[name]How[/name] important are these things for you?
Syllable count
[name]Do[/name] the first, middle, last name have to have different numbers of syllables?
The flow
Some people don’t like it if the end of the first name and the beginning of the middle/last name are similar. For example: [name]Arabella[/name] [name]Adele[/name], [name]Arabella[/name] [name]Eva[/name], [name]Elias[/name] [name]Stephen[/name], [name]Joachim[/name] [name]Moses[/name].
1 Syllable count - this is not important to me
2 Flow - this is sort of important to me but not a deal breaker if it doesnt sound amazing with a last name
3 Initials - doesnt matter to me as long as they dont say something seriously inappropriate
4 Popularity - not a huge issue for me either, if I love a name enoigh I will use it regardless
5 Familiarity - depends, I like a lot of french names and Im ok if theyre new to people but I would like them to be easy to pronounce for others because it’s not a problem for me and I sometimes worry I wont realize that while my family can say the name my kids teachers and friends may not be able to
[name]How[/name] do I judge a name? For my own list, or when I see it on someone else’s list? Because when it’s for my own list, I don’t consider any of those. Not really. As long as the initials don’t spell anything truly awful (like BJ or DIK or something), I could care less about initials, and, as someone with a popular name who loves it, I could care less about how popular a name is. I really don’t care about if a name runs into each other (like [name]Arianne[/name] [name]Noelle[/name]) or if it’s rhymey (like [name]Emerson[/name] [name]Calvin[/name] or [name]Anna[/name] [name]Marina[/name]), or if they’re alliterative, like [name]Sophie[/name] [name]Serena[/name] (although I would try and avoid SS, due to the Nazi military branch). I try to avoid 2-2-2 and 2-2-2-2 flow, as it’s too redundant to me, but that’s the only syllabic count I do try and avoid. It’s nice when a name is easy to spell, but I’m more concerned by if a name will stand the test of time, and whether it’s spelled easily, and whether it is on the proper gender. I really can’t stand unisex names on girls, lol. When it comes to making combos, I want something that’s going to mean something to me, whether it’s a family name, the meaning is something I stand for, it relates to a story or a part of the Bible I love, etc. But it just seems worthless to use two or three names that I just “like” because I like it. All of my names have at least some meaning to them.
Syllable count
[name]Do[/name] the first, middle, last name have to have different numbers of syllables? Not too important. I’d rather not have a full name that’s 3 syllables or something, but it’s not a huge deal.
The flow
Some people don’t like it if the end of the first name and the beginning of the middle/last name are similar. For example: [name]Arabella[/name] [name]Adele[/name], [name]Arabella[/name] [name]Eva[/name], [name]Elias[/name] [name]Stephen[/name], [name]Joachim[/name] [name]Moses[/name]. I think the flow with first and last name is more important than first/middle. People rarely get called by their first and middle names together so a little clashing is ok. I think I’ll stay clear of a lot of alliteration unless I really love the name.
Initial
FN/LN
FN/MN
MN/LN
All together Initials aren’t a huge deal to me, but I would stay clear of undesirable initials. Luckily my kids will have an “F” last name so there aren’t too many terrible initials we could make. If I had another last name I’d avoid things like ASS, VD, FU, things like that.
Popularity I have a super popular name for my age, and honestly, it annoyed me! So when I name my kids, I’m looking for less popular names. Of course popularity is different now than it was when I was born, but I’d still like to avoid the top 100 if possible. If we really love a name though, I’d use it unless it’s in the top 10. I really didn’t like being [name]Jenni[/name] P. my whole life!
Familiarity
Easy to spell, pronounce, etc. This is pretty important. I’d rather not use a name that’s going to cause my child issues with those things. I also don’t like using alternate spellings unless it is also a “legit” spelling (for example, I prefer [name]Elliott[/name] over [name]Elliot[/name]. [name]Both[/name] are legit names, but [name]Elliott[/name] is technically the surname version). Perfect names for me would be names that are uncommon yet recognizable.
Syllable count is somewhat important. I’m trying to avoid choosing a name that follows the 2-2-2 syllable count, certainly. And I do think that rhythm is important. But it’s less important than other factors.
This is fairly important, but if a name means enough to me, I might handwave it.
