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Considerations when naming baby |
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by lightbee  (January 2007) (rank 18th) |
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If you are thinking of giving your new baby an unusual or a foreign name, there are some special things to consider in the process. I have been saddled with an unusual name ("Leith") and have had a number of challenges to deal with as a result.
If you prefer an unusual or foreign name for your child, consider the following:
- Does the name have a special significance for you? e.g. the name of a relative or friend, a cultural name.
- Is the name easy to spell?
- Is the name particularly long? They may have trouble fitting it into forms they will have to fill out.
- Is the name easy to pronounce? For example, the name "Siobh'an" is pronounced "Sha-vawn" which can be difficult for people who are not familiar with the name.
- What is the meaning and/or origin of the name?
- Is the name appropriate for the child's gender? Think of Johnny Cash's song "A boy like Sue" (see the link to the lyrics below).
Some of the particular challenges I've faced on account of having an unusual name are:
- Most people cannot understand my name over the telephone.
- Most people cannot remember my name when they first meet me or if they meet me infrequently. Some people who I see every day still can't remember it!
- A lot of people struggle with spelling my name - even people I've known for years.
- A lot of people find it difficult to pronounce my name properly.
- Kids with unusual names tend to be the first ones to be teased in the school yard. Who do you think is more likely to be teased: Ben or Gaylord?
- In written correspondence, such as letters or email, I often get people assuming I'm a man. I can't tell you how many times I've received letters or telemarketing calls for "Mr Leith ..."! This is even after I've contacted them first and filled out forms with the title clearly shown as "Ms"!
- I can never find pre-printed named items (e.g. mugs, keyrings etc.). If you want anything with your name on it you have to get it custom made.
- I don't know the true origin of my name as it does not appear in most baby books, and the ones it does appear in conflict with one another.
- My parents didn't have a strong reason for giving me the name (they just heard it and liked it) and that makes it hard to explain to other people why I have the name I do. I usually resort to "My parents were crazy". Or I get asked "Were your parents hippies?" which they weren't.
I've considered changing my name by deed poll (and I may yet do it!) but it is the only name I've known and I think I'd have a bit of an identity crisis if I changed it now. Plus I'm pretty sure it would devastate my parents if I did so (because I'd be rejecting the name they'd chosen for me).
If you do like a name that's out of the ordinary for your child, please research it thoroughly and think about the implications for your child as they grow up with it. A name should be a name for life.
