C hoosing the name of the future child can be a real headache for some parents. While some already have ideas, there are others for whom the choice of name does not necessarily come naturally. It is true that it is sometimes complicated to choose between your desires and those of your partner, not to mention the opinion of your loved ones. And yet, this name must be chosen carefully because it is the one that will accompany your child throughout his life and that will reflect his personality. Here are some tips to help you in your quest for the ideal name!
Should you focus on originality or choose a trendy first name?
If you want to give your child a "trendy" name, we advise you to consult the latest list of names on the web pages that offer it. You can also take inspiration from the names of your friends' children, for example. However, choosing a trendy name can be a risk because your child may find themselves surrounded by friends who have the same name as them. During adolescence, your child will want to assert their uniqueness, so it can be annoying for them to find themselves in a class where other teenagers have the same name.
If you want your child to have a name that few others have, avoid the top 20 and try to think of a rare and/or original name. This will allow him to stand out from the others. You can also invent a new name yourself. This can be a risky exercise, but it is increasingly practiced. Change a letter of an existing name or join two syllables, the goal is to use your imagination!
If you choose to give him an original first name, think about the impact that this can have on your child, especially at school because it can quickly become discriminatory.
Please note that you cannot choose just any first name because the civil registrar carries out a check of the first names at the time of the birth declaration in order to determine whether the child's first name is likely to harm him or not.
Agree on the nature and composition of the first name
Why not a mixed name? This type of name is quite common, but note that the names of yesterday (like Pascal(e) and Dominique), are not those of today (Camille, Sacha, Romane, Noa…). If you still want your child's sex to be recognized by their name, choose a mixed name whose spelling varies slightly like Gabriel and Gabrielle.
Perhaps you would rather opt for a compound name? This can be a good idea if you have trouble agreeing on a single name. So by associating your two ideas, there is no jealousy! Try to forget names that are too old-fashioned like Jean-Pierre and Anne-France and think about recent ones like Lou-Alban or Marie-Alice for example. However, who says compound name, also says risk that one name is preferred over the other and in other words its diminutive. So if you are resistant to the idea of your child having a nickname, forget the idea of the compound name.
Also pay attention to the sounds. Indeed, some letters are known to be aggressive or cold, and others soft and sensual. In addition, if some syllables are easy to pronounce, others can be harder. It is important to choose a first name that sounds good because this is decisive in the image we have of a person. So remember to test the first name out loud!
Finally, make a list of first names together or each of you on your own if you prefer. Put your favorites, and possibly the first names that you really don't want. Compare your preferences and then try to agree! Little tip: don't make a list that is too long because the choice becomes more complicated.
Consider your family
First of all, think about matching your future child's first name with your last name. This sequence must be harmonious. If the last name is long, it is better to balance the whole thing and choose a short first name, and vice versa. In addition, think about avoiding puns, but also initials that could be embarrassing such as PQ or WC for example...
Maybe draw on your family history? Who knows, your great-grandfather might have a retro name that’s trendy right now, like Émile or Victor. But be careful, the line between retro and cheesy is sometimes fine!
You can also want your children's first names to be related. This can be a first name that begins with the same letter (like Axel and Agathe) or the same syllable (like Lucas and Lucie). You can also choose to give them short first names (like Léo and Eva), or longer ones (like Alexandre and Laureline). Or, for a more sophisticated look, opt for a theme like colors or famous people.
Finally, it is necessary that you keep control over the choice of the first name. Accept with a smile the suggestions of those around you, but do not hesitate to make it clear that the choice of the first name belongs only to you, parents.
Get inspired by what surrounds you
If you lack inspiration, don't stress, it happens to everyone! So why not take a look at this good old calendar? By looking at the holidays of the year, you will be able to pick up some ideas or simply be inspired by them. This will allow you to make an initial selection between what you like, and on the contrary what is prohibitive.
Play the globalization card! It would be a shame to limit yourself to your home countries when there are a multitude of first names in the world. So why not choose a first name typical of a country you have visited in recent years? Tessa and Matthew in memory of your American road trip, or Lorenzo and Giuseppa in a nod to your romantic stay in Italy, the choices are very diverse. In addition, your region can also be a good source of inspiration. France is full of pretty places such as Brittany, Corsica or the Basque Country, with first names with particular sounds. So why not give it a try?
You can also rely on the meaning of the first names to make your choice. You can opt for Zoé which means life in Greek, Clara whose Latin origin means brilliant or Ethan which corresponds to strong in Hebrew. Many first names exist with meanings such as these, so it's up to you to find the first name that most resembles the child you want to have!
Finally, take inspiration from life in general. Take nature for example, you will find names such as Pierre, Iris, Clémentine, Agathe… You can take inspiration from celebrity names like Angelina, Justin, or Cameron, or royal names like William, Kate or Charles… And why not take inspiration from colors? There are pretty names such as Violette, Rose, Lilas… Finally, if you are a fan of ancient history, you can definitely take inspiration from mythology and call your daughter Thalie, Danaé or Ariane.
The 2020 trend
For girls, the most popular first name in 2020 is Emma, followed closely by Chloé, Louise, Jade and Alice. For boys, the trend is towards first names ending in “el” or “L” Gabriel, Raphaël, Léo, Louis, Lucas.
The current trend is for short names, with one or two syllables. The vowel "a" is preferred for girls' names (Léa, Emma, Lina, Mila), while for boys it is the "o" that is all the rage (Hugo, Théo, Léo, Enzo).
If you are feeling playful, you should know that the names Boghosse, Degaulle, Moineloulou, Ortie, Ritz and Lola-Poupoune have been accepted by the civil registrar. But perhaps it would be better for your child if you did not draw on the pearls of the civil registrar league.
If you have other first name ideas or anecdotes to tell us, share them with us at this email address: contact.neuviemeciel@gmail.com