Sarajaine"The Solar" said:
I'm a big fan on being unique and having something different for my daughter's name, so I'm curious if anyone out there has any ideas.
Some generic advice (some from having read a lot of baby name books for character name ideas, others from having friends with children with oddly spelled names):
First, remember that a strange name or strange spelling will almost guarantee that your child will never find one of those items with standard names imprinted on them (e.g., mugs, refidgerator magnets, etc.)
unless you pick a strange name that reduces to a common nickname that they'll use (e.g., Samwise -> Sam). In some ways, the common nickname with uncommon long name gives you the best of both words. Just make sure that the nickname is easy to derive from the unusual name (i.e., is based on the stressed syllable).
Second, baby name books suggest that children (and they in particular mentioned girls) will often go through a phase where they don't like their name, whatever it is. But a lot of children (again, they particularly mentioned girls) do ultimately enjoy having unique names because it makes them feel unique. So this probably isn't a bad idea so long as it's a cool name.
Third, if you pick a name that isn't easy to spell or pronounce, your child is forever going to be having to tell people how to spell their name or pronounce it.
Fourth, we recently had a case where a database reverse a person's name because it wasn't clear which name was the person's last name. Pick a first name that sounds like a first name, not a last name, especially if the child will have a last name that sounds like a first name.
Fifth, picture your daughter having the name you give her as a 20 year-old, a 40 year-old, a 60 year-old, and and 80 year-old woman. Some names sound really cute on little girls but sound really odd on older women.
Sixth, remember that names often have stereotypes attached to them and this goes back to the resume issue that someone else brought up. Ethnic-sounding names may associate your child with a particular ethnic or cultural group. Certain girls names are considered "ditzy", "frumpy", or ugly (e.g., "Helga"). Yeah, stereotypes like this aren't fair but that's not going to change the fact that it happens. Think about what a normal person might think about your child as an adult if their name is the only thing they see on a roster or resume. Also, if you use a character from a fantasy or science fiction source, make sure that it doesn't have negative or embarassing associations if someone gets the reference.
Seventh, in the United States, the way the parent spells the name at the child's birth is the way the child's name will be spelled on their birth certificate and become their legal name. Since the mother is usually recovering from the birth, that spelling often falls on the father. I know of at least two cases where the father fumbled the spelling from what the mother intended. If that's the case where you are, then make sure that you write the name down and give a copy to the father or other relatives that are there for the birth, so if they are filling out the paperwork, you get the spelling that you want.
) I love the feature that enables you to type in any word and it'll find you a name meaning that word. Very high-tech.
