In Hollywood, we’ve had Psalm, Saint and North West, as well as names like Denim, Pilot, Moon Unit, Blue Ivy, Audio Science, plus some Apples and Bears - but closer to home, we like a bit of royalty, with Charlotte and William featuring in last year’s top five.
Coming up with original names for our bundles of joy can be challenging - but author Eleanor Turner is here to help with the ultimate guide to naming a new human.
“For girls, six of the top 10 names end in the letter A, so you’ve names like Ava, Olivia and Amelia,” Turner said.
“For boys, Aussies like really traditional names, so you’ve got your Jacks, Harrisons, Williams, and Thomas. There’s a little bit of a split with boys and girls, but there are some really solid traditional names in both lists.”
Quirky names
Aussie parents tend to lean on the more creative side, with just 10 per cent of babies given one of the top 10 baby names compared to 22 per cent in 1987.
“Some of the recent odd names include Burger and Tron,” Turner said.
“You can also get a bit more creative with twins and triplets. You can do fun things like go with a theme, like floral themes or names of characters if you want to get really inventive. Or maybe each child has the same starting initial.”
The art of choosing a name
“I think the most important thing is that the parents love the name they choose - that is above all else essential,” Turner said.
“You’re the one that is going to use it all the time, and you’re the one that’s going to be writing it down all the time.
“Aside from that, I think you need to be careful with how you spell your child’s name. Make it pronounceable, and don’t make it so long that it doesn’t fit on a passport application form.
“There was a recent case in Britain where a family had a Sam for the eldest child and an Ella the second, and of course, when you are yelling their names at the dinner table, you say ‘Salmonella’. So try the names out before you have your baby, just to make sure you catch anything like that.”
Determining a child’s personality
While your child’s name won’t necessarily determine their behaviour, it can often become a self-fulfilling prophecy.
According to a study done with teachers, kids named Callum, Jack, Chelsea and Courtney were all more likely to be naughty.
“There is scientific data to say that names like Callum are supposed to be a naughty name,” Turner said.
“If the expectation is you’re naughty, then at school, you might live up to that.
“Beth came out top in a study a couple of years ago as a child who was clever and who works hard at school, so again, maybe there is something to that.”
Eleanor’s checklist
When choosing a name for your baby, ultimately, you should:
- Be in love with the name
- Don’t listen to other people
- Pay attention to the initials
- Think of the sibling’s names (so no Sam and Ellas)
- Be mindful of what’s slightly popular - for example, you don’t want to be the fifth Elsa
This story first appeared on 7NEWS and has been republished here with permission.
