Every parent would tell you that choosing the right name for your new bundle of joy is no small task.
And, while traditional baby names such as Oliver and Olivia remain the top choices for British parents, it’s safe to say that many more unusual choices are gaining popularity.
This baby naming trend is no doubt partly inspired by celebrity parents choosing more original options for their little ones.
But, according to one psychotherapist, choosing a non-traditional baby name like Bear – an option favoured by celebrity parents Cheryl and Liam Payne, and Jamie and Jools Oliver – could actually end up having a negative impact on your child.
Chatting to The Sun, psychotherapist Christophe Sauerwein, a specialist in developmental psychology, explained: ‘Parents have a desire for originality, to choose something different which is fine but there are implications.’
He added: ‘The baby is going to grow up and become an adult and carry on with that name for the rest of their lives.
‘So we have to think about why we love a name and what the child will think of it. What are his friends at school going to think about it? Is he going to be ridiculed?’
He continued: ‘The world of children is tough and those kind of negative memories, of being ridiculed or bullied because of a name, can mean you don’t feel comfortable with your name and it’s a matter of time before you are not comfortable with who you are.
‘I see a lot of patients who faced difficulty having such a name at school. There’s a lot of risk there. So why put your children potentially at risk? That’s a valid question to ask yourself as a parent.’
Sauerwein went on to add that problems might arise if your child doesn’t seem to suit their unusual name…
‘Imagine in 25 years’ time you receive an email from someone called Wolf or Bear and you are going to meet him for the first time,’ he said. ‘You’re imagining someone like a bear or wolf.
‘If Bear is slim, blonde, blue-eyed and shy, that’s not exactly what you were prepared to meet and that’s a problem because you are biased before meeting him.
‘It’s hard for him to be himself because everyone is expecting him to have a certain personality and that can impact on his self-esteem.’
But, don’t worry too much if you’ve opted to give your child an original name, because Sauerwein added that there can be advantages, too…
‘Having an unusual name can have a value as well. It tells you you are different, and you are special, and you can work positively with that, but it has to be explained in parenting,’ he said.
‘You have to tell your child the motivation behind the name.”We did that because we love you” is not enough. Explain why. For instance: “I’ve always been fascinated by wolves and I love them, I think they are great animals and that’s why we believed it would be fantastic for you to be called Wolf”.’
