Once parents find out if they’re having a boy or a girl (assuming they don’t choose to keep this a surprise), the next question that comes up always seem to be this: what should we name him/her? Perhaps you’ve already had the perfect names picked out for years now. Or maybe you’ve been bouncing some ideas around, but you haven’t settled on one just yet.

Remember, names last for an entire lifetime, so it’s important to select the right one!

Ways to search for baby name ideas
Baby name books, magazine articles, and even websites make it easy to access all the possibilities for names. You can narrow down your search for possible baby names by first initial, origins and meanings, number of syllables, and so on. You can even search for unique and rare names, or make a common name your own by altering its traditional spelling. If you are the type who wants to get into serious research, you may want to purchase The Baby Name Wizard, Revised 3rd Edition: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby

Naming your baby after someone special
Has someone made an important impact on your life or your partner’s life? Consider honoring that person by passing on their name to your baby. Perhaps it’s not necessarily anyone special (or anyone that exists), but a lot of mothers have gotten great ideas for baby names through fictional book and movie characters.

Middle names
Middle names are not always necessary, but should you use one? Once you’ve decided on a first name, explore the possibility of adding a middle name.

Unisex names
Don’t know the gender of your baby, but feeling a bit unsettled without having a name picked out? It can be overwhelming enough to try to settle on name possibilities for both a boy and girl, so consider a unisex name.
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