I’m just curious what your own name rules are. For example, I have this weird notion that none of my kids’ names can start with the same letter. I like [name_f]Clementine[/name_f] and [name_f]Claudia[/name_f] and [name_f]Imogen[/name_f] and [name_f]Indigo[/name_f], but having two same letter names feels way over the top to me…probably because I know several families who named all their kids with same-letter names, and I always hated it. But I take it even farther, so if I had four kids, I wouldn’t even want two of them to share a letter.
There are more common rules like alternating the number of syllables in first-middle-last, or not having two word-names next to each other. But I’m sort of wondering what other people’s weird rules are that they’ve made up for themselves.
I have a few which I flout all the time as I can never find the right names/combos!
Combinations must contain a biblical name and/or a name connected with my family/heritage.
Names must have the right ‘feel’ together, e.g. [name_m]William[/name_m], [name_m]Peter[/name_m] and [name_m]John[/name_m] are all lovely classics but [name_m]Peter[/name_m] & [name_m]William[/name_m] feel better together than [name_m]William[/name_m] & [name_m]John[/name_m].
Potential sibsets should have a visibly similar length, for example:
[name_m]Maximilian[/name_m]
[name_u]Evelyn[/name_u]
[name_m]Leo[/name_m]
^ I love all these names but I hate the way they look written down!
I’d love for names to have an additional (children’s) literature reference
Popularity and meaning never factor into name choices.
My rules for myself is that they all have to fit into the same style. I really wanted to go with all five-syllable names for girls, but that’s proven a little too difficult to hold to. But, I like to feel like the names are “fair” in that they all feel equally special or grand or old-fashioned–whatever I’m going for. For example, I really like old man kinda names for boys: If I were naming a brood of boys today, they’d be [name_m]Arthur[/name_m] and [name_m]Edmund[/name_m] and [name_m]Booker[/name_m] and [name_u]Laurence[/name_u].
I also do not choose names SOLELY based on meaning, but the meaning is taken into consideration. If it’s something I really don’t like or is really negative, then I won’t use it.
The only “rules” that I have about naming is, for our future children any middle names will honor family, either my husband’s or mine, and that the name flows well with our last name. Other than that I don’t limit myself very much.
No repeating last name sound (difficult with -a for girls, especially…).
Similar “feel”, but length and popularity don’t matter (although if [name_m]Nicholas[/name_m] and [name_u]Kit[/name_u] were to suddenly whoomph out of the Top 1000, there would be no complaints here).
Meanings are important, but don’t rule everything.
I would say no nickname-y names…but then there’s Kit. So. Apart from Kit, no nickname-y names.
I have to be able to imagine it on my grandmother/grandfather.
Our last name is [name_m]Fowler[/name_m]. So, names like [name_m]CoopER[/name_m] or [name_m]AshER[/name_m] do not go well with [name_m]FowlER[/name_m]. [name_m]Cooper[/name_m] [name_m]Fowler[/name_m]. Is a lot of ER.
The first name starting with the same letter as the last name. My husband liked [name_f]Farrah[/name_f] [name_m]Fowler[/name_m]. (Aside from the big bang theory) The F is pretty strong.
I won’t give a yes on a name until I see the baby. I usually have a good idea. But sometimes they don’t come out looking like I think.
We have a very very common last name… and my husband and I have popular names for our generations.
Middle names honor family.
Names cannot be in the top 100 in our State or Top 50 Nationally
Cannot have a “bad nickname”
Normal (not kre8ive) spelling and pronunciation from the spelling.
this was easy with #1… but we’ve struggled with #2 when it comes to naming our twins. We really liked [name_m]Landon[/name_m] for a while, but it’s around #17 on both lists, and when we ask people, they all know a [name_m]Landon[/name_m]. We’re looking into others. And we may actually have it narrowed down. We have a short list of acceptable middle names, and that’s helping.
No repeating last letters in the first names of a sibset (considering making an exception for a endings in girls, as long as the second to last letter is different)
Not too many repeating sounds in first names. (My name list could easily degenerate into just a party for o’s, r’s, v’s, z’s and the len sylable)
Meaning is important, but gut feeling and personal relationship trumps etymology and namesakes. I don’t consider the database here a reliable source for etymology. I use behind the name databases.
All girl combos must include one name that carries the implication or meaning of strength.
First and middle name combos should balance each other.
