Every single one of us has one, do you know who or what you were named after?
Are you a comeback kid, a fading act, or an entirely new entry? How or why, we choose a name may be from family traditions, heritage, religion, cultural or societal influences even seasons and trends. Let us talk about names, your name, your children’s names or what you might be calling your baby.
A name is the first gift you will give your baby, it is a sign of identity and one of the ways we communicate with others and build relationships introducing ourselves. “Have you decided on your baby’s name?” is a key question midwives chat about on delivery suite. I have heard and seen them all, from babies being named after fruit to cars to countries, and it is that “old chestnut” of what’s right for one person is most definitely not for the next.
I was born in 1985 and my father named me after a ship (so random) from a TV programme “Charlotte Rhodes” (my married name is Hoskin). The Onedin Line was a BBC television drama series in the 70s. I get Char, Lotty and of course Charlotte, I love my name, my nicknames, and its history.
Choosing your baby's name is a crucial decision you have to make as a parent. It can be exciting, but the responsibility of naming another human being can make it a bit scary. (no pressure) your child will carry that name throughout their life. I didn’t find out the sex of either of mine, it was so exciting short listing (or bickering and vetoing with James) names during pregnancy. With my girl option, I always wanted a flower name if I had a girl, it was going to be Iris, Lilly, or Rose when she arrived, she was most definitely a big (9lb 6oz) beautiful Rose. With my second baby the option of another flower was still there, and Lilly was coming in strong. Our boy names were easy it had to be a double “H” so Harry Hoskin it was. We are blessed with one of each. How incredibly lucky are we with our Rose and Harry.
More recently, research shows that the past few years have seen changes in the traditional views of boys’ names and girls’ names, with an increasing trend towards names that can be used regardless of gender.
To help you choose your baby’s name there are books, baby name generators, electronic search options and even “Baby Naming Consultants.” As with any trend, name fashions vary from country to country. Be mindful, wherever you are in the world, some countries have restrictions and lists of “banned” names. We are pretty lenient in the UK, but the registering officer can draw a line if something is deemed unpronounceable or in case, you are considering it, Cyanide has been banned, unlucky if you fancied naming your baby after a deadly poison. In Portugal you are required to use traditional Portuguese spellings. Sweden states no names which are obviously not names, Japan say no names that might humiliate, and of course, Hitler is banned in Germany, but so are names that do not clearly state gender.
Do not get me started on middle names or surnames, this blog would go on and on, choosing a name for your baby should not be stressful, do not rush, sleep on it. My top tips would be to aim to have a short list just 2-3 options, and then wait until you get to see their gorgeous little face to finalise and don’t panic if after a few days you’re not sure, but remember you’ve got up to 42 days to Register their birth and have them officially named.
