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What's in a Name? Sweetness, Magic and More
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
Not many babies are named Shakespeare these days, nor do babies always smell like roses, but this much is certain: Naming a baby today carries the same weight that it did centuries ago, anchoring a child's earliest identity. Where do you start?
Often you begin with pondering. You might page through name books, look up definitions, discover long-lost names from your family tree, notice what other people name their babies. In recent years, searching the Internet has become common, too. At meritcare.com, we list the 10 most popular names for boys and girls, updating it daily. Pondering concludes when you hold in your hand a list of names you like.
Next comes discussing – and paying close attention to reactions. You might, for example, ask your partner what he thinks of "Kayla" – a name that tops your list. You notice the silence, a frown, then comes the revelation: Kayla was the name of the girl who stole his pencils in fourth grade. The discussion stage weeds out names with negative associations.
Finally you put the name into action. You say it aloud several times a day just to see how it sounds. You might even open the back door and shout it, as if calling Junior home for supper. It's important, too, to write the initials to make sure they don't spell anything unfortunate. And don't forget to anticipate possible nicknames and wrong pronunciations. The key question: Does the name wear well?
No matter how – or when – you choose your baby's name, know this: Babies of all names – and even those yet to be named – begin their lives in the safe, gentle surroundings of our Family Birth Center. Our name, by the way, is MeritCare. And its meaning is simple: You and your new family merit the very best care …and a little sweetness and magic, too.
Posted Date: December 2008