3 Steps for the Perfect Baby Name

Have you been thinking about your baby’s name long before you had one the way? Or have you never given it a second thought…until now?

Choosing a name for your new baby is kind of a big deal, so how do you choose the right one, particularly if you don’t have a dream name you’ve wanted as long as you can remember?

You can start by diving into popular baby name—though keep in mind you may the run risk of your child having the same name as five other kids in their kindergarten class. But there are lots of names and variations to get you started. Once you have some ideas narrowed down, here’s our step-by-step guide to choosing the perfect name.

1. If you and whoever else has a say in the naming process are passionate about names, create separate baby name lists and jot down your favorites separately. (If you don’t know where to start, check out 13 strategies Babylist parents used to find unique names.)

2. Once you have your lists, switch. You can each cross out names you just can’t deal with.

3. Take that short list and run it through these tests:

• Full name and initials? With the middle name and last name, your favorite first name might not work. Try out different combos to see which one sounds right to your ear and doesn’t make a weird abbreviation.
• Nicknames? Are there cute shortened versions that you love? Or some that sound like nails on a chalkboard?
• Doctor’s office test? How does it sound when you hear, “The doctor will see Sophie Mayer now”?
• Future siblings? If you like the idea of rhyming names for siblings (or want to avoid that altogether!), think about how the names you like might work together in the future.

If you’ve easily arrived at your perfect name, good for you! But know that some parents have a few options they like, and then decide on the right name once they’ve met their baby.