Baby names that go with your surname and your other children’s names

Say it with the surname, not alone

Say the whole name out loud, first name, middle name and surname, a few times and at different speeds. Notice whether it flows or whether you stumble. Then say it the way you will really say it: called across a park, or read out in a classroom.

Listen to where the names meet

When the first name ends with the sound the surname begins with, the two can blur together. Say it quickly and see whether it still sounds like two names.

• A long surname often sits well with a short first name, and a short surname with a longer one.
• Check that the first name and surname do not rhyme or make a phrase you would rather avoid.

Think about the initials

The first, middle and surname initials turn up on bags, kit and email addresses. It is a quick check that they do not spell a word you would rather they did not.

Names that go with a brother or sister

There is no rule that siblings’ names must match, but many parents like them to feel like they belong in the same family. Some choose names with a similar style, such as classic or short. Others deliberately choose something different so that each child has their own name.

• Say the names together, the way you would call them for tea.
• Avoid names that start with the same sound if you think it will cause mix-ups, or ones that rhyme in a way that sounds like a pair.
• Check that you are happy with any nicknames, because they can end up sounding alike even when the full names do not.

Try it, then leave it a few days

Write out the whole name and hear it said. If it still sounds right after a few days, that is a good sign.

A little game for two

Baby Name Jar is a free daily game for choosing your baby’s name together. You each drop a name in the jar, nobody sees the other’s until you have both added yours, and then the jar opens and you find the names you both love.