From reading the baby name book back to front, to taking inspiration from your favourite TV shows, us parents sure do spend a lot of time pondering over the perfect name for our newborns.
And, if it’s not your firstborn you’re having trouble putting a name on, then it gets all the more complicated thanks to this baby name version of ‘The Rules.’
Yes, there a whole list of ‘Dos and Don’ts’ when it comes to what to call your little ones; and it’s not just avoid names of historical dictators.
The parenting law was laid down by Suzi Catchpole, in her online post for Essential Baby.
The article started out as a response to a mother-of-six who is said to have the most ‘perfect set of sibling names’ in the whole of Australia.
Chloe Dunstan, 23, is mum to Evan, Otto, Felix, Henry, Rufus and Pearl, so we can’t say we disagree - those are all pretty magical names!
As Suzi commented on the six sweet monikers, she also broke down exactly why they work so well together, created the new ultimate guideline to naming tots.
Suzi commented: “With naming siblings, there's a name style to uphold; you don't want the next kid's name to stick out like a sore thumb next to his siblings' names, nor do you want to be so predictable people yawn when they hear it for the first time."
She went on to outline the secret to success for naming siblings, which is as follows..
DON'T duplicate first initials
Amy, Alex and Amelia? What a mouthful. Stick to different initials, especially if your brood extends beyond two. If for nothing else, having kids with the same initials well always end up complicated - letters addressed to Ms. A. Miller will have no meaning ever again.
DON"T pick rhyming names
Kayleigh and Hayley? Zack and Jack? Your kids will never know who you’re yelling at to ‘hurry up and get downstairs and put your shoes on’ when names have a rhyming ring to them. And grandma will never be able differentiate between the two (or three, four, five!) of them.
DON’T use similar sounds
Don’t think you can get away with Masie and Maddy, either - the above still applies.
DO end in different sounds
Much like the above, it’s helpful to have names that all have a different ring at the end. Henry, Emily and Millie, while all adorable names individually, sounds like a nursery rhyme when listed out together.
DO stay consistent in your style.
Do your little ones have granny-chic names? Or have you gone for British classics that are fit for a little prince or princess? Either way, make sure the names you give your tots are consistent with one another. Baby Hector and Baby Steve? They just don’t sound right together, do they?
DON’T have a running theme
While we’re all for naming your little one after your favourite book character or childhood idol, naming a set of triplets after the Harry Potter trio may be a tad too far. Suzi says you should avoid themes – such as place names and flowers – across your brood.
What do you make of this baby naming rule list? Did you break these with your little ones? Let us know on our Facebook or Twitter page.
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