What’s in a Baby Name? The Right Choice for a Lifetime

One of William Shakespeare’s most famous quotes, second only to Hamlet’s “To be or not to be” or possibly Macbeth’s “Double double toil and trouble,” this quote from the balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet has become iconic. Juliet, who has just experienced love at first sight, has discovered that the object of her love is a Montague. The Montague family is the bitter enemy of Juliet’s family, the Capulets. In this speech, Juliet is essentially saying that Romeo is her enemy in name only. In other words, his name does not define him. Romeo the person is what matters, not Romeo the name.

And yet, outside of Shakespeare’s tragedy, names do shape our lives in profound ways. While a name does not define a person’s worth, it can influence how they see themselves, how others perceive them, and how they connect with their identity and history.

When a baby is born, it takes several months before she is able to recognize her own name. It takes just as long for her to identify her parents as mama or dada. That lack of name recognition does not mitigate her preference or dependence on her parents. The names themselves are really nothing more than a way to differentiate one human being from another.

When you receive an email from HR signed Alicia Stone, the name Alicia makes very little impact. It would not matter if Ms. Stone were a Deborah or an Isabel instead of an Alicia. Without context, names by themselves mean very little. Even literal meanings are limited in value since most people don’t know what their name or anyone else’s means. Ultimately, as Juliet states, it’s who we are—not our names—that defines us. If you choose a name with a story, you can help your child begin the process of defining themselves.

Why Context Matters

This is why, as a name consultant, I offer names with context. I believe that one of the greatest gifts we can give our children is a name with a story. It takes many of us decades to figure out who we are, but a meaningful name can make that journey a little easier. My goal is to help parents choose names they love, with stories that can shape their child’s sense of belonging, purpose, and identity, fostering confidence as they grow.

This post will explore why a meaningful story behind a name matters and how I can help you find the perfect one.

Belonging

Choose a name with a story to give your child a sense of belonging. As mentioned earlier, one of the main purposes of a name is to differentiate. However, our surnames typically do the opposite. They designate us as belonging to one particular family unit. This sense of belonging does not have to be limited to our last names.

Family history is one of the best and easiest ways to give a name context. Several studies[1] have shown that knowing your family history gives you a sense of belonging. It elevates your self-esteem, resilience, and even your intellectual performance. Family history offers a wealth of options when it comes to names. It can be especially impactful if you know any stories about the ancestor whose name you choose to use.

Maybe it’s the name of an ancestor with amazing stories about immigrating to America or surviving WWII. Maybe it’s a maiden name that will now be passed on. Or maybe it’s the name of a loved one your child will grow up admiring. Whatever the case, these names will give your child a sense of belonging that will make them more resilient when life gets hard.

Growing up, I was always more attached to my middle name than my first because my middle name came from my great-grandmother. Being a virtue name, it had an obvious and profound meaning. Although I never knew her, I grew up hearing stories about her and knowing how much my grandfather and his siblings loved her.

Honor a Name

If you love the idea of using family history but can’t find a name you like or are worried about name confusion, you can choose a name that honors an ancestor or loved one instead of using the exact same name. For example, if you have a grandmother named Ethel with an amazing story about surviving the Great Depression but you’re not a big fan of the name Ethel, you could choose to name your daughter Adele or Adelina. All three names stem from the Old German root word athal, meaning noble.

There are many ways to honor a name:

• You can choose a name that sounds similar (i.e., Cora instead of Cortney).
• You can choose a name that means the same thing (i.e., Astra instead of Stella—both mean ‘star’).
• You can choose a variation (i.e., Xander instead of Alexander).
• You can gender swap (i.e., George after his grandmother Georgia, or Freddie after her grandfather Frederick).

Check out websites like FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com to find great names from your family history. These services are free (although ancestry.com has a paid membership for full access) and help you trace your family history. You might even find that a distant relative has already recorded stories about an ancestor you didn’t know about.

I would love to help you find the perfect name to honor an ancestor or loved one! Reach out if you’d like some ideas about a particular name, or book a consultation package to get my full services.

Purpose

Choose a name with a story to give your child purpose. You can tap into family history for providing purpose too by choosing someone your child can aspire to be like. You can also branch out to the world at large and choose a historical figure or even a fictional character to stand as an aspirational goal for your child.

My parents didn’t name me after Julie Andrews, but on discovering who she was, I quickly aspired to become like her. She had a 3-octave vocal range, so I strived for that too. I still prefer singing Broadway songs to any other kind of music, and movies like The Sound of Music are a staple in my home. I can’t help but smile every time I see her in a movie, hear her voice, or even read her name. When I discovered her books, I was over the moon. I’m proud to have the same name as her, to sing like her, to read like her, and to write like her. As a consultant my goal is to help you find names that bring this same kind of joy and ambition to your children.

Namesakes

Maybe you’re a history buff and a big fan of Winston Churchill or Amelia Earhart. Maybe you love fantasy and are drawn to names like Hermione, Daenerys, or Kaladin. Or maybe you’re a literature enthusiast, interested in Shakespeare names like Orlando or Viola or children’s literature names like Alice and Oliver (check out my list of fairy tale inspired names). There are unlimited choices when it comes to finding a namesake for your child.

Virtue names and mythological names can also provide purpose. An Arthur might aspire toward chivalry and fairness, an Athena might value wisdom, and a Grace might strive for kindness and forgiveness.

The key is that your child needs to know why you gave them their name. It’s important to tell your child that you named them Peter because Peter Pan represents youth and imagination. Or that you named them Alice, because her story was one your mother read to you as a child. These stories, rather than the name itself, will convey meaning and aspiration to your child.

Making Name Stories Part of Your Child’s Life

Once you’ve chosen a meaningful name, incorporating that story into your child’s life can reinforce its significance. Here are some ways to do that:

• Put the story in a photo book, album, or scrapbook.
• Keep a copy of the story in a memento box alongside a lock of hair, a baby tooth, baby booties, etc.
• Incorporate the story in your bedtime routine—after reading Goodnight Moon and Guess How Much I Love You, tell the story of how and why you chose their name.
• Make a poster or canvas with art highlighting their name and telling the story, then hang it in their bedroom.

Final Thoughts

Stories matter. We all love stories—from books to TV to video games. Stories connect us—to our past, to our families, and to the world around us. Choose a name with a story, and then tell that story to your child every day. Knowing that story will help them feel your love for them because of the careful way you chose their name. They will feel connected to you, to their family, and to their culture. They will have a sense of purpose in living up to the name that was so thoughtfully given to them. The story you tell them will shape how they see themselves. While they will always be more than just a name, their name is the first chapter of their story.

Let Me Help!

If you want to give your child a name with a story that will inspire them for a lifetime, I’d love to help! Check out my other blog posts for curated name lists, visit my Etsy shop OnceUponaBabyName.etsy.com to purchase consultation packages, or email me with questions about a specific name!

Share Your Story! What story does your name tell? Have you chosen a meaningful name for your child? I’d love to hear—comment below!

[1] https://news.byu.edu/intellect/family-history-knowledge-helps-american-adolescents-develop-healthy-sense-of-identity

https://www.qualifiedgenealogists.org/ojs/index.php/JGFH/article/view/134

https://ncph.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/The-power-of-family-history-in-adolescent-identity.pdf