Archive for the 'Baby Naming Tips' Category

3 Reasons to Keep Your Baby Name a Secret

Published

on July 11, 2011

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SECRETS CAN BE A GOOD THING

Secrets get a bad rap, but sometimes they’re a good idea. Here are three reasons why keeping the baby name you choose a secret until after the baby is born:

1) Everyone Has an Opinion

Everyone has an opinion and you might not like the ones you hear about the name you have picked out. Some people might be okay with choosing a name after a close friend or family member has said they hate it, but most people would feel awkward about it.

Take Away Advice:

If you think you might be swayed by someone’s snarky comment, keep your name choices to yourself. Only truly rude people will say they don’t like a name after it’s already been bestowed.

2) Change Your Mind Often?

If you tell everyone the top name on your list, it could “stick” and make it hard for you to change your mind later on. It’s not uncommon for parents to change their minds at the last minute.

Take Away Advice:

If you think there’s a chance you’ll change your mind, don’t share your name choice until you’re 100% positive what name you’re using.

3) Avoid Baby Name Theft

There are people out there who will steal your baby name. As soon as you say, “I love the name…,” a baby name stealer has added it to her list. If that person happens to give birth before you, you might have your favorite name snatched away by another eager parent.

Take Away Advice:

If you would be hesitant to use a name that a close friend or relative has already used, keep your name list to yourself.

AWESOME PHOTO

The awesome photo for this post is courtesy of my college buddy, Nathan Yang. He and his wife, Jojo, are expecting soon and they’re keeping their chosen baby name a secret (as you can see from the photo). They’re also keeping all their friends entertained with cute pictures like this with the help of their mobile photo studio. If you want one, check out his site Workit! Mobile Photo Studio.

TO TELL OR NOT TO TELL

Did you keep your name list a secret? If so, why? Was it the right decision or did you regret it? You can email me or leave a comment. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

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BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

Baby Name Advice from a Dad

Published

Amanda Barden

on December 16, 2010

in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and Baby Naming Tips

. 1 Comment

A New Baby Naming Tradition

A lot of parents-to-be I’ve spoken with have told me that they don’t want to follow the tradition of naming their first born son after dad. A few say it’s because they’re not crazy about dad’s name (I’m not sure if the dads know this or not), but most say they don’t like the tradition because they want their son to have a name that’s all his own. No more of this 00289917 living in dad’s shadow – or even great, great granddad’s shadow.

Sounds like a plan. The trouble is that a lot of these parents really love the idea of carrying on a family name tradition. Quite a quandary.

Here’s a baby naming tip from a dad I met at a baby fair a couple months ago. Since most of my interactions are with moms, it’s always a treat to hear from the dads. And this dad had some great advice…Instead of using the same first name, he told me that in his family, the fathers and sons share the same monogram—CMC. He said it’s great because everyone has a unique name, but they also share a cool family connection. I thought this was great advice!

Ditch Junior or Keep Him?

What do you think about Juniors? Is it a great tradition or outdated? You can email me or leave a comment. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

Nap Your Way to a Better Baby Name

Published

Amanda Barden

on November 9, 2010

in Baby Naming Tips

. 0 Comments

BABY NAMING TROUBLE? SLEEP ON IT

The Brits know a thing or two about choosing stylish baby names. Now they’re sharing some good baby naming advice…Sleep on it! New research out of the UK shows that when people are faced with a tough choice, the ones who put the problem aside and even sleep on it before making a final decision, do the best job. 10221050

Okay, so the research wasn’t about baby naming precisely, but I think it applies. The people in the study were asked to choose the best of four cars based on a variety of pros and cons. The ones who made quick decisions chose worse cars than the ones who put the decision off until the next day. Researchers chalked this up to the subconscious having an opportunity to weigh in and sort out the pros and cons while the decision-maker slept.

There are a lot of parallels between these car choosers and baby namers. Parent after parent I talk to says that choosing a name is the hardest part of having a baby because there are so many factors to consider – Does the name have a good meaning? Does it flow with the last name? Does it fit into family traditions? …just to name a few!

So, what’s my advice to stressed out parents going to be from now on? Take a nap! You can read about the study for yourself here.

This research has another benefit for me – in the future, when I’m busy working and feel the need for a Starbucks break, I won’t feel bad about taking the time – I need to let my subconscious weigh in in order to improve my decision making capability. This research could be dangerous. J

COMMENTS

You can email me or leave a comment. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

3 Tips for Taking the Stress Out of Baby Naming

Published

Amanda Barden

on October 12, 2010

in Baby Naming Tips

. 0 Comments

BANISH STRESS

Believe me, I know how important names are. I spent so much time thinking about names that I decided to write a book about them. That said, I’ve heard from a lot of stressed out soon-to-be-parents – and even some parents who regretted their name choices months after their babies were born. Yikes!

