When choosing a traditional Christian name for your child, there are a lot of factors which you will probably want to consider. Giving your baby his or her Christian name is one of the very first things you will do as a new parent, and by doing it well you are setting out on the right parenting track from the get-go. If you don't make a considered, loving choice you may be setting your child up for trouble ahead. There are a lot of pitfalls to choosing among baby names Christian or non-christian, so make sure you consider all sides and aspects of a name before you give it to your child. You must choose a Christian name which will be appropriate in one year, in five years, in ten years, and even eighty years down the road. Above all else, baby names Christian and secular must be versatile. After all, a child's Christian name is their moniker for life!
Even if you love a name on its own merits, you may still want to spend some time considering whether that name is right for your individual child. Baby names Christian or otherwise can be beautiful, lucky, or have any one of a great number of positive attributes, but they will not lead to happiness in the long run if they are not the right name for the child's personality and temperament. It can be difficult to get a handle on the unique traits of your individual baby right at the start of his or her life, but it is important to try and choose something that will be appropriate for you baby. The more time you can spend with your baby before you settle on its permanent Christian name, the better.
One common pitfall which parents encounter when choosing a Christian name for a baby is picking a moniker without being aware of its connotations. Christian names meanings can make a child feel self-conscious, or even encourage schoolyard taunts, so be sure you take into account the potential for Christian names meanings to alter the course of your child's life. Whenever you consider a Christian name from the bible, you must understand that the personage in the bible with that name holds certain traits, and by making that name your baby's Christian name you are associating your child with those traits. To avoid any nasty surprises, you will want to find out Christian names meanings before you choose one for your baby.
Parents often make a short list of Christian names during pregnancy, and then narrow it down to a final two or three names in the last days before the baby is born. This is a good way to go about the process for a number of reasons. Making a short list allows you and your partner to think about the names for a long time, helping you make certain that you will not grow tired of a name as you repeat it. Agreeing on a selection of names also allows you and your partner to make a choice together, with equal weight.
Choosing a name in the heat of the moment right after birth can sometimes lead to a compromise which leaves one of you feeling regretful in the long run, so making a short list a month or two beforehand will let you discuss things coolly and rationally to keep tensions at an absolute minimum.
Planning ahead by making a short list also allows you and/or your partner to do the necessary research to determine Christian names meanings, connotations, and history. However, keeping a few options in the mix until the baby is born allows you to spontaneously choose a name which suits your child.