Most parents are especially concerned with one question during pregnancy: What should our baby be called? It’s not an easy decision! Whether you're looking for a girl's name or a boy's name, we've compiled 10 questions to help you choose a baby name.

If you and your partner each have your own ideas about your preferred name, these questions will help you find first names you both like. With more than 12,000 possible first names and our 10 questions in mind, you'll surely find your favorite name very soon!

1. WIE VIELE VORNAMEN SOLL MEIN KIND BEKOMMEN?

Pippilotta Viktualia Rollgardina Pfefferminz Efraimstochter Langstrumpf – would such a long name, like the one Pippi Longstocking has, even be approved in Germany? Actually, yes! According to German naming law, up to five first names are allowed (you can find out why Pippi's name would still be rejected in question 9). Some parents choose multiple names so they don’t have to decide between two favorites. Others want their child to carry the name of a grandmother or grandfather as a second name. Whatever your reasons, if your baby's second name is already decided, you can use LILLYDOO – Baby Names to register it and find a first name that fits perfectly.

2. SOLL MEIN KIND EINEN BELIEBTEN ODER AUSSERGEWÖHNLICHEN NAMEN TRAGEN

If you call out Sophie on the playground, chances are more than one child will turn around. If you want to avoid situations like that with an extraordinary first name, keep in mind that your daughter may also have to spell her name for a lifetime. Both common and unusual first names have their advantages and disadvantages—you’ll need to weigh them for yourself. In the LILLYDOO Name Finder, you'll find inspiration for both categories. Fans of unique first names can select the “Exceptional Names” option in the filter settings and swipe through names that probably no other child in the class will have.

3. WELCHE VORNAMEN PASSEN ZUM NACHNAMEN?

In general: If you have a long last name, shorter first names are usually a better fit. This helps prevent your child's name from overflowing every form later on. ;) With a short last name, a slightly longer first name can work well, too. It’s best to say both names out loud together once and write them down as well. That way, you’ll get a feel for the overall sound (too many identical vowels can sound unpleasant), and you’ll also avoid unfortunate combinations like the often-ridiculed name. Axel Welding or Rainer Zufall . In LILLYDOO – Baby Names you can also display name suggestions together with your last name.

4. WIE KOMPLIZIERT SIND AUSSPRACHE UND SCHREIBWEISE DES NAMENS?

As mentioned in point 2, when it comes to unusual first names, keep in mind that your child will probably have to spell their name often and explain how to pronounce it. The same applies to uncommon spellings of familiar names, such as Yann or Iulia . That doesn’t have to be a negative, but it’s worth considering when you make your choice. You find Aylin beautiful, but don’t like Eileen at all? In the LILLYDOO Name Finder, you’ll find first names in various spellings.

5. WELCHE BEDEUTUNG HAT MEIN WUNSCHVORNAME?

If you want to wish your child well with their name right from the start, you could, for example, name them Felix or Felicitas . These names originate from Latin and mean "favored by luck" or "the lucky one." Almost every name can be assigned a specific meaning. If you're interested, you can find out more in LILLYDOO – Baby Names and view detailed information for each first name. Maybe the meaning will help you decide for or against a particular name.

6. WELCHE ASSOZIATIONEN RUFT DER NAME HERVOR?

You probably know from your own experience that you associate certain stereotypes with some first names. For example, Paul , Charlotte and Maximilian are often stereotyped as names from educated families. In a negative sense, names such as Kevin , Mandy and Jacqueline have been associated with stereotypes in recent years. A new term even emerged: Kevinism or Chantalism describes the phenomenon that such names are more often linked to parents from less educated backgrounds. Of course, that shouldn’t stop you from choosing the name you love. However, you should be aware that your child may encounter such stereotypes.

7. WELCHE SPITZNAMEN KANN MAN AUS DEM VORNAMEN MACHEN?

Almost every Benjamin will sooner or later become Benny , and hardly any Franziska isn’t called Franzi by friends. If you don’t like such abbreviations, think about which common nicknames your chosen first name might lead to. Because even if you personally prefer only the full form, you unfortunately can’t prevent friends and acquaintances from using a nickname. Tip: With short first names like Paul and Anna , the chance of a derivative becoming established as a nickname is lower.

8. PASST DER VORNAME ZU DEN NAMEN DER GESCHWISTER?

Some parents deliberately choose first names for their children that begin with the same initial letter ( Sarah and Sebastian ). Or they show their love of Astrid Lindgren stories with Ida , Kalle and Michel . Whether this kind of sibling naming appeals to you is, of course, a matter of taste. Still, it’s worth looking at the names together. After all, which parent would want to constantly mix up Maren and Karen ?

9. ENTSPRICHT DER NAME DEN RECHTLICHEN VORSCHRIFTEN?

In Germany, certain restrictions apply to the choice of first name according to § 12 of the Federal Civil Code:

• The name must be clearly recognizable as a first name and have a certain tradition as a first name. So you wouldn’t be allowed to name your child Phone or Sunflower . Fantasy names like Peppermint (Sad news for all Pippi Longstocking fans) are also not allowed. The fact that a name has been approved as a first name somewhere in the world is not enough.

• The child must not be insulted or made a laughingstock by their first name. So you can’t name your child Troublemaker , then. ;)

• The number of possible first names is limited to five.

• Official abbreviations ( Magda instead Magdalena ) are allowed, but pet names and nicknames are not ( Lenchen ).

• The first name must not disturb the religious feelings of other people. Satan or Gott are therefore not an option. Biblical names with negative connotations ( Judas and Kain ) are also not allowed.

• Noble titles, brand names, and place names are generally not allowed as first names. However, there are borderline cases: Fanta and Brooklyn have already been approved, for example.

In case of doubt, the decision lies with the competent registry office.

10. WIE WIRD DER VORNAME IN ANDEREN LÄNDERN AUSGESPROCHEN UND WAS BEDEUTET ER DORT?

If your family doesn’t live abroad, this aspect may be less relevant in the first few years. But at the latest, when student exchanges or semesters abroad are on the agenda, some first names can cause difficulties or surprises. For example, the female first name Mona means "Äffin" in Spanish, and Anne is what children call all moms in Turkish. So if you’re expecting a little Cosmopolitan , feel free to inform yourself about meanings in other languages and choose a first name that’s easy to pronounce internationally.

No matter which name you choose, the most important thing is that you and your partner are happy with it. So don’t let too many opinions and pieces of advice unsettle you—there will always be someone who objects to your desired name. ;) You can find even more inspiration for choosing a name in our magazine article "". And now, we wish you lots of fun during your search!