7 steps to naming your baby

Naming your baby is one of the most important, exciting but potentially tricky things you’ll do. Follow our seven steps to help get you started

Going traditional? Dead set on ultra-modern with quirky spelling thrown in? Or not sure where to start yet? Deciding on your baby’s name can be great fun – but it’s a big responsibility, too. (After all, it’s there for keeps!). Here are a few pointers worth bearing in mind…

1. Uncommon spellings

Using an alternative spelling is one sure-fire way of making your little individual stand out from the crowd. But while Kriss or Karlie may look great on the page, remember that he or she will probably spend the whole time spelling it out to people.

2. Family values

You may want to name your baby after a much-loved relative, but check you’re doing it for the right reasons. Don’t burden your baby with a name you’re not sure about just to please a doting great-grandparent. If you’re wavering, a good compromise is to use family names as middle names.

3. Double or quits

Giving your little one double initials can sound very Hollywood (Marilyn Monroe, Sylvester Stallone). But be warned – it could also end up sounding a bit local radio (Bruno Brookes, David Dickinson).

4. Initial problems

Remember to look at the initials as a whole so you’re not accidentally giving your little one another, less flattering name (Matthew Andrew Davies – MAD, Harriet Olivia Gregson – HOG…).

5. My name or yours?

If you and your partner aren’t married, how do you decide whose surname to use? Many parents go for a double barrelled surname, in whichever order sounds best. Or try going alphabetical to save arguments!

6.  Find a link

The sheer choice of names can seem overwhelming, so if you’re looking for a starting point why not try thinking back to friends or family you have known and loved over the years – or look back over your family tree to find an interesting sounding ancestor (such as Kirsty Allsop’s little Bay Atlas).

7. Be flexible

Once you’ve drawn up your shortlist, be prepared to keep an open mind until you actually meet your baby. It may well be the case that the name you’ve so carefully picked suddenly doesn’t feel ‘right’. Your little Chloe may turn out to be a Rosie!