Expecting a baby soon and looking for cute boys' names, girls' names, or unisex names? That’s a big decision, because your little explorer will carry this name for their entire life. So you could probably use a few tips on how to choose a baby name. Here at LILLYDOO, you’ll also find popular names and discover how our baby name app helps you find the perfect name for your little one.

Life imprisonment: choosing the baby name

A name lasts a lifetime. That’s why parents love to brainstorm about the perfect baby name for their little explorer. Some have already found it, while others are convinced the baby name will come to them spontaneously the moment they look into their little one’s eyes.

You can’t wait too long, by the way, because you must register the birth with the civil registry office no later than 3 days after delivery. But until parents genuinely nod with a big grin at that one perfect name, there’s often a long journey ahead. It also involves quite a bit of weighing the options. Do the first and last name go well together? Should the baby’s name be short or rather long? Does the name need to have a special meaning? Or do you name your child after Grandpa or Grandma? LILLYDOO can’t make the choice for you, but we do have plenty of inspiration (and a super handy name function in our app) to help you get a great start.

What name for my baby? 13 tips

1. Hear or see a beautiful baby name ? Write it down immediately. A list of names is nothing new, but there’s a reason so many parents keep one. Start thinking early so you have plenty of time to get used to a name you love.

2. Say the names on your list out loud—also together with your little one’s last name. How does it sound? The parents of Ferry Kuhlman, Beau ter Ham, Wil Helmes, Anna Nas, Peter Selie, Connie Veren, and Annebelle Blaas probably skipped this tip.

3. It’s best not to choose a name that rhymes with a rude word. After all, you don’t want your child to struggle with it at school later on.

4. Also be sure to write down how the name looks with initials and your last name, to avoid unfortunate combinations like K. Bouter, W.C. Pot, and I.C. Notting (believe it or not, this person later became an ophthalmologist).

5. Choose a name with a beautiful meaning. Most baby names have a specific origin and meaning, and in that way you give your child a name that truly suits you.

6. Your little explorer’s world gets bigger every day, until your child eventually ventures out into the wide world. That’s why it’s smart to check whether the name you’ve chosen has any unpleasant meanings in another language.

7. It’s like thoroughly tidying up your house with Marie Kondo... If a name doesn’t make you happy, cross it out immediately. A name lasts a lifetime, and there’s no point in “sleeping on” a name that doesn’t feel right.

8. Of course, in the first years your little one is still small, adorable, and cuddly. But little explorers grow up, and no one wants to be called forward at a graduation ceremony with Flipje.

9. A name might sound less nice as a nickname or abbreviation. It’s also smart to consider whether a baby name is difficult to spell or pronounce. You wouldn’t want your child to spend the rest of their life having to spell their name, would you? :)

10. Humor can already be sensitive; when choosing a boy's name, girl's name, or unisex name, it’s best to avoid it altogether. And your child may not find your creative wordplay funny at all. An inappropriate baby name can even be rejected during registration. For example, in the past, civil registrars have refused RollsRoyce , Geisha Please provide the Dutch text you want me to translate into English. Miracle of Love (with hyphens, by the way; the last one was also accepted: Miracle of Love ).

11. Are you a fan of Prince, can you stare for hours at a painting by Rembrandt, or is Mahatma Gandhi your great hero? Maybe you still passionately sing along to Madonna's timeless songs, are inspired by the courage of nurse Florence Nightingale, or love the exotic sound of the name Mata Hari. Then it can be tempting to name your child after them. However, be cautious: your child may not share your admiration, and it can get in the way of your child’s own identity if everyone has a strong association with the name.

12. Say a name out loud, and do you and your partner immediately get butterflies in your stomach? Then you might have a winner. Let your feelings guide you.

13. There are so many boys' names, so many girls' names, and so many unisex names—how do you find the one? It’s actually very simple. If you’ve found the perfect name, then stop searching. Really... stop searching.

Reveal your baby's name – or wait a little longer?

Have you found a beautiful name for your baby? Great! Now you need to decide: do you want to announce the name before the birth, or wait a little longer? Good to know: taste is subjective, and there may be a few people who can’t resist sharing their unsolicited opinion: “Really? Guus / Suzanne—you think that’s a nice name?” If you don’t feel like dealing with comments like that (or if you’re afraid it might make you doubt), it’s probably wise to wait until after the birth to share the name.

If you and your partner are head over heels in love with a name and you really can’t wait to share it, then it’s important to stand firm if others aren’t enthusiastic. Don’t doubt yourself. After all, it’s your child, not Aunt Truus’s (did someone say “the pot calling the kettle black,” or perhaps an old grievance?). And remember: over time, even the biggest skeptics will probably get used to the name, and it will soon be linked to beautiful memories. Besides, love for a child is completely independent of the name.

Popular names – then and now

In the past, choosing a name was easy because you didn’t really have many options. Sons and daughters were named after (great-)fathers or (great-)mothers, and until 1815, Dutch law allowed you to choose only a baby name that appeared on so-called saints’ calendars or the name of a well-known person from history. This law was relaxed after 1815. For example, you could then also choose a biblical name, a non-saint Germanic name, or a name associated with a region (for example, a Frisian or Drenthe name). Nowadays, you can essentially choose any baby name, as long as it isn’t inappropriate and is used as a common first name (so don’t come up with a Meijer or Janssen).

Names that make it onto the top list often stay there for many years. In fact, they can represent an entire generation. Only after a quarter of a century do we typically see a new top list again.

Among the most popular baby names of 2022, we see many international names, often borrowed from America. Old Testament names and short names are also becoming increasingly popular.

In the top 10 most popular boys' names of 2021, Sem, Lucas, and Noah are in 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place, respectively. In 2020, the boys' name Noah was also in first place. The last place among popular boys' names in 2021 evokes an Italian fashion city: Milan.

Emma, Mila, and Julia (all ending in -a) are in 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place, respectively, in the top 10 most popular girls' names of 2021. In 2020, newborn babies were most often named Emma, but in 2021 this name drops to 3rd place. The name Yara is at number 10 in 2021.

Trends in baby names: what our app tells us

In our LILLYDOO baby name app, we also see a preference for short names. In 2021, for example, Emma, Lia, and Clara were popular choices. Boys' names like Paul, Finn, and Leo are also common.

A major source of inspiration for baby names is movies and TV series. That’s not surprising, because with the rise of streaming services, series have become more popular than ever. But classics are also frequently referenced. Names we often see include Castiel (Supernatural) or Arya (Game of Thrones and Pretty Little Liars). Names from our own country include Ferry and Lena (Undercover), Vlinder and Remy (Gooische Vrouwen), or Bing and Sjors (Good Times, Bad Times).

In the Netherlands, popular names are increasingly becoming downright creative—or at least unique. This is already clear from the TV names above, but in the name finder in the LILLYDOO app, we repeatedly came across names we had never heard before. For example, what do you think of Kiana, Thorin, Tallulah, and Dero? Kenji, Balam, and Junis are also undoubtedly rare boys' and girls' names here in the Netherlands.

Want to try the name finder function in the LILLYDOO app yourself? .lillydoo.com/nl/ and you and your partner will see different names. Swipe, like, and match! That way, you quickly discover which names you both find beautiful.

The right name for your baby does not exist

You’ll definitely choose your child’s name with great care. Do you enjoy the search? Even better! Are you sometimes at your wit’s end and think you’ll never find the right name for your little explorer? Then rest assured: that “right name” doesn’t exist. Your child brings the chosen name to life, not the other way around. So whether you call your child Ben, Barbie, or Balam—they’re your little superhero either way! :-)