Baby Middle Names

When you decide to put a middle name on your child?s birth certificate it is important to choose a name that bodes well together with the first and last name. You may even choose two, three or four middle names if you?re feeling really inspired! The number of middle names usually depends on the parents will, it depends on their culture and last but not least, it depends on the society and country they live in. It is well known that Brazilians (well, South Americans in general) tend to have the longest full names, composed out of a first, last and at least two or three middle ones. Parents can use the same guidelines that they used in choosing the baby?s first name; but in this case they can be more creative. The middle name is hardly ever used; it?s more of an element of uniqueness and often serves as a middle point between the will of the parents and a slightly weird, uncommon name that couldn?t be used as a first.

It?s often the case that parents give their babies middle names similar to famous locations, or even countries. As parents sometimes choose a middle name that represents something meaningful in their life, or something beautiful that they want to always remember, they might choose the location they spent their honeymoon in, or the location where they conceived their baby as his or her middle name. A lot of babies? middle names got to be Paris, London or York that way.

Country names are also popular in this sense. Some parents went in a spiritual journey in Israel for example and were left with a memorable experience. Therefore, they choose Israel as a middle name for their baby boy. Other popular countries for baby middle names include Holland, France or Italy. They all resonate nicely and also represent beautiful countries.

Another situation is naming your baby after a special person that you love or have a certain feeling of gratitude or respect for, such as a family member, a celebrity, or a friend. Parents can use that person?s name as their baby?s middle name, thus showing them gratitude.

Statistics show that middle names are becoming more popular these days than they were before in the United States, which is why so many people look for a unique and beautiful middle name for their babies. Another interesting thing about choosing baby middle names besides those written above, is the fact that parents can choose more than one middle name. If you and your spouse can?t decide on a single name, you can each choose a middle name for your baby! There?s really no problem in having two middle names and this way both you and your spouse will be happy.

Choosing a first name for your baby is definitely not an easy task. That?s a hard choice and you?ll have to be extremely picky about that first name. Middle names on the other hand tend to be more ?fun? to choose, because they offer a bigger freedom of choice. Just make sure everything falls in well together and you don?t get first and middle names that spring cacophonies or are otherwise too hard to pronounce.

Because Your Baby Deserves The Best Name

Fraser Wheaton is the founder and publisher of The Baby Name Kit website.

http://www.BabyNameKit.com

We aim to be the worlds largest content provider for baby name information on the internet. If you have a baby naming question, chances are, we have the answer.

Read More

Points To Consider When Choosing A Baby Name

OK, so you're wanting to choose a baby name for your baby that will be arriving soon. Should you choose one of the popular top 100 baby names, or an unusual or unique baby name, a celebrity baby name or something even more exotic. Well before you make that final choice, consider these points.

1) Most people tend to choose traditional baby names e.g Alexander

2) Try to avoid baby names that will always be mis-spelt e.g Tomas, Allyson

3) Be aware that some girls names are also boys names e.g Peyton, Mackenzie

4) Give thought to the middle name in case child isn't happy with your choice

5) Make sure the first name flows well with the last name

6) Consider a name that has been in your family tree

7) If you stutter on certain words or letters (like me) choose baby's name carefully

8) A non-traditional or unusual baby name can subject your child to always having to spell it

9) Will the baby name you choose be shortened by your child's friends. If so, to what?

10) Is the baby name you choose going to be in fashion or popular and cool for only a short time

11) Older names are coming back in fashion e.g Ruby, Audrey

12) Don't get too hung up on the baby name meanings and their origin

13) If you are naming junior after dad, be prepared for some confusion when the mail arrives

At the end of the day your choice is probably going to be influenced a lot by the name of people you have known and liked or known and disliked, maybe an actor/actress name but I am sure when the final decision is made you will go with your intuition and what feels right

If all else fails your child can change his/her name when they finally leave the nest. I had a friend whose name was Sarah Longbottom. At school, she always wanted to change her name and at 21 she finally did, to Lauren Longbottom!!! Just kidding.

