When it comes to naming your baby, the fact is we have too much choice. In France the law prohibits all names except those on an approved list, and in Germany invented and androgynous names are banned!

There is huge scope to name your baby a great name, but equally huge scope to get it wrong. With this in mind we have drawn up a list of do’s and don’ts for you to consider when naming your baby.

DO’S and DON”TS:

Do wait to meet your baby before you name him. If he comes out with shocking red hair, Rufus might be an option; or if he cries day and night will you still want to call him Happy?

Do write a list of names you like all the way through your pregnancy – being pregnant can make you forgetful.

Don’t forget to write the name you like down with your proposed middle name and surname. Always check the initials don’t spell something like ASS.

Don’t tell people what you plan to call your baby. That way you won’t have to hear their opinion on it, and always know they didn’t like the name (this especially goes for telling your parents).

Don’t think you have a right to a name. If someone you know calls their baby the name you liked, accept the fact that unless you choose the weirdest name you can come up with, names are rarely exclusive.

Do sit in your local playground for a while and listen to the names being called. If you hear your favourite name a lot you may want to rethink your list, as your child could end up in a school with many of these children.

Do think about the impact a name will have on your child. Imagine their future CV landing on a desk one day and what the employer will think of a child called Fox or Harley. Alternatively, think about what it means to be called John Smith when you may be surrounded by Scarlets or Humphreys.

Do think about your surname. Rhyming a first name and a surname, Daisy Lacey or Jayden Grayden, for example, might not be a great idea. If you have a long surname, a short first name might suit better and vice versa.

Do find out what certain names mean. Mildred means mild strength, Rider means farmer and Sadie means Princess, for example. 

Do think about siblings' names. Imagine introducing your children as John and Jocasta!

Don’t be tempted to spell a classic name in a strange way to be different; your child will have a life of misspellings and mispronounciations.

Don’t be fooled by celebrity crazes where names are concerned. The celebrity may go out of fashion and your child may resent you for it.

Don’t be tempted to call your baby a ‘baby’ name like Trixie or Lillyboo – names which don’t sound as appealing on an adult.

Don’t let others change your opinion about a name – especially if you really like it. It’s your child and this is one of the fun things you get to do yourself.

Do try to be original when it comes to repeating names; David Davies or Matthew Matthewson just looks like you didn’t cast the net very wide on your name search.

Don’t be too ‘trendy’. All names go in and out of fashion but classic names will probably still be cool in fifty years, whereas trendy names might just sound silly.

Do look into your family tree to see if any interesting family names come up.

Still stuck? See our Babynamer for a database of thousands of names

See our other baby name features: Naming your baby and The dangers of naming your child.

Last Modified: 29/08/2007