This is a big factor for me. I really try to avoid initials that spell something. In some cases, I would probably overlook it, but as someone who likes to monogram things, I really would want to avoid “cool” initial combos like ZAP or unfortunate ones like SUK.
As someone who went through school with an initial attached to my name, this matters a lot. The more popular a name is, the less likely I am to pick it.
Well, I don’t necessarily care if a name is familiar. It doesn’t hurt someone to learn a new name. I am trying to take spelling and pronunciation into consideration, though. I think all of the names on my list are easy enough to manage–even the longer ones (okay, granted, [name]Django[/name] might throw some people). And I do NOT like cutesy creative spellings. Some variant spellings are okay, but random spelling deviations are not.
Syllable count a flow go hand-in-hand for me mostly. There are exceptions, but generally speaking I like names to not all be the same amount of syllables or it throws off the flow for me. There needs to be a good cadence to a name. I also dislike the endings that flow together. It just sounds messy to me.
Initials aren’t a big deal to me, unless, as a pp noted, they are bad. Like BJ for example. I actually knew a kid when I was younger who was [name]Bruce[/name] [name]Junior[/name] and went by BJ. It is a good thing he was popular because he would have been teased even more than he already was!
Popularity is something I consider on my own list, but only because in my family we have issues with individuality. On my mom’s side my grandparents are [name]Edward[/name] and [name]Marilyn[/name]. [name]Marilyn[/name] has a brother [name]Edward[/name] and a sister-in-law [name]Marilyn[/name]. Their oldest: [name]Marilyn[/name]. Next, my mom who is the fourth [name]Dorothy[/name] (Grandma [name]Dot[/name], Big [name]Dot[/name], [name]Little[/name] [name]Dot[/name], and Dor). [name]Daniel[/name] is their third - after [name]Ed[/name]'s brother. Then [name]Edward[/name]. Then they ran out of names and went with [name]Seth[/name] and [name]Jennifer[/name]. To continue in the extended family their are my G-ma’s brothers, [name]Andy[/name] and [name]Bob[/name], who each named a son [name]Bob[/name] after [name]Bob[/name]. Their wives are [name]June[/name], [name]Judy[/name], and [name]Julie[/name]. So my mom and her siblings were really individual when naming their kids. Hollyann, [name]Marissa[/name], [name]Erik[/name], [name]Stefanie[/name], [name]Zachary[/name], [name]Natalie[/name]. Now [name]Erik[/name] is dating a [name]Marissa[/name]. [name]Marissa[/name] is dating a [name]Zach[/name]. Next think you know we’ll all be named the same things again! Haha. So yeah. I am crazy about popularity because I want my kids to have their own individual names. But when it comes to other people what I always say is: if you really love the name and nothing else can compare, then just use it instead of settling.
And yes. [name]Even[/name] though I like unique names better than more popular names I still like names that are recognizable, and pronounceable. Ease of spelling is that big of a deal, but I prefer classic spellings that make sense to kre8tive spellings.
Another thing I consider, not on your list, is meaning. And not just the little line next to the name “[name]Margaret[/name] means pearl” but what it means to me - what my relationship with the name is. For example: [name]Theodore[/name] with the nn [name]Teddy[/name]. I love this name because of all of the wonderful associations I have with it. 1) It has the same meaning as my mother’s name, a great way to honor her without using her name, which I would never do. 2) [name]Theodore[/name] [name]Laurence[/name] from [name]Louisa[/name] [name]May[/name] [name]Alcott[/name]'s [name]Little[/name] Women . 3) [name]Teddy[/name] Bruschi. I am a die-hard Patriots fan and he is one of my all-time favorite players. 4) [name]Theodore[/name] “[name]Teddy[/name]” [name]Roosevelt[/name]. My vote for best president ever! (And I’m a history nerd, haha). 5) The song “[name]Teddy[/name] Loves Her” by my favorite band [name]Meg[/name] & [name]Dia[/name]. I just love the song and it gets me moving. And finally 6) [name]Teddy[/name] Cutting from [name]Anna[/name] Godbersen’s The Luxe series. He was one of my favorite characters. I was rooting for him the whole time I was reading!
I would say out of everything that flow and meaning are the most important to me when considering anyone’s names. If it flows and has any good association for me then I am bound to like it. Popularity is a close third as far as my own name preferences are concerned.
