If you are going to have a baby (it doesn’t matter whether this is your first, last, or anywhere in the middle), first pray, and then get yourself a pen and some paper, a book for naming babies, and start writing down some different possibilities. Or, perhaps you are only picking out names for a novel that you want to write; the meanings of names are interesting, and it can be a lot of fun to pick out the “right name”!

The names we give our children come from all over the world and reflect our cultural heritage. Last names often give us information about our ancestor’s occupations or their geographic location. Names may stand for some physical characteristic or special achievement of a family member, they may honor a respected family member, or they may be a popular name that comes from a movie, a song, a novel, or a television program.

Names are one of the most important gifts that parents give to their children. When they pick out a name, they are making a major decision that could have positive or negative effects on their child; so choosing the right name for your baby carries with it a lot of responsibility.

The following are some suggestions to consider when choosing that special name. First, consider your own name, and ask yourself if you have been pleased with the name that you were given, and try to remember if you have ever been picked on because of your name.

Consider the nicknames associated with a possible name. Nicknames promote some intimacy among family and friends, so are considered a sign of affection. Some nicknames are shortened names of a given name, like the many nicknames for Elizabeth (Beth, Bess, Liz, etc.). Other nicknames actually come later in life, and are not related to the child’s birth name.

Some parents want very formal names for their children (Victoria, Nicholas, Alexander), and other parents want informal names (Vicki, Nicky, Alex). Middle names help to distinguish individuals in our very populated world. When choosing a first name, check to see if it sounds good with their last name. When picking out a middle name, be sure to look at what the child’s initials would be, and stay clear of initials that would have negative associations (B.A.D., S.I.N., P.I.G.).

Names that parents may think are cute or humorous may not be considered that way to the child (Rusty Hammer, Snow White, Rose Bush, etc.). Also, if you consider names that are common for boys and girls (Terry, Tracy, Robin, Jamie, etc.), keep in mind that generally girls don’t mind confusion with these names as much as boys do.

If your last name is really long and difficult to spell (Eisenstadt, Schwarzeneggar, etc.), do your child a favor and choose a first name that is easier to say, spell, and write. Also, stand clear of the trendy names that are “in”; your child won’t feel as special if there are 4 or 5 other children in their neighborhood or classroom at school with the same name.

Although it has been somewhat of a tradition to name a boy after his father, grandfather, and perhaps even his great grandfather (Robert I, Robert II, Robert III), this could cause some confusion when those with the same name don’t know which one is being spoken to, and sometimes, the other boys in the family may feel jealous or less important than the one with their father’s name.

A good place to find names and their meanings is in the Bible. There are over 3000 great sounding names in the Bible. Some parents choose a Bible name for their baby that reminds them of one of their favorite heroes from God’s Word, and other parents choose names that mean something that they would like to see in the character of their child, or associated with their child (Matthew- a gift of God, Naomi- sweet, Rachel-gentle lamb, David- beloved, etc.).v