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For some expecting parents, picking baby names comes easily. For others, it’s an unanswered question for the next nine months. After all, it’s one of the biggest first decisions you will make as a parent.

Do you choose something classic? Biblical? Unique? Maybe you want to start a line of juniors. Or maybe you want something that represents this new chapter for your family. Of course, you have to look at the meanings of the names too. You want to choose a name that boasts the qualities you hope to see in your new little bundle of joy.

​Whatever the criteria are, choosing baby’s name can take 30 seconds, a weekend, or months of “What do you think about…?”.

Before we start on our list, here are some strategies for finding baby names to mull over or discuss with your partner while making dinner.

There is a creator from just about every country on YouTube. Whether you have roots in Spain or you did a study abroad in Turkey and fell in love with the culture and its people, you can search “[Country] baby names” in the YouTube search bar and videos will populate.

​This is actually how we chose our daughter’s name. My husband and I would spend the day doing chores around the house and listening to different baby-name YouTube videos with people listing (and pronouncing) names from their countries. We browsed through France, Greece, Ireland, and Spain just to name a few. When the creator would say one we particularly liked, we wrote it down for later. It still took a few months to settle on her name even when we narrowed it down to a top 5. But, almost two years on the other side of her birthday and I’m still just as obsessed with her name now as I was at 7 months pregnant.

Yes, they still make these.

If you’re more traditional and prefer to read through a baby-name book, you can find options from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or pretty much anywhere you buy books.

​This is a fun way to wind down at night while being conscience of screen time. Get ready for bed and then, cozy in your pajamas, lay in bed while you read through baby names, testing each one out loud to your growing tummy. See if you can picture whispering, calling out to, and gushing about the little one attached to that name. If it doesn’t seem to fit, move on to the next. If it makes you stop and envision your future five years from now, write it down.

These can be a really cool tool.

Google “baby name generator” and there will be a number of sites that pop up. You can choose one from The Bump, Mother & Baby, or even Nameberry. Each of these sites has a generator that will ask: gender, origin, starting letter, number of syllables, style, and what meaning you might want.

​Play around with these tools and see what pops up!

The classic tried-and-true, Google search. Hey! Maybe that’s how you found this article.

​With that, let’s get started!

2. Kiara

3. Fiona

4. Nylah

5. Keira

6. Saoirse

7. Aislinn

Whether you’re looking for something that evokes a warrior spirit or quiet femininity, Ireland might just have the baby girl name you’re looking for.

1. Liam

2. Rowan

3. Declan

4. Finn

5. Oscar

6. Killian

7. Keegan

Are you looking for a name that translates to your little guy’s big personality or fierce, bright nature? With Ireland’s warriors and history, they’re sure to have one that fits

Even if you decide on a name, give birth, and have a birth certificate with one name but at 2:30 am you’re awake with your newborn and you decide you hate it, you can change their name.

​It’s a little bit of a process but honestly not too difficult. The general outline is that you will need to take a trip to your local circuit court and file an Application for a Change of Name for Minor. There might be a filing fee and some documentation you need to provide. Oh, and both parents need to sign their consent. But after a few weeks, you should receive the court-approved name change in the mail.

And always remember, it’s your baby. No one else’s. Everyone will have opinions one way or another about which name you choose. You’ll be told “Oh that’s beautiful!”, “Remember, their teachers will have to spell that.”, “Don’t you want something more/less unique?”

As frustrating as that can be, especially when you yourself love the name you’ve chosen, you’re probably already used to unwanted opinions surrounding your pregnancy and baby. “Thank you, I’ll consider that.” will be your new best phrase for getting out of those here’s-my-two-cents conversations.

So take some time, have fun with finding names and testing them out, and remember (most things) aren’t permanent.

With love,
​Dakota