Hoorah, you’ve finally found on a first name you can both agree on. After months of searching, weeks of list-compiling, and hours of arguing, you’ve finally found the one. It’s perfect. You’ve tested it every way you can imagine, and it has passed with flying colours. It sounds great with your surname, it can’t be shortened to anything resembling a rude word, and it doesn’t mean toilet in Japanese.

As you and the daddy-to-be breathed a collective sigh of relief, you suddenly realised you’d only half finished. “What about the middle name?” you exclaimed in unison, fighting back the tears. Suddenly you were back at square one, or it felt that way at least. Fear not, here are some tips to help you in choosing a middle name for your baby:

1. Choose a sentimental name – if there is a special friend or family member, perhaps one who is no longer with you, then this a great way to honour them. The added bonus is that if your favourite uncle was called Gravel, it’s only going to be your baby’s middle name so not many people will know it.
2. Be inspired by the great – sports personalities, world-changing politicians and great historical figures can all provide inspiration. Bradley Wiggins has undoubtedly spawned a few namesakes since his impressive summer of sport in 2012. It’s also possible there will be a few extra baby Margarets following the death of Margaret Thatcher.
3. Take inspiration from the arts – if you or your partner have a favourite character from a book or film, you could name the baby after them. The name Jessica proved popular last year, and this could be down to the success of the US sitcom New Girl. Similarly, when Titanic came out, Rose and Jack were both climbed up the baby name charts.
4. Make it fair – if you chose the first name, perhaps it’s fair to let the father-to-be select the middle name. Or vice versa. That way you’ve both had input into the name. If your bump will have an older sibling, you could let them choose the middle name.
5. How does it sound? – it’s perfectly ok to select a middle name for no other reason than it worked with the first and last names. You don’t need to have a long backstory as to why the name was chosen, you can just say it sounded good.
6. Don’t have one – this might seem controversial, but middle names aren’t mandatory. Some people think they make a name sound more complete, but if you don’t agree then don’t spend hours fretting over it. Not everybody has a middle name.

If you have found a name you both like, then that’s all that matters. Let us know what middle name you’ve chosen.

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Picking a name for your unborn child can feel like a pretty daunting decision. It’s not exactly something you want to regret later, and you won’t be able to change your mind once that birth certificate is signed. To help you get it right first time, here’s a few things to consider:

Boy or girl
For those of you not finding out the gender of your baby, you have double the trouble when it comes to choosing names. Make sure you select an option for either sex, even if you have a strong feeling it’s a girl. Many new parents have been caught out by having a baby boy when they’d only chosen a girl’s name. Even if you’ve found out the gender during pregnancy, it’s always a good idea to have a backup name for the opposite sex because scans aren’t always 100 per cent accurate.

A name for life
The name you choose for your child will be theirs for life, so it’s important to make sure it’s the right one. Some names that sound adorable for a baby, may start to sound silly if you imagine them belonging to an adult in a senior job. Imagine how the name might grow with your child, this will help to determine whether you’ve selected the right name.

Surname
Does the name sound good with the baby’s surname? It sounds obvious, but it’s important to check so you don’t end up with a little Ben Dover! Don’t just check the full first name, try it out with the initial too. You can never be too careful where playground taunts are involved!

Nicknames
Bear in mind that, at some point, your child’s name is likely to get shortened to a nickname. Think of all the possible variants for your selected name, and make sure you like those too. If you love Christopher but hate Chris, then that might not be the name for you.

Meanings
You might like to find out the meaning of your favourite names as this could help to shape your decision. If you’re struggling to choose between two, discovering that one means “achiever” and one means “misery” could be just the tie breaker you need.

International names
If you have a very international lifestyle, you may want to choose a name that works in English, French, Spanish etc. A name that could be understood and pronounced easily in any one of those languages, without spelling changes or adaptations. And which doesn’t feel immediately “foreign” in other countries.

If you’re struggling to agree on a name, you could try asking close friends and families for their opinions. Though this strategy comes with the added risk that people may dislike all of the names on your carefully thought out shortlist.

The most important factor to consider when choosing your baby’s name, is whether you and your partner like it. If you can both agree on a name, and can’t think of any reasons why not to choose it, then it seems you’ve found your name.

There’s nothing wrong with changing your mind. If you have had a favourite name in mind for weeks, and then all of a sudden go right off it, that’s fine. Start the process again. At the very least, you’ll have a few back up favourites for if you change your mind in the delivery suite.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related.

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

“Have you thought of any names yet?” If you’re pregnant, you must have answered that question at least two thousand times already. For those of you who have chosen a name, this question gives you an excuse to show off the wonderful name you cooked up, or smugly keep the chosen name secret. If, however, you haven’t thought of a name yet, then this question may leave you feeling panicked, stressed and convinced that you have fallen at the first hurdle of motherhood.

