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Sibling Names Require Individual Thought
Categories: Baby Names
Dear Name Lady,
I love interesting combinations of sibling names. It's so sweet to meet families with multiple children who have intriguing names that go well together. For instance, Sarah Palin caught my interest with her children's names Track, Bristol, Willow, Piper and Trig.
However, when it comes to naming my own children, I have long cherished a group of sibling names, but I don't really care for some of the names when they stand alone. It seems foolish, but I can't give up the sounds of the names together, nor can I find equally suitable alternatives. Help!
- Naming in Bunches
I'm a big believer in thinking about siblings when you pick a name. The names don't have to match like a set of china, but they should be equal in the ways that count. For instance, if one child has a middle name, they all should have middle names. It's the same story with wildly creative names, family namesakes and so on. But it's possible to go too far, and you, my dear, are about to cross that line. How do I know? It's simple. You're breaking the Golden Rule of Baby Naming:
It's not your name. It's the baby's name.
Naming babies should be creative fun for parents. Never forget, though, that this isn't really about you. We parents only get to choose the names because babies are, well, babies. A newborn isn't in any position to weigh the benefits of Ella vs. Chloe. So you make choices on her behalf, trying your best to prepare her for a healthy, happy, successful life.
When you start talking about choosing names because of how they sound as a set, you're thinking too much about yourself. I understand the impulse -- believe me. When you love names as I do, naming fantasy families can be irresistible. But this is your child's one and only name and she deserves the best you can give her, siblings or no siblings.
Remember that life is unpredictable. You may start out with a dream of three sons and three daughters, but end up with six sons ... or you may have a single, cherished child. So when your baby is born, celebrate that singular miracle with a name you can love for a lifetime.
Do you keep a list of dream names? Share your experiences! And if you have your own question to ask The Name Lady, click here to drop her a line!
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
mommiedear 9-07-2009 @ 8:22PM
Names are very unique and as they said on www.truuconfessions.com names define you in the most significant way.
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Geri 9-07-2009 @ 7:57PM
I think that not just sibling names, but any child's name is important. A name should have some sort of significance. A name is a badge we all wear forever, and if it doesn't fit, or has a negative connotation, the wearer may suffer. As a public school teacher, I have seen many names, some of them almost impossible to pronounce. The child can spend her entire life explaining a name or telling others how to pronounce her name.
Then there's the spelling issue. Parent shave become more and more creative at spelling common names. For example, what used to be "Ashley" may be spelled Ashlee, Ashly, Ashli, Ashlei, Ashlie, or some other creative spelling. Some of the spellings even defy phonics. Don't even let me get started on the names with accents either in the beginning, middle, or end. I currently have twins in my class, one named "Donte", with the accent on the "Don" and one named "Donte", with the accent on the "te".
My students with such names seem to be weary from explaining either the spelling or pronunciation of their names. Some even have a bit of a chip on their shoulders and get offended when I don't know the correct way to say a name that has no basis in phonics.
I am now accustomed to asking for the spelling of even the simplest of names. In my most humble opinion, give your child a well thought out name, that goes with the child's personality and style (I didn't name my daughter until she was three days old and I had had a chance to meet her.), but use a traditional spelling. Your child (and her teacher) will thank you for it.
Get more of my humble opinions at www.thepublicschooldaily.com .
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Erika 9-07-2009 @ 10:18PM
I always liked the way my mother named my brother and I: she wanted two kids, so she picked out two names that could easily be male of female. She had one of each, so Erika and Daniel. But if she had two girls: Erika and Danielle. And two boys: Erik and Daniel.
But my pet peeve is mothers who just make up "cool" sounding words as names. There's such a wide variety of names out there, full of meaning and heritage, why make something up?
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summer 9-10-2009 @ 12:21PM
I agree that sibling names should sound good together. For example, I named my first baby Haven Norah. Now that I'm expecting again, I have to think of a name that sounds good with that... like, Eden Lillian. And even though I love the name Roxanne -that will never work!
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afwife813 10-04-2009 @ 6:20AM
My family has 4 children. My parents just named us how they wanted. But, when you hear our first names in succession, it works...
Angel, Shonda, Curtis, Kelly...
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