2017 BABY & BEYOND
DECIDING ON A NAME IS NO EASY TASK A name needs to last a lifetime, these simple tips help make it easier to choose CHOOSING a name for your baby can feel like a minefield so we have put together a few simple tips to help out. Keep it secret: If someone asks you if you have chosen a name, you can tell them that you have narrowed it down to a short-list but haven’t quite settled on one yet. It may be hard to keep the secret but can be one of the special things that only you and your partner share during the pregnancy. You like Ulrike, he likes Mary: Try to avoid unnecessary arguments by following this simple strategy. Sit down together with a pen and pad each, make a long list of names that you each like independently. Then swap your lists and choose a name from your partner’s list that you like and start a discussion from there. Look it up to check if you like it’s meaning. Choose the spelling carefully: While a
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different way of spelling can make your child’s name stand out, it may also mean a lifetime of literally spelling-out their name for them. Easy on the tongue: See how the full name rolls off the tongue. If there is too much alliteration going on, too many syllables or they are difficult to enunciate clearly, you may need to rethink one of the names. Also, to avoid schoolyard name calling, think about what rhyming words can be easily combined with the name. Name for life: Keep in mind that the name you give your child will last a lifetime. It should not only suit them as a baby, but a child, teenager, adult and as an elderly person too. Clarify the surname: Discuss the surname with your partner and ensure you’re both in agreement. The tradition is to give a baby PHOTO: CHRIS MCQUEEN
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