NAMING YOUR BABY-SOME THING TO THINK ABOUT

Greetings
We have a new grand baby at the cottage her name is Lila Rose not named after anyone in particular our daughter and son-in-law just liked how the two names sounded together.

There was a trend, in the 1980s and 1990s, when it seemed that every new baby born had to have a more outrageous name that the baby born before it. Now reaching their late teens and early 20s, one is left to wonder how these children are living with the names given to them at birth. Indeed, how many of them have chosen to change their names to more ‘normally’ names.

On the other hand, even today it is extremely popular for people to shorten their given names. For example, a baby born ‘Robert’ may well end up being an adult called ‘Bob’.

Unfortunately many new parents are unlikely to see the long-term affect of the name they give their baby. In most cases, new parents decide to give their new baby a name because they either like it or because it is a name that has been used in the family for generations.

In all of these cases, although likely lovingly conferred, the parents of the new baby are unlikely to have done the baby any favors! So, if you are currently expecting a baby, and are looking around for names to give your baby, keep in mind the following:

- will the name last the test of time?
- can the baby’s name be shortened from that which you have given it, and if so do you like the shortened named? For example, there’s a whole lot of difference between being called ‘Richard’ and ‘Dick’ – or is there?
- if you are going to be naming a baby after a name you like, do you think you’ll still like that name in 20, 30 or 40 years time? There can be few things more annoying than having to call someone a name you don’t like, let along when that person is your own child!

- Finally, if you are going to name a baby after a pop musician or famous actor that you like, keep in mind that by the time the baby becomes an adult that ever so popular and famous pop musician or famous actor is unlikely to be known. So, if the name is not a mainstream name, but a more bizarre stage name, then your baby may well end up having to spend most of its adult life trying to explain how it was named after this ever so famous person that nobody knows!