New Born Baby Names - Choosing One

Choosing a baby name can be both one of the most fun and one of the most challenging tasks parents face in anticipating the arrival of a new baby. Finding a name that is liked by both parents can be difficult enough, but friends and family will provide sometimes unwelcome input as well. Often, family naming traditions can be a source of tension, if one person does not wish to follow the naming traditions of the other person's family. Here are some suggestions to help make sure the opinions of both parents are considered, and the chosen name is something that both will be happy with using.

1) Have each parent come up with a list of their top 5 names. Switch lists, and rank each other's names as "like", "indifferent", "dislike", or "veto". Then, discuss the lists. If you can't agree on a name from these lists, then create new lists, with a new set of names.

2) Decide how you feel about input from family and friends. If you don't mind input, ask your family and friends for candidate names, but make sure no one will be offended when their suggestion isn't chosen. Collect suggestions, and then discuss them with your partner. If there are no good suggestions, there is no need to force yourself to pick one, but you may find that suggestions include unique or uncommon names you didn't find in your baby name book. If you do mind input, be firm but polite in telling family and friends who offer suggestions that while you appreciate their desire to help, it is important to you to choose a name without outside help. This will be especially important in the case of pushy family members who desperately want the baby to be named after them.

3) Make sure you respect your partner's wishes and desires. If he/she is very strongly opposed to a name, don't push it. The baby belongs to you both and his name should be something that makes you both happy.