Pregnant woman

With all these tense vibes floating around, I thought it was time to inject some perspective into the baby naming process. Here are three tips on how to take the stress out of baby naming:

1. NAMES ARE IMPORTANT, BUT NOT THAT IMPORTANT

Will your daughter’s future be irrevocably damaged if you name her Charlotte instead of Caroline? Probably not. Remember, there are tons of terrific names out there. Let go of the idea that you have to find ‘THE ONE’ perfect name. Once you accept that there are several great names that would be equally fantastic, your stress level should shrink.

2. REMEMBER, YOU’RE NOT ALONE

If you’re having trouble deciding on a name, turn to other people for help. Ask family, friends and even strangers what they think. I actually think strangers might be the best sounding board because they’ll give you unbiased opinions and are unlikely to have hidden agendas. Plus, if you don’t like their ideas, who cares? You’ll never see them again anyhow. So the next time you’re on the bus, ask your seatmate what she thinks. You can also email me J

3. YOU HAVE PERMISSION TO PROCRASTINATE

It takes nine months to have a baby. Nine long months. Some days you may think that’s a bad thing, but when it comes to baby naming, it’s a luxury. If you’re stressed because you can’t make a decision, put it aside for a day, a week or even a month. You have the gift of time. Procrastinate freely!

CAVEAT: Don’t want to wait until the very last minute. When the hospital staff starts coming into your room every hour to ask what name you’ve chosen, you may start feeling pressured to make a quick decision. Already having an idea of what name you want to choose will prevent you from making a choice you’ll regret later.

YOUR HEALTHY TIPS

Leave a comment and let other readers know your tips for keeping a healthy perspective while choosing a name. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

♥Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

♥Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

Fun iVillage Article with My Baby Naming Ideas

Published

Amanda Barden

on September 13, 2010

in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists, Baby Naming Tips and My Life

. 0 Comments

iVillage Article

Looking for some of my baby naming ideas? Check out this cute iVillage article by Ronnie Koenig. My tips start on slide 3.

Some of my tips are about Scottish Names, Surnames and Bejeweled Names. Don’t miss out!

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

♥Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

♥Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

The “A”s Have It: What Names Made the Grade?

Published

Amanda Barden

on September 9, 2010

in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and Baby Naming Tips

. 1 Comment

“A” POPULAR LETTER

Parents love the letter “A,” even more than you might think. Long before visions of straight A’s on report cards are even in the picture, parents are choosing names that start with the letter “A.” Are they subtly urging their children toward those straight As? Hard to say, but here’s the breakdown…These are the “A” names that landed in the Top 20 in 2009 along with their ranks:

GIRLS’ BABY NAMES

AVA = #5

ABIGAIL = #8

ADDISON = #12

ALEXIS = #13

ALYSSA = #19

ASHLEY = #20

BOYS’ BABY NAMES

ALEXANDER = #4

ANTHONY = #10

AIDEN = #12

ANDREW = #15

APPEALING “A” ALTERNATIVES

If you’re like most of the parents I talk to, you’re looking for a unique name that’s not weird. That perfect blend of uncommon, but easy to spell and pronounce. If that’s you, stay away from the names in above list and consider these “A” names instead:

GIRLS’ BABY NAMES

ADELAIDE

ALICE

ALLEGRA

ALTHEA

AMAIA or AMAYA

ANISE

ANNELISE

ARABELLE

ARIA

ASILAH

AVALON

AYELET

AZELEA

BOYS’ BABY NAMES

ABRAM

ADLER

ALISTAIR

ALONZO

AMOS

ANDERSON

ARCHER

ARCHIBALD

ASHER

WHAT’S YOUR GRADE?

It’s your turn to grade these “A” names. Let me know what you think! You can email me or leave a comment. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

♥Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

♥Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

The Baby Name Insider

Published

Amanda Barden

on August 9, 2010

in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and Baby Naming Tips

. 0 Comments

Entertainment Weekly has The Shaw Report, I have The Baby Name Insider – the latest in cool and uncool baby names and trends. Baby naming trends change just as quickly as fashionable hairstyles, clothes and nursery themes. A lot of parents I’ve talked to were sure they’d chosen a name that wasn’t overly popular yet, only to discover they were very, very wrong. Don’t let that happen to you!

