Unique Baby Names

Unique Baby Names

What/' s in a name? Er…well- everything- really! Of course your little bundle of joy is the sweetest- most beautiful thing you have ever seen and you want to choose a name that reflects his/her in Contd...

What/' s in a name? Er…well- everything- really! Of course your little bundle of joy is the sweetest- most beautiful thing you have ever seen and you want to choose a name that reflects his/her individuality- spirituality- uniqueness and all-round special-ness.

But wait a minute!

Remember that the unique baby name you choose will help define junior/' s life - how they are viewed and accepted - for many- many years. What sounds cute and original for a 5-year-old- may not sound so funky for a 15-year-old…and what about a 55-year old?

Time was when only celebrities could get away with unique baby names (Zowie Bowie- Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa- etc)- but in the modern world- individuality is more prized than ever before- and increasingly- this starts with our names. Great idea - but don/' t allow a flash of a self-indulgence to condemn your child to a lifetime of problems; it/' s reported that a Chinese couple named their child "Saddam Sars" to mark the current world events at the time of the birth! I just hope it means something nice in Mandarin- or Cantonese!

This probably wouldn/' t have happened in Germany- where names can only be registered if they recognizable- do not ridicule the child and are gender specific. Perhaps there is at least one Chinese child in the world- who will grow up wishing he/she were German!

So - assuming you are not German - what should you do if you want to create a unique baby name- without creating too many problems? Here are some tips and some warnings to make the process less painful:

1. Anagrams: try creating an anagram of an existing name.
2. Father and Mother: try using derivatives of one of the parents/' names- or a combination of both. Alternatively- how does the mother/' s maiden name sound as a first name?

3. Telescoping: try dropping letters from another name or a word- until you get a nice-sounding unique baby name.

4. Spelling: an unusual spelling of a common name creates uniqueness. However- remember that your child will be condemned to a lifetime of "…that/' s David spelt D..A..Y..V..I..D…" conversations.

5. Pronunciation: another trick is to pronounce a common name in an unusual way. But this can also lead to a lifetime of corrections and explanations - as well as teasing and accusations of pretentiousness.

6. History: do some research into names that were popular in previous eras- but have become less so.

7. Family History: are there any unusual baby names that can be used to honor family members or ancestors? But beware family politics…
8. Nature: many names come from the natural world- particularly flowers (e.g. Rose) and it/' s a great source for unique baby names (e.g. Gwyneth Paltrow/' s daughter Apple).

9. Geography: another useful source of great names - grab an atlas and start searching. David and Victoria Beckham called their first son Brooklyn- which many people think is a cool-sounding name. However- it/' s reported that the choice was made because that/' s where conception took place. Hmmm- imagine a lifetime in which your name is a constant reminder of your parents having sex! Eeeuuuuww!!!

10. Celebrities: famous people with slightly unusual names are a common source of inspiration. There are lots of teenage "Kylie"s running around the UK since Kylie Minogue/' s arrival on the music scene at end of the /' 80/' s- and her recent resurgence- will have created a second wave of them. And I/' m sure many little "Be/' yonce"s have been popping up over the last few years. The only problem is that names like these very soon begin to sound a little silly and "wannabe".

11. Foreign Names: consider using a foreign version of a name- e.g.- Pedro- instead of Peter. Or try using a name from a completely different culture.

12. Nicknames: try using a nickname e.g. Angie- instead of Angela or Angelina. However- make sure the name is will pass the "age test" - see number 17 below.

13. Middle Names: a great way to accommodate individuality when naming your baby- is to combine a common first name with a unique second/middle name. The benefit of this is that your child can avoid embarrassment throughout his/her life by ignoring it of keeping it hidden.
14. Initials: when you have settled on some baby names- check that the initials aren/' t embarrassing. This is an easy trap to fall into and can lead to a lifetime of misery. "Zina Indigo" are may be nice sounding names for your lovely daughter- but make sure your surname doesn/' t begin with "T"!

15. First Name-Surname: check how the selected first name combines with the surname. Make sure the two names do not create some something recognizable- to prevent a lifetime of teasing. Also- check the rhythm of the two names; a different number of syllables in each name usually flows much better. Avoid rhyming the 2 names at all costs or your child will hate you forever!

16. The loudness test: try saying the name softly- at normal pitch and shouting it very loudly. You may be surprised at the results.

17. The age test: try to visualize your child with the name as a baby- as a teenager- as a young adult- a mature adult and as a senior citizen. A name can create completely different perceptions of the individual at separate stages of life.

18. The meaning: the final test of the baby name that you choose should be to check its meaning (if any). Don/' t leave your child open to getting a nasty surprise later in life.

Whatever unique baby name you decide- don/' t fall into the trap of self-indulgence. Remember- it/' s not about you- it/' s all about your child. Your grand design to celebrate the uniqueness of this new human being- may eventually lead to a lifelong- desperate desire for conformity and anonymity. Even Zowie Bowie eventually changed his name to "Joey"…

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