Fortunately, there are some strategies that can help you narrow down your options and create a name that’s the perfect fit for your baby. Before you dive into choosing your baby’s name, though, it’s important to consider how the name you select might impact your child’s life.
Your Baby’s Name Matters
Your baby’s name matters in more ways than one. Throughout your child’s life, people will form an impression of who your child is based on their name. Every time your child submits a job application, sends an email, or makes an introduction the person on the other end will form an instant impression. Your child’s name could predict their personality, influencing how they look and are perceived by others and even determine their level of success. But it’s not just other people’s impressions you should care about. Studies show that kids’ names may have a big impact on how they see themselves.
Why It Matters
The name given to a child might influence everything from popularity to career choice. Here’s what research says about how names influence people throughout their lives.
Impacts Test Scores and College Admission
Did you know test scores and college admission might depend on your child’s placement in the alphabet? A study conducted by researchers in the Czech Republic found that students with last names that are towards the end of the alphabet tended to get higher test scores. Meanwhile, students whose last names were closer to the beginning of the alphabet were more likely to get admitted to competitive colleges.
Influences Purchase Decisions
When a name falls near the end of the alphabet, the person is more likely to make impulse purchases. A study found that people with last names that are near the end of the alphabet are more likely to take advantage of promotional strategies like limited-time offers.
Communicates Intelligence
Middle initials make a child sound smart. In one study, students were asked to rate authors based on their names. Authors with a middle initial received high marks but the one with the most initials, David F.P.R. Clark, received the best reviews overall. The authors of the study concluded that people who use middle initials are perceived as smarter and better performers than others.
Impacts School Behavior
Boys with girls’ names are more likely to get suspended. For instance, a 2007 study found that boys with names that are commonly assigned to girls—like Sue—tend to misbehave more in middle school. The behavior problems also were associated with increased peer disciplinary problems and reduced peer test scores, indicating that their negative behavior disrupted the students around them.
Influences Geographical Choices
Research has shown that people tend to gravitate toward cities that resemble their name. For instance, a 2002 study found that people were disproportionately likely to live in places that sounded similar to their first or last names. People named Louis, for instance, are more likely to live in St. Louis.
Impacts Career Selection
The same study that found people might live in a city that sounds like their name suggested that they’re also more likely to gravitate toward a career that reminds them of their name. For example, individuals named Dennis and Denise are overrepresented among dentists. A follow-up analysis in 2003 did not replicate those findings, however.
Could Stunt Success
In 2007, a study found that people unconsciously desire name-resembling performance outcomes so much that they undermine their success at times. For example, baseball players whose name begins with K tend to strike out more than others. K is the letter used to signify a strikeout in the stats book. Meanwhile, students whose names begin with letters like C and D achieved lower grand point averages than students whose names begin with an A or B. This result was especially true if the students liked their initials.
Research on Unique Names
If you grew up in the early 1980s with a name like Jennifer or Michael, you know what it’s like to have several kids in your class with the same name. Or, if you named your child Sophia or Jackson a few years ago, you probably know several other kids with the same name. While there’s nothing wrong with having a common name, some parents want their baby to have a special name. After all, individuals like Oprah and Madonna only need to go by their first name to know who they are. And many people wonder, did having a unique name help them stand out from the crowd? Jean Twenge, co-author of the study and author of The Narcissism Epidemic: Living in the Age of Entitlement, says, “Parents used to give their children common names so they would fit in and their names would be easy to pronounce and spell. Now, they give their child a unique name so their kid will stand out and be a star.” While standing out from the crowd may sound good on the surface, Twenge argues that it also may inspire kids to think they are extra special to the point that it becomes detrimental. Twenge’s co-author, W. Keith Campbell, says, “Unique names may have some benefits, such as creating a more individual identity, but they run the risk of promoting separateness, which is linked to narcissism.” There are some additional studies that indicate unique names could have potential drawbacks. Here’s what the research reveals about people with unique names.
Viewed as Less Likable
A 2008 study found that people with unique names were viewed as less likable by their peers. They were also less likely to be hired for jobs. For this reason, some human resource professionals now leave off names when they’re screening applicants.
Have Lower Status at Work
People with uncommon names are more likely to have a lower status at work. For instance, one study found that individuals with more common names were likely to have higher-status positions at work. The study also found that when people’s names were difficult to pronounce, they were more likely to have lower-status positions.
Tend to Be in Trouble
People with unique names are more common among teens who get in trouble. For example, a study at Shippensburg University found that kids with less common names were more likely to engage in juvenile delinquency. The researchers acknowledge that uncommon names aren’t likely to cause kids to commit crime, but there may be a correlation with the factors that increase the tendency toward juvenile delinquency, such as low socioeconomic status and disadvantaged home environment. They also suggest that kids with unpopular names may be treated differently by their peers, which may make it difficult for them to form relationships.
