Inspiration for a baby name can come from a million different sources, from a dearly departed loved one's name to a favorite pop culture reference. But of course expectant parents need to take a bevy of other factors into consideration before landing on The Name.
For instance, is it a baby name that they may come to regret someday because it's just way too trendy or actually crosses the line from unique to headshake-inducing? Also, what kind of cringe-worthy nicknames might their child's peers come up with? In short, when considering baby names, taking a magnifying glass to potential negatives, alongside the positives, is a must.
The fact of the matter is that no matter how much a mom- and dad-to-be love a certain name, that name is going to be inextricably linked to a human's identity for his or her entire life. And there are lots of bumps in the road that could come up as the result of a name. As much as parents hope their little one will be free of taunting in school, certain monikers may make them an easy target. Other names may make them feel like they have to live up to crazy-high expectations.
Thankfully, by running certain "test drive" scenarios on a baby name, expectant parents can gain a little bit of foresight. Here are 15 tests that could help steer parents toward the perfect baby name.
SUPREME COURT JUSTICE TEST
One test recommended by Michelle Woo, parenting editor of LifeHacker, involves considering whether or not the name would sound all right if your little one happened to grow up to become a Supreme Court justice. (Or senator, congressperson, POTUS!) Some names may just seem plain silly when you try to put them after "Justice," "Sen.," "Rep.," etc.
INTERNET SEARCH TEST
For centuries, no one had to worry about the results that came up when a name was searched on Google. In other words, it really didn't matter if they shared the same exact name as someone who was arrested halfway around the world. But now, it's a big deal! Experts advise test-driving any baby name by doing some serious recon — or just a few Internet searches to make sure you don't come across any aggravating name overlaps.
PLAYGROUND TEST
Think about what it'll be like to yell your child's name out in a playground setting. If the scenario makes you smile, the name may be a winner. If not, you may want to reconsider.
TIMELESSNESS TEST
No need to go with a super-classic choice such as Anne or John, but it is important to consider whether a baby name is so trendy that you'll come to regret it in a couple of years.
TRANSLATION TEST
When weighing baby names, you're sure to be investigating their meanings. You'll do well to double-check all the definitions and meanings of your chosen name across various languages to ensure there isn't one that gives you pause.
PRESSURE TEST
No matter how much you want to pay tribute to a celebrity, TV show character, or politician you love, experts advise parents to consider the undue pressure that their children may face if they're given names (i.e. Madonna, Beyonce, Barack) that are definitively associated with larger-than-life personalities.
EX TEST
A must-have conversation to have with your partner: Make sure you're avoiding names that bring to mind ex-SOs, ex-friends, or any name that comes with emotional baggage.
NICKNAME TEST
Put yourself in the head of a 5-year-old or 10-year-old for a moment, and think about what kinds of nicknames your child might end up acquiring from their peers. Does something potentially embarrassing rhyme with the baby name? And/or does it bring to mind a bodily function? (Think of those poor little boys named Art!) If so, you may do well to steer clear.
CLASSROOM TEST
The fact is that certain names rise in popularity at the same time, and, in turn, classrooms fill up with multiple kids named Ava, James, Maddie, or Noah. If you're concerned about your kids having to go by [Insert Trendy Name] plus their last initial, Woo recommends checking the Social Security Adminstration's list of most popular baby names.
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY" TEST
Similar to thinking about how the name will sound when shouted across the playground, think about how it might work when preceded by "Happy birthday, dear …" Sure, this isn't the be-all and end-all test, but it may alert you to the name being a bit too long or hard to pronounce — or at least sing.
BARISTA TEST
Consider how your child's name would sound rolling off the tongue of a stranger encountered in daily life, such as a barista at a local cafe. And while you're rolling with that cafe scenario, you may also want to think about how it could be misspelled (as most names tend to be in that setting!).
INITIALS TEST
Similar to the nickname test, consider whether your child's proposed initials could potentially lead to teasing. Unfortunately, other kids will take note if a child's name is Brian Underwood Taylor or Allison Susan Smith.
OTHER RELATIVES TEST
If you've had your heart set on a certain name forever and then your cousin, sibling, brother-in-law, etc. ends up using it for their baby, there may very well be bitter feelings for a minute. But, in the long haul, you'll want your kiddo to be the only Sarah or Joshua in the family.
DISCIPLINE TEST
Give the name a test run in the context of disciplining your child one day. If you can't say the name directly following phrases like "No!" or "Stop that!" and keep a straight face, it may be time for a hard pass.
POSSESSIVE TEST
Though this may not be enough to have you running in the other direction from names such as Russ or Tess, you may want to consider how your child's name will work in the possessive and when part of a plural group. Names that end with "s" can spell trouble, and certain names may simply be tongue-twisters.