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Friday, 21 December 2007 19:00 |
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What’s in a name? Er…well, everything, really! Of course your
little bundle of joy is the sweetest, most beautiful thing you
have ever seen and you want to choose a name that reflects
his/her individuality, spirituality, uniqueness and all-round
special-ness.
But wait a minute!
Remember that the unique baby name you choose will help define
junior’s life - how they are viewed and accepted - for many,
many years. What sounds cute and original for a 5-year-old, may
not sound so funky for a 15-year-old…and what about a 55-year
old?
Time was when only celebrities could get away with unique baby
names (Zowie Bowie, Dweezil and Moon Unit Zappa, etc), but in
the modern world, individuality is more prized than ever before,
and increasingly, this starts with our names. Great idea – but
don’t allow a flash of a self-indulgence to condemn your child
to a lifetime of problems; it’s reported that a Chinese couple
named their child “Saddam Sars” to mark the current world events
at the time of the birth! I just hope it means something nice in
Mandarin, or Cantonese!
This probably wouldn’t have happened in Germany, where names can
only be registered if they recognizable, do not ridicule the
child and are gender specific. Perhaps there is at least one
Chinese child in the world, who will grow up wishing he/she were
German!
So – assuming you are not German - what should you do if you
want to create a unique baby name, without creating too many
problems? Here are some tips and some warnings to make the
process less painful:
1. Anagrams: try creating an anagram of an existing name.
2. Father and Mother: try using derivatives of one of the
parents’ names, or a combination of both. Alternatively, how
does the mother’s maiden name sound as a first name?
3. Telescoping: try dropping letters from another name or a
word, until you get a nice-sounding name.
4. Spelling: an unusual spelling of a common name creates
uniqueness. However, remember that your child will be condemned
to a lifetime of “…that’s David spelt D..A..Y..V..I..D…”
conversations.
5. Pronunciation: another trick is to pronounce a common name in
an unusual way. But this can also lead to a lifetime of
corrections and explanations – as well as teasing and
accusations of pretentiousness.
6. History: do some research into names that were popular in
previous eras, but have become less so.
7. Family History: are there any unusual baby names that can be
used to honor family members or ancestors? But beware family
politics…
8. Nature: many names come from the natural world, particularly
flowers (e.g. Rose) and it’s a great source for unique baby
names (e.g. Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter Apple).
9. Geography: another useful source of great names - grab an
atlas and start searching. David and Victoria Beckham called
their first son Brooklyn, which many people think is a
cool-sounding name. However, it’s reported that the choice was
made because that’s where conception took place. Hmmm, imagine a
lifetime in which your name is a constant reminder of your
parents having sex! Eeeuuuuww!!!
10. Celebrities: famous people with slightly unusual names are a
common source of inspiration. There are lots of teenage “Kylie”s
running around the UK since Kylie Minogue’s arrival on the music
scene at end of the ‘80’s, and her recent resurgence, will have
created a second wave of them. And I’m sure many little
“Be’yonce”s have been popping up over the last few years. The
only problem is that names like these very soon begin to sound a
little silly and “wannabe”.
11. Foreign Names: consider using a foreign version of a name,
e.g., Pedro, instead of Peter. Or try using a name from a
completely different culture.
12. Nicknames: try using a nickname e.g. Angie, instead of
Angela or Angelina. However, make sure the name is will pass the
“age test” – see number 17 below.
13. Middle Names: a great way to accommodate individuality when
naming your baby, is to combine a common first name with a
unique second/middle name. The benefit of this is that your
child can avoid embarrassment throughout his/her life by
ignoring it of keeping it hidden.
14. Initials: when you have settled on some names, check that
the initials aren’t embarrassing. This is an easy trap to fall
into and can lead to a lifetime of misery. “Zina Indigo” are may
be nice sounding names for your lovely daughter, but make sure
your surname doesn’t begin with “T”!
15. First Name-Surname: check how the selected first name
combines with the surname. Make sure the two names do not create
some something recognizable, to prevent a lifetime of teasing.
Also, check the rhythm of the two names; a different number of
syllables in each name usually flows much better. Avoid rhyming
the 2 names at all costs or your child will hate you forever!
16. The loudness test: try saying the name softly, at normal
pitch and shouting it very loudly. You may be surprised at the
results.
17. The age test: try to visualize your child with the name as a
baby, as a teenager, as a young adult, a mature adult and as a
senior citizen. A name can create completely different
perceptions of the individual at separate stages of life.
18. The meaning: the final test of the name that you choose
should be to check its meaning (if any). Don’t leave your child
open to getting a nasty surprise later in life.
Whatever name you decide, don’t fall into the trap of
self-indulgence. Remember, it’s not about you, it’s all about
your child. Your grand design to celebrate the uniqueness of
this new human being, may eventually lead to a lifelong,
desperate desire for conformity and anonymity. Even Zowie Bowie
eventually changed his name to “Joey”…
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