How to pick a baby name that will go with your last name

The baby name you've chosen may look good on paper, but how do you know if you picked the right name for your baby? How your baby girl name or baby boy name sounds with your last name may make all the difference in the world, so check out these tips on how to pick a baby name that will go with your last name.
 

You've scoured countless baby books and Googled the most popular baby name lists to find the perfect baby name. You've even reserved your baby-to-be's Facebook and Twitter profiles. But, even though the baby name you've picked looks good on paper, how it sounds with your last name may make all the difference in the world. From syllables to sounds, check out these tips on how to pick a baby name that will go with your last name.

Find balance

The length of your last name should be considered when picking a first name for your bun in the oven. Choosing two long names or two short names can make your sweetie pie's moniker seem too long or too short.

Have a long last name, like Riviera? Then opt for a shorter first name for your bundle of joy, like Grace and Jacob. As such, shorter last names such as Jones pair best with longer surnames, like Alexander and Elizabeth.

Clap out syllables

Remember how you clapped along to a word to count out syllables in grade school? Try giving your pea in the pod's prospective moniker the same test with his first and last name. Do both names have the same number of syllables? Then you may want to opt for a different first name.

While having a first and last name with the same number of syllables such as Mia Davis will not make or break a moniker, offset syllables for each name's location may make it sound more harmonious, like with Abigail Brown and Anthony Miller.

Listen to sounds

The sounds that compose your last name are key factors when searching for the perfect baby boy name or baby girl name to team up with your last name. Too many of the same sounds will not only make your little one's name seem cumbersome, it is opening the door to teasing on the playground.

If your surname has a lot of one letter, choosing a first name that doesn't have the same letters will balance better on your tongue. Family names such as Wilson probably pair better with names like Joshua and Ava than William and Isabella.

Look at letters

For some parents, similar rules apply when considering the first initials of first and last names when choosing a baby name. Two names with the same beginning letter may not be taboo such as Ethan Evans and Sophia Smith, but sometimes can stand out when spoken aloud.

Now, before you sign that birth certificate, remember to say your baby's potential first and last name together, out loud. Although there are no hard set rules, picking a baby name that will go you're your last name can be easier when you follow a few simple guidelines, and, make your baby's name sing!
 

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