Published at 19:32, Thursday, 22 October 2009

“WHAT’S in a name?” Shakespeare’s Juliet asked.

Indeed, that’s what I’m wondering at the moment as the thorny subject of baby names gets ever closer.

Obviously I’m not going to let the whole world know everything about my business (they probably wouldn’t want to know anyway) so you’re not going to know until January whether Baby L is a boy or a girl.

But I will share my ongoing, but not yet too panicky, thoughts about what s/he’s going to be called.

There are so many names to choose from: do you go traditional, trendy or downright unusual?

Recently I’ve come across Autumns and Harvests, and have known for a long time about Rivers, Indias, Leaves and Skies. A little too hippy for my taste, I’m afraid, although I will admit to a sneaking like for names like Amadeus, Endymion and Flavia.

The trouble with me as well is that over the years I’ve come across so many kids who have been so obnoxious that, if someone else suggests a particular name, I give a scream of horror and think of the problems this child inflicted in the classroom. No way.

There have been some great names too; some that sound like characters from 19th century novels: Declan Swann, Curtis Radcliffe, Daisy Peaceful .

The trend for names is constantly changing. When I named our first child some years ago now, it was unusual; by 2000 it was in pole position and still lies at number six today.

Personally, I’m not so keen on the old-fashioned names that, amazingly it seems to me, some parents bestow on their offspring. Stanley, Frank, Ava and Iris all seem to be coming back – to please the grandparents no doubt.

Names seem to come in cycles wherefore art thou, Wayne and Tracy?

So, will s/he be named after a flower, an angel, a king or a place? I think I have a fair idea of what I would like, but, of course, it’s not just up to me.

Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk