Ten Things I Think About When Choosing a Baby Name

Jena Muhr discusses the process of deciding on a name for her little one on the way. What factored into the choices of your children’s names? 

Naming babies is one of the hardest things that I have ever done. I have done many hard things in life, but naming my children is something that I struggle with. There are so many beautiful names. There are names that mean a lot to me and names that mean a lot to my husband. There are names that I feel are too popular or too hard to pronounce or spell. Then there are names that remind me of people that I have met and associate that name with that person, and in my mind, that name is now taken and not available for my baby.  

There are also different qualities I myself look for in a name that make things even tougher. Some of these areas may not apply to you or your situation. Although it might be a bit much, these are some of the concerns that have been circling in my head for the past several months. It is something that I am putting both a lot of prayer and thought into. Here is a list of ten areas that I have been considering when choosing a name for my kids:   

Have I Chosen a Saint’s Name (or Holy Name) for a Middle Name?

This is something that we have done with our kids, and I really like it. As Catholics, the saints are important to us, and having them included within our lives gives our kids an early start in how we see them. Middle names are like fun “secret” names that the family knows, and the kids quickly learn to recognize that they’re in trouble when they hear theirs from across the room. 

Can I Include a Heart When Writing Their Name?

This is something that I alone look at. My name is Jena with no i or other letter that easily lends itself to having a heart above it. (I know the j can be written in lowercase but that’s the first letter and never seems to work out quite right.) On the other hand, my sister’s name is Katie, and she always got a heart above her name, fitting just right, on field-trip sack lunches. This is just one of my quirks and not the goal of a child's name, but it sure is cute on a sack lunch.  

Does the Name Sound Good or Right to You in Another Language?

I know that many families can struggle with this. In a bilingual community, you need to be OK with how your child’s name comes out in both majority languages. Again, this can be a preference, but it is something that you will be correcting people about for the rest of your life. It might also be important if family members are able to pronounce the child’s name with ease. Sometimes this is difficult for those who exclusively speak a language other than English. 

Does the Name Go with the Names of the Rest of the Family?

There are so many names in the world but when you’re yelling at all the kids to come inside at the end of the day, the names need to flow together. They can’t be too close together but also not so different that it’s impossible to do all of them in one (or two) breaths.  

Does the Full Name Sound Right?

This might be truer for boys than girls, as boys will likely keep their name their entire life. But a full name that blends too well or not enough can sound off or awkward to an unfamiliar listener.  

Does the Name Sound Appropriate for Both a Child and an Adult?

A precious baby name is adorable, but will it sound right as an adult? Or will it be taken seriously as an adult?  

What Nicknames Go with This Name?

I love nicknames. We call all three of our kids by nicknames and I hope to do so for our next child as well. Having a good or appropriate nickname is something that is high on my list of considerations for a name.  

Do the Initials Spell an Embarrassing Word?

For adults, there are so many times that my initials are needed for forms and paperwork. If a name’s initials spell something embarrassing or that would give pause, it is something to consider.  

Does the Name Honor Family Tradition?

This matters if this is something that is important to you and your spouse. In many families, it is a big deal to carry on a family name. Respecting or choosing to move away from such a tradition should not be taken lightly.  

Does the Name Make Me Smile?

Children are a blessing, and giving your child their name is a huge gift. It’s a responsibility and carries weight, but it is also a process that should bring joy and happiness to the whole family. 

If you can’t tell from my recent posts, we have a baby on the way and have been talking a lot about names. We have not chosen a name as of this writing. Choosing a baby’s name is a big decision, but no matter the name, a child is a blessing to a family. As always, consider it with prayer. 

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Copyright 2025 Jena Muhr
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