Check our latest release of Names.WhitePages.com! This product brings a useful and fun resource to anybody interested in names and genealogy – but we think it’s especially useful for parents to be.
Baby Dominic
Not only can you explore potential names, but you can now uncover the origin, meaning, and popularity all in one place. We’re the only site where you can determine popularity for the Unique end of the name popularity spectrum, which is timely because this research from SDSU shows that more than ever parents want to give their children unique names.
In analyzing the names of some 325 million children born in 1880 or later, researchers from San Diego State University and the University of Georgia found just nine per cent of boys born in 2007 were given a “top 10″ name, compared with 32 per cent in 1955; for girls, only eight per cent had a top 10 name in 2007, versus 22 per cent in 1955.
We know that we’re not a one-stop-shop for naming your children, so here are some other recommended resources and methods we think you should try when choosing a name.
Do:
- Test it out in the wild
Try using your name at a restaurant where they have to call you when it’s time to be seated. Or yell it at a park. You may discover other ways people write it, say it, etc. - Look through your own Genealogy
Nobody can fault a “family name” – adding that extra tie-in can really be great. Just be sure you pick the right side of the family and go back far enough or not too far so it’s not too “out there” – unless that’s what you’re looking for. (Love you great Great-great-grandpa Luigi and Great-great-grandma Luigia!). This is how my wife and I found our son’s name (Dominic – from a semi-distant uncle Dominici). - Find out what it means
This is an area where we can help. Not that it’s the only factor, but if you’ve got it down to a few names, say “Portia” and “Felice”. Knowing that Portia means “Pig” and Felicia means “Lucky” may just push you in one direction or the other. - Google it! Or make sure you’ll be able to.
How many people have that name? If your last name is “Smith” and you pick a common first name, you’ll probably never be able to have a site or page about you come up in a search result. Plus they’ll have to get real creative for email, Facebook, nicknames, and more. We’ve got you covered here, too – names.whitepages.com is the only place you can see how many people have that FULL name. (24k people name James Smith – you could fill a stadium with Jim, Jimmy, and James’!!) - Start early
We have 200M people in our database, so you’ve got searching to do – get to it!
Don’t:
- Don’t tell anybody, especially the grandparents.
- Don’t wait until the last minute. See: Fetus (9 people named this), Boy (215), Baby (1,396).
- Don’t get too creative (see Million Dollar, Tag Euritt, or any of the Simpson’s names here)
- Don’t put it up to bid (sorry, Ebay and mechanical Turk can’t help you here – this is your first big parenting task, own it!).
- Don’t sweat it too much – whatever you pick will be the right name.
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I have always found the history and genealogy in names to be a very exciting. Thanks for the great informtion in the post, keep up the good work. Steve.