Parenting

Whenever I see someone named "Unique" I want to say, no, you are not.

My two sons were named Patrick David, after my mother's father and an uncle of my husband's. Second son was named Jonah Isaac, because. We spent most of the nine months struggling over names. When my husband suggested "jonah" I thought, yes! The Isaac os more or less after a great uncle. Oh, and they both have four names: Patrick David Smith Jones and Jonah Isaac Smith Jones. Those last two represent my surname (which I never changed upon marriage) and their father's surname and are obviously not the actual ones.

Sometimes people try too hard naming their baby. I do recommend paying attention to recent naming, especially of your local newspaper actually gives the names of newborn babies, although a lot of them don't these days. Look at family names. Think about what you like. Try out the names you like, especially with the surname. Pay attention to initials.

There will always be spikes in names. The year I was born Linda was by far the most common girl's name. I always had several Lindas in my classroom all the way through school.

Parents also need to understand that the name they bestow upon their child will stay with that child forever. Don't go for something cutesy. Don't go for a name that is tricky to spell or pronounce. Stick with the basics.