what's in a name?

Filed Under Pregnancy and Birthing, Stuff, Tips & Tricks | November 19, 2009

You may shop locally and eat locally but will you name your child locally? No, we’re not suggesting you burden your babe with a name like Really Rainy or Georgia Straight, but you can compare the choice you’re about to make against BC Vital Statistic Agency’s list of most popular baby names that’s updated annually. After all, if you’re toying with the names Ethan or Ava, it’s good to know that they were BC’s most popular baby names in 2008 and 2007.

Another great naming resource is the Fresh Baby Names e-book. Developed by local mama Gina Allen, who was overwhelmed when faced with baby name books containing thousands of names, Fresh Baby Names pares things down to just over 1500 usable names. But more than names, it also contains all the basic advice when choosing a name including how to balance originality with playground-worthiness; handy worksheets which prompt you to be wild and daring and which we think would make great keepsakes for your baby book; and a list of celebrity baby names in case you’re toying with Moxie, Hermes or Peaches as monikers.

If you prefer to have as much info at your fingertips as possible, then The Best Baby Names for Canadians might be more up your alley. It includes over 10,000 names, includes the top baby names by Province and compares Canadian names with American names.

And if you want your tiny tot to be a truly global citizen then you can see how the handle you’re contemplating stacks up against this list of popular baby names from around the world.

And just so you know, Sonny, Kohl, Dana and Larissa were some of the least chosen baby names in BC in 2008.