1. Start with your shortlist
Begin wide and narrow down later. Write down every name you’ve ever loved, family names, names from books, films and the people you admire, and anything that sounds good with your surname. Nothing is too far out at this stage — the point is to have a big pile of candidates before you start filtering.
Need somewhere to start? Browse the full collection of 9143 baby names.
2. Say it out loud
A name that looks great on paper can feel different on the tongue. Say the full name out loud, then say it with your last name, then say it quickly — the way a teacher calls a register or a parent calls a child in from the garden.
Think about the nicknames other people will naturally reach for, and make sure you’re happy with every short form of the name, not just the full version.
3. Think about meaning and origin
Meaning matters to some families and not to others — and that’s fine either way. If it matters to you, check it before you fall in love with the sound. If you want a name with a particular heritage, start by filtering names by origin, or browse the collections of girl names andboy names.
4. Balance popularity and uniqueness
Some parents want a name everyone recognizes; others want something rare. Both are perfectly reasonable choices. Here, every name page shows its popularity as Very popular, Popular, Moderate, Uncommon or Rare, so you can see where a name sits before you decide.
If you love a popular name, remember it will be one of several in class. If you love a rare name, be ready to spell it out and explain it — for a lot of parents, that’s a trade worth making.
Want a sense of what’s trending right now? Browse thetop 100 girl names or thetop 100 boy names, ranked from the latest Social Security Administration data.
5. Check the full name
Your child will carry the whole thing — first, middle and last. Write out the initials and say them out loud to check they don’t spell anything awkward. Say the full name with the middle name in place, and if you have other children, say the names together to hear how they sound as a set.
6. Narrow it down
This is where the tools earn their keep. Use the name finder to filter by gender, starting letter, length, origin and style until you have a shortlist of real candidates. If you’re stuck, let the baby name generator suggest something you hadn’t considered.
Explore the collections: baby girl names,baby boy names andunisex baby names.
7. Make the final choice
Sleep on it. Say the name out loud for a few days and notice whether it settles or starts to feel wrong. If you’re torn between two, imagine calling each one from across a playground. There is rarely a wrong choice here — pick the name that feels like yours.
Frequently asked questions
How do I choose between two baby names?
Try both out loud for a few days. Say each one as a full name with your last name, imagine calling it across a room, and notice which one feels more natural. If you still can't separate them, think about which name you would regret not using more.
Should I pick a unique baby name?
That depends on you. Some parents love a name nobody else has; others prefer something familiar that everyone can spell and say. On this site every name shows its popularity as Very popular, Popular, Moderate, Uncommon or Rare, so you can see where a name sits before you commit.
Do initials matter?
They can. Write out the initials of your child's full name and read them out loud, including your surname. Check they don't spell something awkward, and that a monogram or initials on school uniforms still looks the way you want.
How popular should my baby's name be?
There is no right answer. Popular names are easy to pronounce and spell and rarely feel dated; rarer names feel more individual but you may spend more time spelling them out. Think about how much you mind your child sharing their name, and how much you value a name that stands out.
Should the name have a special meaning?
Only if meaning matters to you. Some families love choosing a name that honors a relative, a heritage or a quality they hope their child will carry. If meaning is important, look it up before you settle on the sound — the name pages here show meanings and origins whenever a reliable source is available.
What if my partner and I can't agree?
Give each of you a shortlist instead of one name, and look for overlaps. Try a few weeks of saying both favorites out loud. And remember that the name you both like — even if it wasn't your first choice — will quickly become the right name once it belongs to your child.