Names matter. When you meet someone, you learn their name, and that name gives you an impression.
It becomes part of the total package, like their clothing, features, posture, and all the rest you take in during those first few seconds.
As a parent, you can name your child when they arrive. You might do that without thinking very hard. Perhaps you devise a name, and the child loves it, or maybe they hate it.
If they dislike their name, you might feel guilty because you picked something that causes grief or consternation.
If someone dislikes their name, they can always change it, though that’s a pretty extreme action.
When you think about names and how they shape and influence a person’s life, it’s worth pondering one particular question. Can your name dictate the person you become?
We’ll discuss that notion in detail now.
Keeping a Family Name
Choosing the perfect name for your baby becomes easier if you have a family name that you want to pass down.
Whether it’s an attractive name or not, if you have a parent or grandparent who you loved who’s no longer with you, you can pass that name on to the child and keep it in the family.
In some ways, that takes the pressure off you as a parent. When the child asks about their name, you can say it has familial significance, and that’s why you kept it around.
You can also name the child after yourself. Maybe you have the same name your father did, or perhaps it goes back even further than that.
Some people feel that’s arrogant, though.
They might think someone who names a child after themselves has a swelled head. Your child might not care for that either, so think carefully before taking this action.
Naming a Child After an Athlete
You might choose to name your child after someone notable or famous. Many people do this. Perhaps you have an athlete you particularly admire.
Maybe you’re a big Broncos fan, and you name your child after John Elway. Maybe you want to go further back in history and name your child George after George “Babe” Ruth.
If you do that, you may hope your child has that person’s physical gifts.
You might expect too much from the child if you do that, though. You may find the kid does not have an athletic bone in their body.
Maybe they won’t like the expectation you place on them once you tell them how they got their name.
Naming Your Child After an Actor
You might name your child after an actor you like. Maybe you name them Tom because you like Tom Cruise and the Mission Impossible movies.
Perhaps you name them Marlon because you like Marlon Brando in The Godfather.
There’s nothing wrong with that in theory, but again, you shouldn’t expect particular characteristics because you named the child after a person you admire. Maybe they’ll turn out like that, but they probably won’t.
Naming a Child After a Fictional Character
Perhaps you like a fictional character from a TV series, movie, book, or play. Maybe you even name your child after a comic book character. Perhaps you go with Peter because you like Spiderman and his alter ego, Peter Parker.
That might turn out fine, but think about the character and their history before you act. Maybe that character meets a tragic end in a book or movie.
If so, your child might not like that when you tell them about it.
Nothing says they’ll turn out the same way, but they may not appreciate you naming them after a character who did something wrong in their fictitious life.
Naming a Child After Someone with Negative Associations
You should also probably avoid naming a child something that has negative historical connotations. You don’t run into many children whose parents name them Adolph.
Some names have such negative associations that you can’t help but flinch when you hear them.
You should probably not consider any names that went down in infamy as tyrants, assassins, cheaters, or anything along those lines.
Maybe your kid won’t turn out anything like that, but why even assign them a moniker that most people detest?
Can You Rise About Your Name?
Many times, a name won’t matter. You can call your child anything you want, and that won’t shape them as a person in any way.
If you pick a name that other children can laugh at easily, though, or one that rhymes with something crude or mean, you might cause your child suffering at a young age. Think about that before you move forward with your selection.
Children who have strength and resolve can rise about unfortunate names, but why make them do that? You can Google any name you come up with and see what pops up.
You might discover something about that name’s origin that makes you go with something else.
You can also shop the name around a little. Talk to your family members about one you’re strongly considering. Talk to coworkers, neighbors, or anyone else who you respect.
Your Child Can Change Their Name if They Hate It
Remember, though, that if someone hates their name enough, they can always change it.
They needn’t go through life with a name they despise, and if you picked something bad enough, they can always legally go with something else. They might also go by a nickname or middle name.
Your name is one of the first things someone registers about you, and it’s part of the total package when you shake their hand and get to know them.
If you like your name, you’ll feel confident saying it. If you don’t like it, you might dread this moment.
That’s why parents must think hard before giving you the name that will follow you throughout your life. Hopefully, if you have this responsibility, you’ll pick a winner.