I am cautious of names to which I do not have a cultural tie. For instance, I love the name [name_m]Ornette[/name_m] for a girl, but decided I’m not really enough of a jazzhead to be qualified to honor Mr [name_m]Coleman[/name_m] thus.
I am wary of names that have unpleasant cognates in Spanish.
Bonus points for short quirky nn possibilities.
Prefer uncommon names (all of my top boy firsts have always been out of the top 1000, all of my top girl first are grandma names currently trending hard.)
Sound good with my last name. I haven’t quite firmed up the rules for what this means.
Normal spellings and full names are a must. I cringe when I see somebody name their kid a name that can be lengthened. I’m fine with [name_f]Katie[/name_f], but it needs to be short for [name_f]Katherine[/name_f]. I see no reason for yooneek spellings, your poor child is statistically less likely to get hired and will have to face a lifetime of corrections.
Cannot be incredibly popular except for good reason (naming after family, etc. )
Should have some strong gender component in the name, even (especially) if the name is unisex. [name_f]Elizabeth[/name_f] [name_m]Miller[/name_m] would be okay on a girl, yet [name_m]Miller[/name_m] [name_u]Gray[/name_u] would be too much. [name_f]Florence[/name_f] [name_m]Archer[/name_m] > [name_m]Archer[/name_m] as a first.
No fake bible names like [name_f]Lilah[/name_f], etc. I don’t have a problem with biblical names even though I don’t believe in them, but the trend of biblicizing names infuriates me.
I don’t know what I want to do with last names yet, but I would prefer mine in the picture somewhere, even if it is as a second middle name that wouldn’t actually appear on a monogram or anything. [name_m]Just[/name_m] for legal purposes.
No bad initials, and no initials that would produce bad monograms!
No ‘easy target’ names. I knew a kid named [name_m]Bates[/name_m] growing up and he got called Master [name_m]Bates[/name_m] his whole life.
My rules seem simple, but it has become impossible to find names!
Must be pronounceable in Spanish without being butchered or resorting to the Spanish version. For example, [name_f]Isla[/name_f] would be said ees-lah [name_f]Every[/name_f]. Single. Time. by my Spanish-speaking family. Also, it’s a pet peeve of mine when a child is given an English name, but they call them by the Spanish version, i.e., [name_m]Matthew[/name_m]-[name_m]Mateo[/name_m].
Cannot end in a. My surname is A heavy and it just smoooshes together.
No top 100 names unless they have personal/family significance. Top 10 is absolutely out no matter what.
Easy to pronounce and spell at first glance (my name is constantly misspelled even though it’s a legitimate variation).
I would prefer no repeating initials for siblings - definitely not first and middle (two kids with initials [name_m]JAS[/name_m] for example) but willing to overlook just first depending on the circumstance.
No long names - anything more than three syllables is definitely out. I only have three names on my list that are 3 syllables, the rest are 1 or 2.
Meaning trumps flow.
No [name_m]OTT[/name_m] frilly/macho names or names that would be embarrassing to the child.
I used to be a lot more strict but I could only find a handful of name so I have a few exceptions…
*1. Easy to pronounce. (First names only).
2. Original spelling (or most common). Exception for family meaning only (I have one name in mind, if I use it as a first name).
3. No unisex First names. Middle names are okay. [name_f]One[/name_f] name is an exception for family meaning. This includes original boys names now used for only girls. If the first name has any question of the gender than the middle name will be all girl or all boy (depending on the sex).
4. Siblings will Not share the first letter of their first name.
5. No bad meanings. They don’t need to have positive meanings but nothing bad!
6. No nicknames as first names (full names are needed, unless short names are legit).
7. First, middle, and last names should flow okay. It doesn’t need certain syllables but it should sound okay to your ears.
8. Siblings names should fit and sounds well together. This isn’t a must though.
9. I would prefer to have nicknames for my kids (especially the girl(s))/not a must.
10. Prefer that names are out of the Top 50. (At least top 20).
11. Initials can’t spell anything bad. ASS=no, CAR=ok.
12. Names work for both a kid and more importantly an adult!!
Ps. I’m a teacher, so maybe that makes me more picky.
