Jonathan and Melissa Miller are having their first baby. For months, they have been planning for their child’s arrival. They want every little detail to be just right for this momentous event. The nursery is finished and decorated with wallpaper that has cute little teddy bears all over it. Soft, miniature clothes fill the dresser drawers. Baby oil, baby powder, moist towelettes, diaper rash ointment, and other essentials stock the shelves. The baby monitor is positioned near the solid oak crib. Melissa’s great grandmother’s rocking chair sits facing the window awaiting the moment when she will gently rock her child to sleep after nursing it.

In four weeks Jonathan and Melissa will be welcoming their baby boy or girl into the world. They are fully prepared with one exception: they have not chosen a name for the baby. Since they do not know the gender of their baby, Melissa and Jonathan will chose a boy and girl name. Almost from the time they learned of the pregnancy, they have been contemplating what names to choose. Now they are coming down to the wire and still have not found the perfect names.

Jonathan wants to give the baby an ordinary name like Thomas or Mary. On the other hand, Melissa wants a non-traditional more unusual name. She does not want an ordinary name to be a part of her child’s identity because her child will not be an ordinary person. Given their different thoughts about naming their child, they decided to choose first names that are not conventional or popular names used in the United States, but are still practical. Under no circumstances does Jonathan want his child to have a name that he will be ridiculed about for the rest of his life.

While surfing the net for baby names, Melissa came across a Website that listed the name Karita, a Scandinavian name for a girl meaning “loving and benevolent.” It also listed the Scandinavian name Rikard, a boy’s name meaning “brave and strong.” She also came across a several popular Scandinavian names including the following:

Girl’s names and their meanings

Annika – Grace
Bo – Commanding
Karri – Pure
Selma – Divinely protected

Boy’s names and their meanings

Carson – Son of Carr
Lamont – Lawyer
Leif – Beloved
Mathias – Gift of God
Eric – Ever powerful

She presented each Scandinavian name to Jonathan and they decided on the Scandinavian name of Karita for a daughter and Eric for a son.

Melissa’s and Jonathan’s difficulty with choosing a name for their child is not uncommon. The child’s name is a symbol of his or her identity. It will be a part of them for the rest their lives. Given the importance of a name, how can parents go about choosing the right name for their babies?

•Do not allow pressure from others to determine what you name your baby. A parent-to-be’s Aunt Grace may have been a wonderful person, great Aunt, and loving sister; however, a parent should not give into family pressure to name a baby for Aunt Grace as a way to honor her.
•Be wary of giving your baby odd names like Stormy or Deacon. This could set your child up for endlessly teasing and lack of social interaction with other children.
•Be sure to consider how the baby’s first name will sound with the last name.

There are also countless Web sites and books that will help you find the perfect name for your child.