Parenting - Prenatal to preschool/Parenting_PrenatalToPreschool.bin/dp/0032/00325.txt

Text File | 1993-06-25 | 6KB | 99 lines

$Unique_ID{PAR00325}
$Font{NP}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{Naming Your Baby:  Introduction}
$Subtitle{}
$Author{
Editors of Consumer Guide
Harder, Kelsey}
$Subject{Baby Name names Introduction Introductions decision decisions origin
history spelling spellings nickname variation variations famous popular
nostalgic ethnic heritage spell pronounce pronounced pronounciation remember
remembered memorable nicknames initials gender}
$Log{}

The Ultimate Baby Name Book


Introduction


What Will We Name Our Baby?

     Some parents know exactly what they'll name their baby long before the
child is born.  They have a favorite name that they're sure will be just right
for their child, or there's a family name that they want to pass on to the
next generation.  But most parents are not so sure about their baby's name.
They know that the choice of a name is the first of many important decisions
they'll make for their child, and they want to make the best choice, because
their child will probably use this name for his or her entire life.
     The Ultimate Baby Name Book is designed to help you make this important
decision and find the best name for your baby.  The first step in this
exciting process is to consider as many names as you can.  In this book,
you'll find thousands of names.  Many of these names have a brief but
interesting write-up about the name's origin and history, along with a list of
famous people with the name, other spellings, nicknames, and variations.
Reading about the names that appeal to you will help you pick a name that says
exactly what you want your baby's name to say.  You'll be especially
interested in the name's origin if you want to choose a name that reflects
your ethnic background.  You'll be interested in the name's history if you're
looking for a name that is popular today or one that is more nostalgic.
You'll want to know about famous people or well-known characters from the
movies and literature who've had the name, because this is part of the
heritage you pass on to your child with the name.  If you want your baby to
have an unusual name, you may want to choose one of the variations of a fairly
common name.

Expert Advice

     While you're free to give your baby any name you choose, deciding what to
call your baby shouldn't be put off until the last minute.  Parents are known
to behave irrationally at the time of a baby's birth, and they should remember
that their spur-of-the-moment inspiration for their baby's name will affect
her or him for a lifetime.  Before you choose a name, take time to ask
yourself a few questions:
     Is the name easy to spell and pronounce?
     Is it easy to remember?
     What nicknames can be derived from it?
     Do the initials form a word?  If so, is that word likely to prove
       embarrassing in any way?
     Does the name fit the gender of the child?
     We also recommend that you give your child a full name rather than a
diminutive form of the name.  A name that's cute for a baby may not age well.
Robert Joseph is preferable to Bobby Joe.  You can always give a child a
nickname, while the traditional form remains his or her legal name.
     Use care in naming your child after a well-known, living person, such as
a politician or entertainer.  You can't predict the future of anyone's career,
and your child might be stuck with a name that has a negative connotation.
     Consider your last name, especially if it's hyphenated.  Does the first
name you've selected flow easily with the middle and last name?  Also, avoid
using first names that are too cute in conjunction with your last name, such
as Barbie Doll, Chris Cross, Candy Barr, or Sandy Rhodes.
     Both parents should agree on the baby's name well in advance of the due
date.  Once you've decided on a name, you should try to stick with it and
avoid last-minute changes.  Read this book with your family, make lists of
your favorite names, and discuss your reactions.  Your child will appreciate
your thoughtfulness.

What's In a Name?

     When a child shouts across the playground, "Sticks and stones will break
my bones, but names will never hurt me," he or she is trying to act brave by
denying what even a young child knows is a basic truth.  Names have an
enormous effect on people.  Everyone you meet forms an immediate impression of
you from just hearing your name.  Even your own character is shaped to some
extent by your name.  An ancient proverb claims, "The name given a child
becomes natural to it."  Recent studies support the theory that children with
certain names are more successful and better liked by other children than boys
and girls who have names that are unpopular.
     Names are not neutral labels.  They're not Social Security numbers with
no role to play in our lives other than differentiating us from other people.
While many people no longer give names a magic or religious significance,
names still have the power to influence our lives.  Parents must be aware of
their great responsibility as name givers.  Merely selecting a desirable name
for your child does not guarantee happiness and success, but psychological
evidence suggests that children with popular names sometimes have an easier
time making friends than children with unpopular names.  If you feel that
having a popular name will benefit your child, you may want to choose one of
25 names for boys or girls that are most popular in the United States today.