How to Choose Perfect
Baby Girl Names

There are thousands of baby girl names to choose from ... it's quite overwhelming to have so many names available. Our society is becoming a mixture of races and cultures -- and baby girl names and boy names are part of that mixture!

I know of African American families whose children all have Irish names, because one of the parents went to school in Ireland and likes Irish names! My name is Welsh and very unique in North America (Glennys -- rhymes with Dennis).

So, how will you decide on your baby girl names? Will you choose ancestors' names? Will you choose cute names or serious names? Unique or popular names? Create your own names?

Here are some ideas for you to ponder:

Question 1

When my girl is a grown woman will her baby girl name be taken seriously?

How will it look on a college admission application? Will it sound professional? If she's in a management position, will others take her seriously?

Candy or Elisha ... which would you take more seriously?

Bruce Lansky is the author of "Baby Names Around the World". He's supposed to be the number no. 1 expert in baby names. He did a poll about baby girl names. While it's not the most scientific study ever done, here are some interesting conclusions.

1. Women with names ending in "ey", "ie", and "y" are not taken as seriously as women whose names end in "a". Some examples: Honey, Carlie, Sonny vs. Amanda, Emmalina, Acadia. (Jessie and Demi are exceptions).
2. Women with names ending in a vowel (yes, even "a") are taken less seriously than women whose names end in a consonant. Examples: Karen vs. Christi.
3. Women who have stereotyped names will have trouble with self-esteem. Examples: Vanna (not intelligent) and Hilda.
4. Women with unisex names are ok -- Chris, Leigh, Casey, Jeremy.

Mr. Lansky also says to picture yourself as the director of admissions of a college or a human relations manager who is looking over resumes. Then ask yourself, "if all other skills and talents were the same, which name says "I'm going to be successful. Choose me!"?

What baby girl names will you choose keeping this question in mind?

Question 2

If I give her a "cute" nickname, will that name last into adulthood?

This question is an off-shoot of question 1 -- will cute baby girl names follow your daughter into teenage years and adulthood, and what effect will that have on her? Think about it.

Question 3

Is the name too common or too uncommon?

If you choose a name that's really popular right now, how many kids in your child's classroom will have the same name. Will she be "Emily S"? or "Emily "M"?  or "Emily "T"? It get confusing ... If you choose baby girl names that are very popular right now, will there be lots of other kids her age with the same name?

If your child's name is pronounced the same as four other kids in her classroom: "Emily", Emalee", Emilee", "Emmaleen"... that might get confusing too ...

I once taught a class of teenagers where four of the girls had names so close I constantly called them the wrong name. They tried not to be offended, and I tried hard not to be embarrassed -- Janessa, Jennifer, Jenae, and Jenna. Sheesh! I liked all four girls and wanted desperately to call them by the right name, but it was a struggle!

How could the parents of these girls have known they would all be in the same classroom? Right! They couldn't! It's just confusing sometimes ... to both kids and adults. So it's something to consider.

Right now, in 2004, lots of parents are choosing girl baby names that were popular in the 1930s -- most popular baby girl names are listed at the US Social Security Administration.

Perhaps you could choose a name from the 1940s or 1920s ... to avoid some of these problems.

One Solution For You!

OK, let's say you've decided you're willing to live with your decision to name your daughter "Poppy". That's ok -- the decision is ultimately yours! But maybe you shouldn't give her a middle name of "Honey" -- like chef Jamie did. Instead of "Poppy Honey", perhaps you can give her a more common middle name.

This is what a lot of parents are doing -- giving their daughters one name they really want her to have ... an uncommon one, a cutesy one, whatever ... but the other name (first or second) is professional or common and/or not cute.

More and more teenagers are switching from their "cute" names to their more "grown up" names because they want to seen in a more grown up way.

If they don't have a professional-sounding second name already, some totally change their names to something they like. 

Whatever you decide to name your daughter, I've discovered this truth:

The ultimate choice is your daughter's. She will decide what name she will go by.

Right now, it's up to you what name you choose for her -- but in the end, it will be her choice.

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