Why not go to one of the many baby naming websites and see if they can help. Find one that has a simple, not too confusing list and some good artilces to help you decide.

About the Author

Kerrie S is the owner of a very popular and easy to navigate baby names site called The-Popular-Baby-Name-List.com. The site has the Top 100 baby names as well as a lot of useful articles of interest for the mother-to-be.

Read More

From 'jennifer' To 'jennafur' The Search For A Unique Baby Name

How many times have you heard an expectant Mom or Dad say something like we're trying to come up with a unique baby name - you know, something a little different...

Many expectant parents, when they're trying to choose a baby name, start at that very point. But where does a little different end, and disaster begin? With Abbygale? Cayllinn? Machenzie? Kal-El? Pilot Inspektor? Little Bigfoot?

You get the picture. Taken to its extreme, which it often is, the search for a unique baby name is a slippery road that can end with a name that the teacher can't spell, friends can't pronounce, and no-one can understand. When baby gets bigger, he or she is not going to be pleased, being the only kid in the class named after a remote Siberian village, or a brand of shaving cream, or whatever Mom and Dad seized on in desperation some five or six years previously.

What exactly do parents mean by a unique baby name? The dictionary defines unique as: he only one, or the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics. In order to be truly unique, a name would have to be the only one of its kind, which leads you to the Moxie Crimefighters (Penn Jillette's daughter's name) and the 'Jennafurs' of the world. But what most people probably mean, when they say unique, is that they're actually looking for a baby name that is individualistic, a bit different, somewhat unusual, and memorable.

If you really want to make up a baby name, thereby ensuring its uniqueness, there are a number of simple strategies. The most popular method is to use alternative spelling, turning 'Kaylee' into 'Kayleigh' for example. But in your search for the truly unique, don't fall into the trap of turning 'Jennifer' into 'Jennafur,' or some such abomination. A recent news story noted that in 2006, according to statistics from a leading baby names website, there were at least 45 variations of the name Mackenzie, including such strange variants as 'Machenzie' and 'Mackynzi'.

Another trick is to use unique punctuation, turning 'Maxwell' into the odd name
'Max-Well'. Then there is the anagram method, turning a name like 'James' into 'Smeja.' And finally there is the method that makes traditionalists see red -- the combination method, by which parents named Mary and Donald will name their boy or girl 'Mardon.' Get it?

The point is, anyone can mangle any word in the dictionary into something else, and call it a name. And sure, it will be 'unique.' But will it be desirable? Not if you're named Gnataleigh. Is there another way to come up with a name that is unusual and individual? There is. Probably the surest method is to look through baby names lists for names that do have some heritage, some history, but have not been used in recent years, and try to find an unusual name that fits your personal tastes and desires.

Baby name websites and baby name books are rich sources of unusual, often forgotten, yet 'real' names - names that often have fascinating and beautiful origins and meanings. Here are just a few of the lists or categories you could look at: biblical names, floral names, Victorian names, place names, Royal names, Shakespearean names, mythology names, sports figures names, ethnic names, top names from the 1920s (or any decade you like), early film star names, and so forth. There are literally hundreds of categories of names, and each one can be a good starting place to find an unusual, meaningful name.

The trend towards made-up names has really picked up steam in recent years. Judging by the 45 variations on Mackenzie alone, it seems to be getting to the logical conclusion, where you'll need to come up with some really strange variations to stay unique. If you do go down this road, try to avoid being Mackenzie variant number 46.

If you still end up stumped, you can always do what a Michigan couple did a couple of years ago - they named their son 'Version 2.0.' There's no question it's a unique name.
About the Author

Neil Street is co-publisher of Baby Names Garden, a website dedicated to helping parents choose the perfect baby name. He writes frequently about topics like unique baby names

Read More