How to Choose the Perfect Baby Name

One of the first decisions that parents make for their child is choosing a name. Baby naming has become somewhat of a pre-baby hobby for many pregnant women and their partners, as internet sites, baby naming books, and well-intentioned relatives offer their best name picks for the baby-to-be. Choosing the perfect name for a baby may be more complicated than it looks, however, and there are many things to keep in mind when choosing the perfect name for a baby.

Baby Naming Tips

There are many ways to decide on a name for a baby. Some parents choose the traditional route and name the baby after ancestors or favorite relatives. Others pass the father's name to a first born son, adding a junior or second designation to the name. Sometimes, pregnancy hormones take over and parents go with unusual names, the way Gwenyth Paltrow did with baby Apple. Celebrity baby names may not be the best choices for the average parent, however. While, little Apple may fit in fine with Hollywood classmates, Violet, Moon Beam, and Jett Starfighter, your baby may stand out too much with that name in middle America. Before you sign the birth certificate, take the time to think about how well the chosen name will fit for your baby.

Last Names Matter

Last names do matter, when choosing the perfect name for a baby. Long first names may not fit as well with extrememly long surnames, and your child will have to work extra hard in Kindergarten writing a name with 36 letters. Generally, longer last names work better with shorter or average length first names. Some baby name book writers suggest using the syllable rule for choosing the perfect baby name combination for your baby. If your last name has three syllables, it would generally go better with a first name that has one, two, or even four syllables, than a baby name with three. Jessica Doe sounds better that Jess Doe, for example.

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