Familiar: Something most people will have heard of (What not to do: Maxillina [name_m]Martin[/name_m])
Dominant Spelling/Pronunciation: If possible, choose from traditional spellings and avoid going against the dominant, regional pronunciation (What not to do: [name_f]Carolina[/name_f] [name_m]Martin[/name_m] in the U.S.A. if you want people to pronounce it care-oh-[name_u]LEE[/name_u]-nuh)
[name_u]Rhythm[/name_u]: Avoid a first name with an identical poetic meter as the last. This is tough since our surname is a trochee! (What not to do: [name_f]Mary[/name_f] [name_m]Martin[/name_m])
Sound Liaisons: [name_m]Don[/name_m]'t choose a first name with an ending sound that matches the beginning sound of the middle or last names (What not to do: [name_m]Liam[/name_m] [name_m]Matthew[/name_m] [name_m]Martin[/name_m])
Texture: Avoid first names with complex textures if your last name is already quite complex (What not to do: [name_f]Heloise[/name_f] Marpizza)
Bonus Points for…alliteration, identical letters starting first name and middle name, internal rhyme, etc.
Has to have some kind of imagery that appeals to me. With crosses out most common names because they’re used so much they have no imagery left in my mind.
Has to roll off the tongue. No harsh sounds.
You have to be able to imagine anyone with that name
Well, there are my rules, and then the ones I have to follow for my husband’s sake.
My husband’s rules:
First name would ideally be Irish.
A Catholic name is a plus.
Middle names must honor family.
Nothing too trendy (in his perception). He’d rather pick something outdated than a name like [name_u]Aidan[/name_u].
My rules:
Nothing that’s totally unheard of in the US.
It must be spellable in English.
I would prefer not to repeat first initials (but I could make an exception for the right name).
I care a lot about having a cohesive sibset.
Most importantly, the name must have some personal significance. I don’t want to pick something we “just like the way it sounds” because there are tons of those. I need more of a reason than that to feel like it’s the “right” name.
No repeating first initials unless I exceed 4 children.
Middles with meaning.
Ages well
Sounds great in American, Russian & Italian accents
Not strange in Russian or Italian languages. Ex. [name_f]Sally[/name_f] is adorable, but [name_u]Sal[/name_u] means animal fat in Russian
Travels well in general.
Not too popular for girls names- like not in the top 500 unless I love it, for boys popularity doesn’t bother me as my taste in classic.
Nothing that has associations when paired together. Like [name_f]Eugenia[/name_f] & [name_f]Beatrice[/name_f] are both nice but make me think of [name_u]Fergie[/name_u]'s daughters. [name_u]Ruby[/name_u] & [name_u]Max[/name_u] pair well, but that’s from a cartoon show.
Transitions well through all stages of life, from cradle to the grave.
Meanings should be taken into account but shouldn’t be the main drive behind a name.
No names honoring family members. I just don’t want my kid to carry the namesake of someone else’s disappointment- this is more of a personal thing than a general overall rule.
No religious names. Nothing Biblical, Hindi, Jewish, or any other name that reflects a specific religious choice. I feel like that’s branding a child to follow a religion they may not want. I know atheists named [name_m]Christian[/name_m] and [name_m]Jesus[/name_m], and they tend to resent their names. I want my kid to make their own decisions, not be saddled with mine.
It has to taste good (I have synesthesia)
It can’t look like someone made a typo on the birth certificate. No frivolous H on the end or swapping an I for a Y or the other way round.
Gender-neutral is best, but I wouldn’t consider a strict requirement for me, more of a guideline.
A certain degree of scarcity. I wouldn’t want my hypothetical child to have three people with the same name in their class.
Avoiding the trendy. Obviously name trends can’t always be predicted (I dread the day [name_f]Hattie[/name_f] becomes “mainstream”) but I hate trendy names. I loathe [name_u]Mason[/name_u] and [name_u]Addison[/name_u] and their ilk. I’m so tired of seeing them.
Avoid the matchy-matchy or overt themes.
Most important: I agree with my partner about it (this might be the hardest one!)
No repeating first initials in a sibset. My boyfriend finds this one weird.
Not in the top 100.
I would prefer it to have one “traditional” spelling - i.e., I wouldn’t use [name_m]Braden[/name_m] because it could be [name_u]Bradyn[/name_u] or [name_u]Braeden[/name_u] or Braydan or [name_u]Brayden[/name_u] or a million other things, whereas it’s unlikely that someone will ask how to spell [name_m]Mitchell[/name_m].
Nothing trendy.
Good meanings are preferable.
Of course, it really does depend on the name itself - if I absolutely love the name, I’m willing to make exceptions, but these are my general guidelines.