1) Syllable count - [name]Do[/name] the first, middle, last name have to have different numbers of syllables?
Something I consider, I try to ensure varied number of syllables for interest and rhythm.
2) The Flow - [name]How[/name] does the fn, mn, surname flow together?
I like to consider how the name sounds in its entirety as well as in its most common form (FN/LN).
3) Initials - FN/LN, FN/MN, MN/LM, All
Again something I look at in narrowing down choices, I check FN/LN initials and full name initials and unless it is particularly embarassing/offensive I’m not too fussed.
4) Popularity - Too popular or too obscure?
I tend to lean more towards liking unusual and obscure names but I wouldn’t not use a name because of popularity alone.
5) Familiarity - Intuitive spelling and pronounciation
I prefer names that use original or a known and accepted spelling variation. I don’t really care if the name is hard to spell or pronounce if it’s not made up as most people will get it after they hear it once or twice - plus my maiden name was commonly misprounced/mispelled and it never bothered me.
6) Meaning - Etymology, personal meaning, pop culture & historical connections
I completely agree with vicioustrollop9 - I think this is the thing I rate the highest - personal meaning, the names etymology and any historical or pop culture connections are all things I examine closely.
Any one of these things alone wouldn’t rule a name out for me, it would be a combination of two or more that would exclude it from my consideration.
1 Syllable count - Wouldn’t stop me choosing the FN I like, but it would definately factor into middle choices so the name wasn’t too samey.
2 Flow - I hear sounds more that letters- I would base it on that.
3 Initials - I have to constantly check this as I have Y as a last name, I include nn initials.
4 Popularity - I would want it known, but ultimately I have to like it too
5 Familiarity -made that mistake once so now I would always choose a name that is easier to spell/ pronounce- phonetically ideally.
6 Meaning- very important, BUT more that it isn’t negative. The perfect name would meet all my whims and have a great meaning.
7 Association- this has become VERY crucial to me. I am a teacher- so names must not have a negative association. Also, with so many cousins and friends it seems the name ‘pool’ is more like a name ‘puddle’ unless I give in and use a cousin name (especially boys).
Syllable count - [name]Do[/name] the first, middle, last name have to have different numbers of syllables?
Not super important to me, but I don’t like it when they’re too rhythmic
The Flow - [name]How[/name] does the fn, mn, surname flow together?
I definitely think the name needs to flow. If the names sound awkward together, then I don’t like it.
3) Initials - FN/LN, FN/MN, MN/LM, All
My fiance’s last name begins with T, so I have run into this a lot. Most of my favorites actually do make a word, like [name]BAT[/name], LET, EAT, etc. However, as long as it’s not a bad word I am likely to look past it.
Popularity - Too popular or too obscure?
I used to worry about this a lot, but then I realized that a lot of the names I like are on the more popular range of the scale. Now I just try and avoid names in the top 20 (though I still wont give up [name]Elisabeth[/name]).
Familiarity - Intuitive spelling and pronounciation
As long as it’s not very obscure, I don’t mind if it’s a little bit difficult to spell or pronounce. Basically, as long as it’s a name people can get used to after hearing it a time or two.
Meaning - Etymology, personal meaning, pop culture & historical connections
I like using names in my family tree or names that have strong meaning to me. I also tend to avoid names with less than favorable meanings or personal associations. Historical connections are a plus.
Syllable count - I personally don’t find this important at all
The flow - I think this matters enough to realize that it exists, but not enough that you should change your favourite name because of it.
Initial - don’t spell words. My dad’s spell DAD and he got testicular cancer. It may negatively impact your child’s life - possibly in a sadly ironic way
Popularity - This. Matters. I met a little girl named [name]Isabella[/name] today. First thought: her mom really wants her to be popular/her mom really likes Twilight/her mom really wants to be popular. They were pretty simultaneous. I find the 200s too popular, personally. But whatever you feel is best.
Familiarity - I think matters too. A lot of people will assume your name is made up if they’ve never seen/heard it before. And people may stumble over it in school. Which sucks, trust me. Me and my last name can tell you that. But I don’t think any name is immune from being unknown. I’ve had people mispronounce my name. It’s [name]Mary[/name]. Only one of the most popular names ever in the entire English speaking world!