Challenges with giving your baby a family name

Choosing to give your bundle of joy a family name can be a great honor. But, it can also be a slipper slope. Whether it's your in-laws feelings you're worried about or your offspring's future point of view that has you nervous, loving or hating a family name isn't the only challenge with giving your baby a family label.

What happens when you have more kids than you have family names? Or, what if the family name doesn't fit the gender of your bun in the oven? Or, perhaps you are faced with a family name that you really just don't like? Here are some options when facing family name baby name challenges.

Should all of my kids bear a family name?

Worried that your other kids will get their feelings hurt if their sibling bears the family name but they don't? Or, that you will give your first born two family names, only to have your second child without the traditional family moniker?

Whether it's a moniker marked as a family name, or just a name of a family member somewhere along the family tree, the honor is the same when it comes to the family name game, so don't hold back. Give your children as many family names as you like. It's likely that your family tree holds another label you're sure to adore for future little ones. That way, if your first born is marked with both grandfathers' first names, consider both grandfathers' middle names for your second son, or honor a great uncle by giving him a namesake.

What happens if the family name does not fit my child's gender?

Even if you were looking forward to carrying on the family name, there's no guarantee that your baby's gender will fit your plans. But, before you throw the baby name out with the bathwater, consider gender-izing the family moniker to make it fit your special delivery.

The boy name Alexander can be changed to a feminine Alexis, while the girl name Natalie can be altered to become masculine as Nate and still hold a special meaning.

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What if I don't like the family name for my baby?

Perhaps you are faced with a family name that simply doesn't appeal to you? Instead of waging WWIII, consider that nicknames can be nice. Choose a family name that has a nickname you can live with, like Ken instead of Kennedy, or Jen instead of Jenner.

Another option is to use a version of the name you like, such as Corie instead of Cora to pay homage to your ancestors. Or, you can use the family handle as your sweetie pie's middle name.

In the end, family name or not, the final decision on your baby-to-be's name is you and your partner's call. Family tradition or not, giving your pea in the pod a name you can live with is most important thing overall. 

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