Baby Names
Choosing a name for your new baby can be one of the most fun things you can do before your baby is born — but it can also be one of the most difficult. How on earth do you even begin to decide on the name your baby will live with for the rest of his life? Do you choose a family name, a popular name, a unique name?
It can be hard for both parents to agree on a name for their baby, but you should be prepared to offer your own favorites and suggestions and try to compromise if you can't decide on a name that both of you like.
Popular Baby Names
Choosing a popular name usually doesn't mean naming your baby after your favorite movie star, singer, or character on TV or in the movies. It means choosing a name that many other people are also going to choose, leading to classrooms with two or three Matthews and several Emilys. Here's a list of the most popular names from a few years ago that you can review if you are looking for (or trying to avoid) a name for your baby that a lot of other babies will have too.
Boy Names |
Girl Names |
1. Jacob |
1. Emma |
2. Michael |
2. Isabella |
3. Ethan |
3. Emily |
4. Joshua |
4. Madison |
5. Daniel |
5. Ava |
6. Alexander |
6. Olivia |
7. Anthony |
7. Sophia |
8. William |
8. Abigail |
9. Christopher |
9. Elizabeth |
10. Matthew |
10. Chloe |
From the U.S. Social Security Administration.
Middle Names
The baby's middle name might simply include a name that you like, or the name of a friend or family member whom you want to honor. Be sure to check if the initials spell an unintended word so that your child doesn't end up with initials like FAT or PIG. If your partner had to make a compromise on the choice of the baby's first name, it might be nice to let her choose the middle name.
Starting Your Own Traditions
Sticking to a family tradition for naming your baby can be a good way to honor or remember your ancestors, but whose tradition do you follow? What if both mom's and dad's families have a tradition of naming the first-born child after their own grandparents?
In this kind of situation, if you can't reach a compromise, you might come up with your own “tradition.” Maybe name all of your children with names that start with a certain letter: Charlie, Chris, and Chad. Or name your first girl after the mom's mother and your first boy after your father.
