Find the right name for your baby
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Finding a suitable baby name is not always easy. We provide you with tips for choosing a name, introduce some particularly popular and rare girl and boy names, and share the latest naming trends.
The own name is a lifelong companion. One of the most beloved activities for many expectant parents is therefore the search for a name for their baby. For some, it is decided quickly; others only make a decision once the little miracle is already in the world. New parents have up to seven days to officially register the final name at the registry office – provided it has not already been indicated in the birth announcement at the hospital. However, for many, the path to the final decision is a long one. Parents often consider very different aspects: Does the first name match the last name? Should it be long or short? Does the name have a special meaning? Or should the little explorer, for example, be named after their great-grandfather? All of these are questions that play a role in choosing a name and are answered individually by each parent pair.
Here are some tips to help you with the naming process:
Write down nice names that you encounter in everyday life. A list of names may not be an innovation, but it is created for good reason by many expectant parents.
Say the names on your list aloud – also in connection with your baby's last name. How does that sound to you?
Strike through names you are not 100% sure about immediately from the list. After all, you will be using this name for the rest of your life and should not sugarcoat it.
Make sure that the name is not only suitable for a young child. After all, your child will have to carry this name into adulthood.
Also consider what nicknames a name might lead to and whether there could be issues with pronunciation and spelling.
Be cautious with humor when choosing a name: your child may not share your sense of humor ;-)
Listen to your gut feeling. If a name immediately makes you suspicious – and your partner is happy with it – then trust your intuition.
Once you've found a nice name, stop looking. Really!
Reveal the baby name – or keep it to yourself?
Did you find a beautiful name for your baby? Great! Now you have to decide: Do you want to reveal it before the birth or keep it to yourself? Because: "Beautiful" is in the eye of the beholder, and as is well known, taste varies. Those who share their naming considerations with friends and relatives risk being confronted with completely opposite opinions. "Really? Cornelia/ Samuel/… do you find this beautiful?!" Sometimes have Grandma , girlfriend or dad simply have a completely different taste or know someone with exactly that name whom they find terribly unsympathetic. Sometimes it's better to keep the name for the unborn baby to yourself.
If you and your partner have already firmly settled on a name in your hearts and still want to share it with others, the key in case of little enthusiasm is: be strong and stand by your own opinion! After all, it is your child and not Aunt Hiltrud's. And in time, she will surely get used to even the most unusual names or associate wonderful new memories with a once unloved name. Because one thing is certain: your friends and family will love your baby – no matter what you call it.
Popular names – from the past to today
Names that have once made it into the Top Ten of the have often been featured on such lists for several years. They are not uncommon as true evergreen names and represent an entire generation. In the 1920s, in Germany, names like Ilse and Ursula or Hans and Günther/Günter were popular. Forty years later, Sabine and Claudia or Thomas and Michael led the charts for many years. This has not changed to this day not at all: From 2011 to 2019, Ben was always number one, and for the past two years, Paul has been leading the list. Most of the time, Mia has been the most chosen girl’s name – except in the year 2014: Mia was overtaken by Emma, and in 2021, Emma is again at the top – let’s see for how many more years.
But don't worry: Even if you choose a popular name, you can assume that not every second child has the same first name. Statisticians have found that extreme clusters are rather rare. You will probably have to do without reactions like "Oh, that's an exceptionally beautiful name!" for such a choice. ;-)
Trends in naming
Overall, even in our , a trend towards short names can be observed in recent years: for example, in 2021, Emma, Lia, and Clara were very popular for girls. The trend is also evident in boys' names like Paul, Finn, and Leo. Another trend is names from TV series! No wonder, considering that series are more popular than they have been in a long time. Especially in the , names like Castiel and Arya/Aria are on the fast track. For those who are not familiar with these names: Castiel is a male angel from the successful mystery series "Supernatural." And Arya is, on one hand, the daughter of one of the main characters from "Game of Thrones," and on the other hand, one of the main roles in the American mystery series "Pretty Little Liars."
Just in the German-speaking region, these names are rather unusual. However, even here, the tendency towards extraordinary names has become a trend. We at LILLYDOO have repeatedly heard very special names that we had never heard before. Here is a small selection: Kiana, Thorin, Ivy Tallulah, and Dero. But also Livia, Kenji, Yayera, Balam, and Junis are probably among the rarer boys' and girls' names in this country!
There is no single "correct" name for your baby!
We are therefore confident that you will choose your baby's name with lots of love and care. Are you having fun searching? Even better! If, on the other hand, you are despairing of finding the right name, we can hopefully reassure you: there is no such thing as one "correct" name for your baby! Your child will bring their name to life and not the other way around. Whether you name your baby Ben, Barbie, Bernd, or Balam – it will definitely become a little superhero! :-)