are Shakepearian DS's name is old English.

It's a minfield!

• Nothing biblical
• Name that has some history, i.e. not a new name or a derivative
• Ruled out some initials, e.g. O, as our last name begins with a K, and G, because every male in DH's family has a name beginning with G
• No middle name starting with a vowel for a girl, just in case she chooses to marry and take husband's name and it ends up spelling something dodgy
• Not Olivia, Isabella, Ella or Rose for a girl, because they seem to be everywhere round here.

We stuck to it.

stripeybumpsmum my DH is that way as well. "oh no, we can't use that name - I knew someone 25 years ago with that name who was horrid!"

As though having a baby and giving it that name won't automatically change the association for him

Had to be a names that would sit just as comfortably on the fields of Eton as around the dinner tables in the East End.

Agreeing on a name could be contraception and/or in the future will feature on Match.com dating sites or whatever as THE accurate compatibility predictor.

My rules for DS and DD:

1. No alliteration first name or surname
2. No S ending names as no good with surname
3. Not too popular - out of top 50
4. Offers number of variations
5. Not frilly or princessy
6. Easily said and spelt

DH rules:
1.Nothing related to religion (so Dominic out for example
2.Not named after anyone (or even a name people might think is after someone we know so seemingly rules out everyone we've ever met more than twice.

1. Most importantly nothing related to feckin' ridiculous family tradition of being known by middle name.

And what for? Great to hear all these well intentioned rules but events beyond your control, and your DC will, I think you'll find do exactly what you don't want. DS's name now becoming very popular. DD may just as well have been called Princess Frilly. People still can't spell her name, and she cannot say it. Ok, she can't say it yet

Future DC:
All of the above plus now DH is a teacher, anything that is/could be/reminds him/tenuously connected to any child he taught etc etc. Arrhhhhggghhh. Future DCs may be known as BabyStripey NI numberxxxxxx' to save the bother.

As I say, enough for contraception.

Has to sound like an English Polo captain, I got a Charlotte and a Rufus and a Chloe

lol, I automatically spell my first name when introduced, out of habit, so I suppose giving LO's a name that would be easily spelt was low-priority. I think I've met possibly two or three people who have heard my first name before, and had one colleague whose first name was the same and surname was almost identical (Johnson vs Johannson). My name was used once in a movie and that was a little unsettling to watch since I wasn't used to hearing it for other people.

I am named after my mother. Am never doing that due to getting each other's mail/wreaking havoc with the post when forwarding mail etc.

Our rules were:
1- no crude/lewd initials or shortened names
2- names that could easily be shortened to a decent nickname
3- no biblical/scriptural names
4- no family names within reason
5- no abnormal spellings of names (hi Aimee!)
6- nothing in the top 100-500

Yes, we kept to them. We still ended up with a middle name that is apparently having a massive resurgence, and DD's first and middle names together sound like a line from a famous song when spoken with a Texan accent, which we had no way of knowing, since we aren't from Texas. Oh well, best laid plans...

no same initials as me or ex-DH
names that couldnt be shortened (we've both always been known as our nicknames)
traditional names, with British links (one name obviously Scottish, the other a Patron Saints)
No quirky spellings
No names already used by close friends or family
Names that suit a baby/toddler/child/teen and adult
Names that could be an actor, a barrister or a rock star

Stuck to all the rules too

My main name rule, having spent my life having my name spelt wrong, was to have names which were easy to spell.

I stuck with it 2 out of 3 times, hope DD1 forgives me!

I want to know what accent the poster who said no names starting with 'uh' eg Olivia has! I'm quite sure it starts with an 'o' sound?!?

Like sedgie, has to be taken seriously (think "Let me introduce you barrister - Daisy" That's a no, much as I love the name.

And would I feel like a donkey shouting it out in the car park at Asda, should the need arise?

allbie "Had to be 6 letters long and have 2 syllables! And yes, we applied it to all 4 kids!"

You even applied that to your user name!

Ideally not same initials as other family members.

No ex girlfriend's or boyfriend's names.

Something that had enough gravitas should they choose to do something sensible, but with friendly sounding abbreviations for everyday use.

Initials not to spell something daft.

Traditional and solid rather than made up or too modern. Would rather err on the side of boring than pick a name that didn't suit their personality.

Nothing too cutesy.

My rules vary for a boy and girls name! I'm currently pregnant.

Our chosen boy's name is fairly common, traditional and a family name and that's fine but I want a more unusual girl's name.

So for a girl:

English
Not in the top 100
Old-fashioned

I guess we have followed that for a boy's name too except it is in the top 100.

and yes to names having to'fit' for subsequent children