Things to Consider When Creating a Unique Name
Clearly, your child’s name isn’t something you should take lightly. It’s important to put a lot of thought into what your child is going to be called. So, consider your child’s name from all angles. No one wants to be surprised by the fact that their toddler’s initials are B.A.D.—or worse yet, an inappropriate word. Write down the name you’re considering. Think about how others might pronounce the name or how it might sound when combined with a middle and last name. While running the name past other people may lead to some negative reactions that aren’t helpful, like, “Oh I hate that name!” you might want to share the name with a few people to ensure you aren’t overlooking something. Here are some additional things you’ll want to review before landing on a name.
The length of the name and how many syllables it has. How easy it is to spell. How easy it is to pronounce. Your child’s initials. The names of your other children. Whether you want the name to be gender-neutral. Your child’s last name and how it sounds with the first. Your child’s middle name and how it all sounds together. What your child’s name rhymes with. (Other kids can be ruthless when it comes to nicknames like Fatty Patty). Nicknames and what you want your child to be called.
Celebrity Examples
When it comes to unique baby names, celebrities don’t disappoint. You might gain a little inspiration from familiarizing yourself with some of the names celebrities are giving to their kids. Here are just a few of the unique celebrity baby names we’ve heard over the years.
Luna Simone – Child of John Legend and Chrissy Teigen Pilot Inspektor – Child of Jason Lee and Beth Riesgraf Blue Ivy – Child of Jay-Z and Beyoncé Exton – Child of Robert Downey, Jr., and Susan Downey Seargeoh – Child of Sylvester Stallone and Sasha Czack Bear Blu – Child of Christopher Jarecki and Alicia Silverstone Sparrow James Midnight – Child of Joel Madden and Nicole Richie Reign – Child of Scott Disick and Kourtney Kardashian Rumer, Scout, and Tallulah – Children of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore Stormi – Child of Kylie Jenner and Travis Scott
How to Create Your Baby’s Unique Name
If you’re feeling a bit stumped when it comes to naming your baby something original, there are many places you can turn to gain some ideas. Here are some strategies you can try.
Combine Two Names
Think about a couple of names that you like and find a way to combine them. Let’s say your partner likes the name Liam and you’re a fan of Teddy, you might find that Tiam or Lieddy have a nice ring to them. You also might combine the names of two people you love. If your mother’s name is Marilyn and your mother-in-law’s name is Theresa, you might land on Tarilyn as a good name. If you’re stumped on how to combine two (or more) names, write them down. Seeing them written out may help you see your options a little clearer. There are also websites that will combine names for you. At the very least, a name combining program can give you some ideas of how several names can be combined into one.
Use a Last Name
Last names can be a rich source of name ideas. If you changed your last name when you got married, you might consider your maiden name—or a version of it for your child. But, it doesn’t necessarily have to be your last name. Think about the last names of other relatives, friends, or even celebrities.
Gain Inspiration From Foreign Names
You might find that your baby’s name doesn’t necessarily need to be unique to the whole planet. Instead, you might be happy with a name that’s uncommon in your language or in your region. Look up baby names in other languages or foreign countries. You might decide to alter the pronunciation or you might want to change the spelling. But listening to names you’re unfamiliar with is a great way to gain inspiration.
Use a Unique Spelling
You might decide the best way to add a bit of uniqueness to your child’s name is by spelling a common name in an uncommon way. Emily can easily be spelled Emmalee, Emely, Emilee, or Emilie. Kaden could be spelled Caden, Caiden, Kaeden, Kaidan, or Kayden. So consider adding a little flair to your child’s name by using a non-traditional spelling.
Pick an Object
You might gain some inspiration for a unique name by simply looking around at the objects in your home. Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, for example, may have found a little inspiration in the kitchen when they named their daughter Apple. Look around at everyday objects in each room and see if anything seems to have a nice ring to it. Keep colors in mind too. For example, Adam Levine and Behati Prinsloo named one of their children Dusty Rose while Sting and Frances Tomelty named their child Fuschia.
Choose a Place
While Paris Hilton made the capital of France a popular name, you can still find plenty of places that make unique baby names. Bono and Ali Hewson named their child Memphis Eve. Kanye West and Kim Kardashian West named one of their children Chicago. Another child is named North, as in North West. Consider naming your child after the place you grew up, the city where you fell in love, or any other place that sounds like it might make a great name.
A Word From Verywell
With a little thought and creativity you can create the perfect name for your little one. Just be sure to take your time and think about the name from all angles—including how the name will sound at each stage of life. You want to be sure the name you give your child is one that is as enduring as it is intriguing.
