AbbyMN needs your "things to consider when choosing a baby's name" advice...

[AbbyMumsnet]

Nope, I'm not preggers, I'm just working on some editorial. Your thoughts, as ever, will be appreciated.

and if you go for a unisex name try to give a middle name that is gender specific. Saves embarrassment on class lists. I have an old family friend whose child is called Robin Ashley. Now I assume it's a boy but could be either (we haven't seen them for years)

Do NOT tell ANYONE what name you are planning in advance
someone will always say they don't like it, which will probably upset you and may well embarrass them later when you still go with that name
announce it when baby is born instead
someone would have to be seriously rude to say they don't approve at that point

I would also advise having a 1000 post thread to ask for ideas
worked for me

I'm repeating things, but always with the initials.

Also try to avoid aliteration - it can be rather naff.
Pick a name that will suit your child whatever he/she ends up doing for a living.

Use a full name, not a nickname. 'Danny' is nice, but 'Daniel' may be preferable in certain circumstances. Give them the option.

DO not give all your kids the same initial. As well as the post issue, it shows lack of imagination.

If you have a long surname, then choose shorter first names so that fitting their name onto forms is less of a problem.

Think about greeting your bank manager/GP/MP with your chosen name - it might be cute to call a baby Apple, but its not going to help their image if they choose a serious career.

If you want a really unusual name (DS has one) then its nice to choose something that can be shortened to sound more "normal" and to give them a conventional middle name that they could choose to use instead

I strongly agree with not telling anyone your referred names beforehand. We made that mistake and our 1st daughter isn't what she should have been due to MIL and her big mouth, and our boys name was pilfered from under our very noses by someone in my family! (Not that we have a boy, but we could have...)

I agree with FrannyandZooey. Tell NO-ONE your choice of name as there will always be someone who hates it/ had a cat named it/ thinks it sounds like furniture polish etc, etc, etc. And don't cave in when you do choose something unusual. My Mum hated my DS's name (told me it was unlucky WTF?) and even on the morning of his birth told me she thought it was horrible. Be prepared to consistantly correct those people in your family who don't like the name and abbreviate/ change it. My GMIL called my 1st DN a different name til she died as she didn't like the one he had .

don't be so scared of what other people will think, it is only a name and there are plenty of other opportunities for judging.

although i suppose if you are worried about that then maybe your children will be too and it is self-fulfilling. hmm.

If you are going for a foreign name, use one that the majority of your friends/neighbours can pronounce. We knew a German/American family who named their DS Ethan, the German MIL pronounced her GS's name "Eeezzzan".

There are some sounds that are difficult to pronounce in a different language, for the Germans "th", for the Brits "-e" such as Ute or Renate.

Don't make your child go through life being called Oooty because noone can pronounce Ute properly

Make sure it does not rhyme.