Baby Name Generator

How to choose a name you'll still love in twenty years

Some thoughts from people who've named children and lived to tell the tale:

• Say it out loud. Multiple times. With your last name. With "Doctor ___" in front of it. In a stern tone.
• Check the initials. "Adam Sebastian Smith" is a fine name until you put it on a backpack.
• Search it. Google the full name to see what comes up. You don't want your child to share a name with a serial killer or a meme.
• Consider the nicknames. Every "Robert" eventually gets a nickname — do you like all of them?
• Don't over-source-of-truth. Friends and family will have opinions. Take them under advisement, then ignore them.

Naming traditions, in brief

Different cultures have different rules. A few worth knowing about:

• English/American: No formal rules. Honor names (after a relative) are common but optional.
• Irish: Traditional first-son after father's father, second after mother's father, etc. — still common in some families.
• Hebrew (Ashkenazi): Names traditionally honor a deceased relative.
• Spanish-speaking countries: Two surnames (father's then mother's) are standard.
• Iceland: First names must be on an approved list — the Mannanafnanámd.