Fear not – just because you hadn’t tattooed a chosen name across your chest by the time you peed on the pregnancy test, it doesn’t mean you’re a terrible mother. This is a name that you baby is going to have for life, so it’s not an insignificant decision. Here are seven tips to help you when choosing your baby’s name:

1. Make sure you’re in agreement – this might seem obvious, but it’s important that you both like the name. You may not have similar tastes, but you should try to settle on a name you both like. It can be easy to push your favourite name at the expense of your partner’s, but it’s not fair to do that.
2. Consider the nicknames – try to predict what your child’s future nicknames will be. Think back to high school, and remember the unfortunate nicknames some children got.
3. Look at the initials – it’s easy to forget this stage, but it could lead to ridicule down the line. Make sure you’re not unwittingly giving your child hilarious initials. Look at all the initials, and then try first name initials alongside the full surname.
4. How does it sound – you know when you meet a person and think “Uch, what an unfortunate name,”? Well you don’t want your child to become that person. Make sure the name sounds good, is easy to say, and doesn’t have any obvious negative connotations.
5. What does the name mean to you – some parents give their children sentimental names. Family names, inspiring names and historic names are all good choices. The name should mean something to you.
6. What will it mean to other people? – it’s all very well if the name is important to you, but if it reminds everyone else of an infamous serial killer, it may not be the best name to choose. First impressions matter, and your child’s name will be one of his first impressions for life, so choose a good one.
7. Keep it secret – unless you love hearing contradictory opinions, keep the name under wraps until after the birth. Everyone and anyone will be leaning over to tell you they don’t like the name you’ve chosen, unless the baby is here, and then people will be too busy cooing to even consider the name.

Have you chosen a name for your baby yet?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2018. All rights reserved.

Choosing a baby name is not an easy task. After all, it’s not just a baby name you’re choosing. It’s a teenager name, a middle aged name and an old person name too. What seems perfect for your little baby, may not work quite so well for your teenager in high school. To complicate things further, you probably have to share name-choosing duties with the dad-to-be, meaning this decision is twice as complicated. To save you from nine long months of bickering, here are five ways to decide on a baby name:

1. Search separately, then discuss – instead of hashing out each and every name you stumble upon, set some time aside to embark on solo searches. Invest in a baby book, download an app or find a website you both like, and look through the names. Each of you should note down any names you like. Once you’ve both looked through the names, and found a few you like, it’s time to compare notes.

2. Brainstorm – get together over a cup of tea and some chocolate biscuits, and spend some time discussing names. This is a blue sky thinking exercise, and there are no wrong answers at this point. You should both be honest about how you feel about each name. It’s important not get defensive over name choices, which can be difficult when you love a name your partner hates. Try to focus on the positives (names you both like), rather than the negatives (he hates your favourite name).

3. Get inspired – think back to movies you have seen together, books you have shared, and friends and family members you have loved. Are there any names that stand out as potential baby names? As a couple, you already have a shared history. Delve into it for inspiration for the next chapter of your lives.

4. Use an App – there are lots of baby name Apps and generators online. Find one you like, and spend an evening trying it out together. Some of the names will be ridiculous, you’ll probably agree on lots you hate, but you might find a couple that stick.

5. Outsource it – ok, this option is only for the very brave and very trusting, but you could outsource the choosing of your baby’s name. If you have a best friend or close relative you would trust, ask them to choose for you. You could give them a list of options, or let them go free range and choose any name under the sun.

Are you and your partner bickering about names, or did you have one picked immediately?

Written by Fiona, proud owner of a toddler, @fiona_peacock

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice.  All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.

It’s only natural to have high hopes for your children. Of course, all we really want is for our children to be happy. There is a part of us though, that would love them to cure cancer/travel to Mars/become President (delete as appropriate). In order to make it as President, your unborn child is going to need a President-worthy name. Here we take a look at the meanings of some baby names fit for a President.

John
This is a biblical name of Hebrew origin. The first John was John the Baptist, a priest of the Temple in Jerusalem. Mentioned in the Bible, he was considered to be a forerunner of Jesus. John means “God” or “gracious”. Presidents with this name include John F Kennedy, John Adams, John Quincy Adams and John Tyler.

Barack
This is an African name meaning “blessed”. Barack is quite an uncommon name, but has grown in popularity since the election of Barack Obama, the 44th President of the USA.

Abraham
This is a Hebrew name meaning “father of many” or “many, multitude”. This is a biblical name, chosen by God for a man originally named Abram. Abraham of the Bible, is considered to be the founder of Hebrews (through his son Isaac), and the found of Arabs (through his son Ishmael). The only President with this name was Abraham Lincoln.

Richard
Meaning “strong ruler” or “powerful ruler” this name derives from German, French and English. Richard was historically a popular name for European Kings, and is still a popular name today. The only President with this name was Richard Nixon.

Ronald
This is a Gaelic name meaning “mighty counsellor” or “mighty ruler”. The name originated in Scotland, but its popularity travelled across the globe by the end of the 19th century. Ronald remains a popular name choice to date. The only President with this name was Ronald Reagan.

Lyndon
This is an English name meaning “lime tree hill” or “lives by the lime tree”. Lyndon was originally a surname based upon the location, but became popular as a first name too. The only President with this name in Washington was Lyndon Johnson.

Franklin
This is an English name meaning “free man”. It was originally used to describe a landholder. Franklin is a popular name across the English speaking world. Presidents with this name include Franklin Pierce and Franklin D Roosevelt.

William
This is a German name meaning “will, desire” and “great protector”. The name became increasingly popular in England after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Presidents with this name include William Henry Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft and Bill Clinton.

James
This is a biblical name of French origin. James was the name of two apostles in the New Testament. It means “supplanter”. It is a very popular name. Presidents with this name include James Madison, James Monroe, James K Polk, James Buchanan, James Garfield and James “Jimmy” Carter.

George
This is a Greek name meaning “farmer” or “earth worker”. Historically, it was a popular name for British monarchs and Saints. Presidents with this name include George Washington, George Bush and George W Bush.

Written by Fiona (@Fiona_Peacock), mother, writer and lover of all things baby related

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a trained medical doctor. Health & Parenting Ltd disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information, which is provided to you on a general information basis only and not as a substitute for personalized medical advice. All contents copyright © Health & Parenting Ltd 2017. All rights reserved.