Here are my picks for today’s “Cool,” “In Limbo” and “Uncool” names and trends – some based on my opinion, some based on what I’m hearing from readers.

THE BABY NAME INSIDER

	COOL	IN LIMBO	UNCOOL
“Twilight:” Names:	Jasper	Rosalie	Bella
Location Names:	Kingston	Memphis	Brooklyn
Names that end in “X”:	Beatrix	Max	Jax
Celebrity-Inspired:	Audrey	Presley	Miley

Like The Baby Name Insider? If so, let me know J You can email me or leave a comment. When you leave your first comment, you’ll need to take a couple seconds to “register.” It’s a way to prevent spammers from clogging up comment sections with off-topic advertisements. Once you do register though, you won’t have to worry about it again and can leave all the comments you want.

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

●Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

15 Baby Naming Tips Article

Published

Amanda Barden

on July 16, 2010

in Baby Naming Tips, My Life and Website Announcements

. 0 Comments

A couple weeks ago, Melissa Chapman asked me to weigh in on an article she was writing for SheKnows.com about unique ways to find cool and interesting baby names. I put together a list of 15 ideas and Melissa’s article was posted today.

Here are two of my tips from the article:

Tip #2: Make a game of it

Make it a goal to meet three new people every day and get their names—the checker in the grocery store, the person sitting next to you on the bus, the barista blending your drink—you’re bound to hear something interesting. If mom and dad both do this, it will be something fun you can do together and you’ll double the number of names you add to your list.

Tip #10: Go back in time to popular names from 100 years ago

The Social Security website will tell you today’s most popular names, but it will also tell you what names were popular in the past. Some of the names parents liked for boys back in 1910 were Archie, Everett, Oscar, Otis and Henry.

Read the rest of my tips:

http://www.sheknows.com/articles/816274/15-ways-to-find-a-cool-baby-name-1

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

●Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

Romantic Baby Naming Ideas

Published

Amanda Barden

on July 9, 2010

in Baby Name Suggestions & Lists and Baby Naming Tips

. 0 Comments

00440973

Looking for unique baby names? Turn your baby’s name into a romantic affair. Think about all the people, places and events that are important to you as a couple and you just may find the perfect name along the way.

Here are 11 romantic baby name ideas:

1. The name of the street where you first lived as a couple

2. The name of the restaurant where you went on your first date

3. The city/state/country where you met

4. The name of the friend who introduced you

5. The place where you conceived the baby

6. The name of the singer who sings your song

7. The name of the place where you or your partner proposed

8. The name of the site you got married

9. The place where you went on your honeymoon

10. The name of the actor/actress who starred in the movie you saw on your first date

11. The name of the flower you used in your wedding bouquet

CB022172

Any other romantic ideas? Share them with me!

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

●Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY

HAVE BABY NAME QUESTIONS?

If you have baby name questions, email me at amanda@amandabarden.com.

Your question might appear in a future edition of Ask Amanda.

DO YOU TWEET?

Follow me on TWITTER to get up-to-the-minute celebrity baby name news, interesting names I come across and so much more! I’m @babynameauthor!

For more information on baby names and their meanings get your copy of

BABY NAMES MADE EASY: THE COMPLETE REVERSE-DICTIONARY OF BABY NAMES

Baby Naming Tip from Amanda Peet

Published

Amanda Barden

on July 6, 2010

in Baby Naming Tips, Celebrity Baby Names and Celebrity Birth

. 0 Comments

When you can’t decide between two different names, write both down on separate pieces of paper, put them in a bowl and choose one. Your gut reaction will tell you which name you like better. If you’re excited about your pick, you have your name. If you’re disappointed and want to choose again, the name you didn’t choose is the winner.

According to People.com, Amanda Peet and her husband, David Benioff, did a version of this when naming their daughter, Molly June. Amanda and David were torn between two names – Molly June and Maya June. They couldn’t leave the hospital without picking a name, so David wrote the names on pieces of paper and held them behind his back. Amanda chose the paper that said Maya June and was disappointed…so they decided to go with Molly June.

I think they made the right choice – Molly June flows a little more smoothly than Maya June. What do you think?

SOURCE: People.com

Happy naming,

♥ Amanda

WANT MORE BABY NAME INFO?

●Join the free BABY NAMES MADE EASY newsletter list for the latest baby name news and tips from my website

●Subscribe to the RSS feed so you don’t miss any future baby name posts

GET YOUR OWN COPY OF BABY NAMES MADE EASY