When naming your baby the possibilities may seem endless. Think of your child as a unique individual. They will be answering to their name through all the many stages of their life so it should stand the test of time.
Naming Your Baby
It's never too soon to begin choosing a name for your baby. And what an enjoyable and thought provoking challenge it is! Stuck for ideas? Check out Pregnancy.org's Baby Name-o-Matic!
At first, the possibilities may seem endless. There are popular names, old family names, names of great and famous people, literary names, and names with religious significance. You may have had a particular name in mind for years, or you may just be beginning to consider the options. Wherever you are in the process, take a few moments to think about the purpose and importance of a name before making your choice.
The first purpose of choosing a name is to help you begin thinking of your baby as a "someone", an individual with an identity all his/her own. You don't have to have your final choice picked out before your baby arrives, but thinking about names now will help you and your partner explore what you like and dislike, and discover where your preferences match or differ.
In addition, choosing a name will help define how your child will fit into your family, your culture, and your community. You may want your child's name to reflect the continuity and closeness of your family and, therefore, choose to name your daughter after your great grandmother or your son after his father. Perhaps you have high hopes for your child's future and want to name your child after a respected public figure or you may choose a name filled with cultural or religious tradition to remind your child of his/her heritage.
