- Sep 6, 2024
- 2 min read
Parents face a great responsibility when choosing a name for their child. The name will remain with them for life. It will help to shape their personality. It will influence the way people perceive them. Trying to avoid pitfalls can help set up certain parameters to naming a child. Naturally, people look for first names that will compliment or pair well with their last name. Middle names are often given to honor someone or to include the mother’s maiden name. But how do they sound together? It is important to consider the cadence, rhythm and general ring of a name spoken aloud, not just how it looks on paper. People are attracted to unique names and spellings, but these can also sometimes be difficult to pronounce, or just be confusing. A child will then need to go through life explaining their name spelling and pronunciation through each life instance, every new teacher, new coach, new boss.
Some names seem to be trying too hard. Ragnorök may sound cool, but do you really want your child to be named for a mythological battle that ends in the death and destruction of the gods and the universe? A character from a book the parents really loved can feel meaningful. I remember watching Jeopardy around 2005 and a contestant was named Galadriel. The chances were slim that Lord of the Rings would ever become popular to the degree that it did, but clearly her parents were not counting on that when they named her after a character from their favorite trilogy some thirty years previous. But before then, she needed to explain the origin, spelling and pronunciation of her name to nearly everyone.
Norma Jeane Mortenson just simply does not sound as sexy and glamorous as Marilyn Monroe. People choose names for their child because they want to evoke a certain image or lend strength to their child’s image. An aura of destiny can enshroud a name. William Jefferson Clinton, named for a president, became a president. Often, children receive their names from grandparents and relatives, names that have been passed down through a family.
Ultimately, an outside opinion can help. Book your 10 minute gratis consultation today and see if my expertise can help you come up with some options for naming your child.