5 Easy Ways to Judge a Baby Name

I was A.R.F. for 22 years. My coworkers that knew me before I got married still call me that on occasion. The "backup" middle name my parents almost went with would have made me A.L.F. I like ARF so much better than that.

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The other idea is to stand at the backdoor and yell the name at the top of your lungs. This is how it will be heard for the next 18 years.

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I always liked how my parents named me... I was named after both grandmothers, so my full name has always sounded a bit old, but my initals spell out the name I go by M.E.G., which of course people always ask me if it's short for Megan. But then I remind them that Meg is also short for Margaret, which is my full first name.

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It seems to me the comments are geared to how others will feel about a name they're not comfortable with. This doesn't seem to benefit the child as much as to appease strangers. My son is named Easley with a 2 syllable last name. No one even knows if he's a boy or girl. It is after my mother, Elsa and his grandmother on his father's side who's maiden name was Easley. Though there is some confusion at first it makes him stand out as an individual and now that he is older a very good conversation starter. Why conform instead of going with what you feel is right. If you are genuinely concerned of what others feel about what you have decided to name your child, I believe there are other issues that should be addressed instead.

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Thirty-eight years ago when we named our son Colin, it was very unusual and rarely used in the USA. In grammer school my son said, more than once, "Why did you name me Colin? Why didn't you name me Bobby?" In high school Colin's friends often remarked, "Everyone knows Colin---a party can't start without him." As a successful adult, Colin told me, "Mom, thank God you didn't name me Bobby! My name is Me." I felt my husband and I were vindicated!

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Always give at least the middle name to honor someone...even if it is your own......I am in to genealogy...and it sure makes it easer to look of ancestors...too.....my granddaughter recently informed me she will name her first baby girl after me and her mother, her first boy after her husband, her second boy after another grandfather...she has the idea....actually the first girl will bear my name as well as the grandmother's of the newborn, and also the mother's middle name....kill 3 birds with one stone

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Naming sensibly is not about 'appeasing strangers'. I really can't believe the number of parents who are so caught up with making sure their child is an 'individual' (which they already are, anyway) that they give no thought to how their naming choices might cause trouble later in life.

My partner's unusual name has given him nothing but trouble for his 28 years, and he hates it. It gets spelled wrong on important documents. It gets pronounced very wrong when he's waiting in a queue and causes great confusion and delays. It's not a good conversation starter, it's a conversation hurdle.

He has unique personality by the bucket load, and his attitude is the only part of it that might be attributed to his name.

When we named our son, while our first priority was a name that we loved, a close second was how it would affect his life and yes, that means how strangers would perceive it.

Relying on the child's name as a measure of individuality, to me, suggests a kind of laziness and doubt about the way they will be raised.
Maybe these five tips - just tips - should be given to every pregnant woman at her first prenatal appointment...

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Xochitl is a crazy name. I love it. It helps people remember me, it is a good conversation starter....and if I don't feel like using my crazy first name, I can always go with my middle name (Christina) but the only time I ever do that is if I have to give my name at a restaurant or something.

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The last point on the list is, IMO, the most important. Please think carefully before bestowing your child with a shorter name that is a common nickname. Examples would be naming your child "Bob" instead of Robert, "Mike" instead of Michael, or as in my case "Jan" instead of Janet, Janice, Janelle, Janine, Janna, etc. My parents said they intentionally named my brother and I so that we would be called what we were named.

Their good intentions aside, my parents have for 30-something years now exclusively referred to me as "Missy", "Missy Sue" or even "Melissa Sue". I so rarely hear my given name from them that it catches me off guard when they do. :)

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I have 2 boys The first named Brenden Logan for first and middle names and the younger is named Caellan Vincent Raf. The younger has 2 middle names. One after my grandfather who passed away and one after my husbands father who passed away. Caellan is an Irish/Gaelic name. I think in the baby name book it was spelled Caelan or Caelen but we liked the idea of having 2 L's instead of one. We do get some confusion on the phone of people saying she because it sounds like Kaylynn but isnt said quite exactly like it more like cale-in. It is different but isnt totally outlandish or contrived, just not very common in the US. A lady I met from Ireland said it was more common there than here. AT least he wont be one of many Danny, Robby, Bobby or Mikes (or Cadens who are getting popular)

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My sons name is Kadance. As in the measure of a rhythmical motion or sound. His pediatrician put him on a girl chart and called him Candace. There is clearly a difference. He still sometimes gets this but now chalks it up to ignorant people. When he was a child however he would ask me constantly to change his name to something more common. At first I felt bad even though I loved his name. Then when he started school it was much better. Now everyone is naming their boys Caden and girls Kadence (Tony Hawk). Kind of annoying, but he is still unique.

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