How the baby names we choose can affect our children

Our names are what define us, but most of us don't get to choose them, that decision is normally left to our parents, but what happens if the name submitted to the registry is deemed inappropriate? Dr Bailey Bosch speaks with Channel 9 News about baby name dangers.

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  Our names are what define us, but most of us don't get to choose them, that decision is normally left to our parents, but if the name submitted to the registry is deemed inappropriate the state will choose another instead. 

  One mother who's an ABC journalist from New South Wales called her son Methamphetamine Rules, here she is speaking to A Current Affairs Ali Langdon. “What we were trying to find out was what the registrar names a baby if the parents don't come up with an acceptable name. Because that's what actually happens if parents don't lodge a name that's acceptable. So, we were just trying to find out what that process was and we did ask them directly, but they they didn't tell us how they choose a name, so we thought well we're in the perfect position to find out.”

  So, how can our names affect our children growing up? Parenting expert Dr Bailey Bosch is here, hello again Dr Bosch, Kirsten’s decision was all in the name of journalism, but should naming your children ever be a joke? 

  I don't think using children for anything that they don't give consent for is appropriate in any situation, and while it might have been in the name of journalism, I don't think it was thought through, because that name will still always be attached to that child even though it has been changed now to, I think she said it's a more appropriate name, a sweet name for a sweet baby. Yes, but given this day of social media and technology it wouldn't take much to find out who that baby is.

  What should we be considering when naming our kids? 

  Well, obviously you want a name that's personal to yourself, to your family, if it can link back to your heritage, but you should also be aware childhood is hard enough as it is, life can be hard, so if you're doing something that's adding an extra burden, whether that's a particular way of spelling the name, or pronouncing the name, don't add any extra difficulty to your child if you can avoid it.

  Some parents choose a theme too like a particular letter, you’ve in fact done that?

  Indeed I have, so I mean I'm certainly not against unusual names, all my children have got a letter X in their name, and that that got a little bit difficult, I limited my numbers of of options with that. But, you can certainly be individual, you can choose some interesting names, but I think it's thinking through the long-term consequences of those names. 

  Can individualism go too far? 

  There's nothing wrong with being an individual, and expressions of individuality, it's how permanent that is. So, a name is a really permanent thing, in this case, even though she's changed it, it's still going to be attached to that child, so it can go too far if it's with a permanent thing. Hair colour, tattoos even nowadays, but a name, that's a sort of long-term permanent measure.

  All right, let's dive a little deeper there, what are the long lasting effects of having an unusual name? 

  Well, aside from the logistical difficulties, so you could have misspelled names, people could misinterpret the spelling. You could end up with a passport that's got a different name, all of those sort of logistical things that can just add an extra layer of bureaucratic nuisance to a child as they grow older. But certainly kids will tease any name, let’s not make it a name that's even more, you know, more of an easy target.

  Because it can actually have an impact on their mental well-being can't it, and their confidence?

  Yeah, you know, if you've got a name that rhymes with something and it becomes a little bit of a rhyme, and then other kids latch on to it, that can quickly turn into bullying, and we know bullying can have a significant impact on a child's mental well-being.

  What considerations should parents give to potential nicknames? 

  Well, I mean, I will say kids can nickname anything so you're never going to come across a perfect name that's going to be completely protected from that. But if it's something obvious, you know, test it out, share it with family and friends, if you're prepared to do that. See what possible nicknames could come from that. Go shout it out at the playground yourself and see how you feel. 

  Dr Bailey Bosch thanks for explaining what's in a name.

  Thank you.