Choosing the name of a future baby is not an easy task, or at least it is not, because the preferences of one of the partners do not have to match the preferences of the other. In addition, it is a choice that must be taken with caution and without haste because the name we give our baby will be the one that accompanies him for a lifetime (or at least the time that passes until he decides to change it).
For this reason we are going to offer you six ideas to choose the baby's name so that you have a starting point or a point to continue in the search for that name that you are looking for and that has not just arrived.
1. The book of baby names
It is easy to find in the bookstores baby names, which explain their meaning and etymology, to get an idea of what name we are choosing (although here in Spain the meaning of the names does not worry us too much).
If we don't want to spend money on a book of these, you can always search lists of names on the internet. In Babies and more We have commented on some of the most used names.
Perhaps it may be a good idea for dad and mom to look at the book separately, writing down the names that each one likes most and then make a sharing.
2. Keep in mind if someone in the family already bears that name
There are parents who like their children to have the name of someone in the family, so it can be a factor to consider when choosing it or, if you don't like it, to avoid it. In my family, for example, there is a plague of "Enriques", to the point that we called the smallest of them, affectionately, Enrique IV.
I also know about sisters named Isabel and Elisabeth, which is the same but in a different language. Maybe his parents did it consciously, but if so, the comments I heard about it were not very positive (although what others say, as they say regularly, should not matter ... the problem is when the mockery comes to the girl).
In the same way we must take into account whether we want our son to be called like us or not. Although it seems a custom that is no longer carried (I see it that way), I still see boys with the name of the father and girls with the name of the mother.
Do what you want, God free me to influence this, but in my house there were two Carlos (my father and my brother), and when they called asking for Carlos it was a real pain to have to ask "The father or the son?" , not for asking the question, but because sometimes, the other interlocutor answered "Well, I don't know." And you had to start playing the riddles to see who was calling you.
Now, luckily, as everyone is mobile, this has been fixed. Anyway, I think it is very rare for someone to say “Carlos!” And two people, father and son, turn around. I guess I'm so sorry because how can I count the Armandos with those that I have coincided in my life with the fingers of one hand, I have always valued having a very exclusive name (come on, I don't like my name, but I love its exclusivity).
By the way, there were also two Enriques in my house, my father (whose name is Enrique Carlos) and another of my brothers: "The father or the son?"
3. Consult the databases of the National Statistics Institute
Another way to see names to choose from is to consult the database of the National Statistics Institute. A few days ago, Lola told us that the most recent names last year were Alejandro and Lucia. Well, looking at that database you can see more names used in Spain, in case there is an idea of what name to put or, if you are mine, to see what names not to put.
In Catalonia we have the Idescat, which offers us a lot of information about the names that are put here, I comment because we use it at the time (in its three moments).
4. Consider the last names the baby will have
It may sound silly, but it is important to write the child's full name to see how is the combination of name and surname. Sometimes rhymes come out unintentionally, or willingly, and although the first few times they may sound good then they can become heavy or tired. So by boat I can think of "Laura Maura" or "Antonio Polonio" soon.
In the same way it is necessary to watch that the last syllable of the name does not create a word with the first syllable of the surname and also bear in mind that when a surname is very long, a short name is better and vice versa, if the surname is short, it remains better a long name, although this is a matter of taste ... for example I like rather short names.
The most recommended is write the full name and read it more than once, to look for problems and, if any, solve them (or change the name or alternate last names, which can now be done).
5. Patience when choosing it
Do not hurry when choosing the name, or have it if you want, but knowing that nine months are very long. There are parents who arrive at childbirth without even knowing how to call their baby and I even know a child who was almost four days without a name, because his parents had not yet decided (stories that are read online).
Without reaching these extremes, there are parents like us who were very clear that our first child would be called Jan if he was a boy and Júlia if he was a girl. As the pregnancy progressed those names stopped liking us. We saw that many children were called that and we also realized that in the US Jan is a woman's name, so we changed Jan to Jon, which we also liked very much and Júlia to Ivette, the girl we never had.
6. Do not ask anyone
The choice of name has to be your thing. When third parties enter you will always find opinions contrary to the name you like and they will look for an absurd rhyme to do with it or they will talk to you about how bad it is for someone who is called the same.
So, if it's baby names, it's better not to say anything until you have decided, or you'll have a bad time, believe me.
Photos | Esther Gibbons, Lisa Rosario Photography on Flickr
In Babies and more | The names of babies in some countries of Latin America: a trend worthy of study, Names of doubtful taste accepted in the world, Tips to get the right choice with the name of the baby
