How to Name Your Twins

Naming any baby can be a challenge. After all, you and the child will have to live with that name for many years to come.

Many of the same questions that come up with naming a single baby are applicable to naming twins:

• Does this name remind me of someone else I liked or disliked?
• What are the nicknames for this name?
• What do the initials for this name spell? Anything we’d regret?
• Do we want to honor a family member by using that name?
• How easy is the name to spell and say? Will the twins constantly be correcting people their entire lives?

Twins may arrive on the same day and look the same, but each twin is an individual person.

So remember your twins’ individuality when deciding on what names to give your twins.

You may be tempted to give your twins rhyming names. Although this may sound cute, don’t do it. Your twins will have to live with their names their entire lives.

Put any potential twin name to the test:

• Will your twin baby’s name still sound good, professional, and practical when she heads off to college?
• How about on a resume for a job?
• As a byline in a news article?
• On that Nobel Prize she will win?

Cut the cute crap and give your twins a name that will still sound good long after they outgrow their newborn diapers.

Using a Theme for Twin Names

You may want to have twin baby names that fit a theme. Babyhold weighs in on themed twin baby names :

Themes are a great way to give twin names a subtle connection. Themes can be as varied as religion and spirituality, place names, and ethnicity. An even more subtle theme for names is common meaning. You may want to give your twins names that may not necessarily sound alike but have a common meaning or translation from a certain language. Consider positive meanings such as peace, love or strength.

Twin Naming No-No’s

Please, at all costs, avoid naming your kids some stereotypical twin name pairs like Luke and Leia or Bonnie and Clyde. Hey, I love Star Wars as much as the next guy, but I’m not putting that burden on my twin babies.

How to choose baby names has some good examples in addition to the two I mentioned of what to avoid in naming your twins.

Additionally, the Social Security Administration has a list of popular twin name pairs. Take a look at that list and see which pairs make you cringe. Avoid those!

Twin Names that Mean “Twin”

You can be sneaky and name your twins a name that actually means “twin.” That can be your private inside joke as most people will never know. Twin Stuff has a great list of “twin” meaning twin baby names.

Final Twin Name Check

Go to your backdoor, open the door, and yell into the backyard your two twin names in rapid succession as if you were calling them for dinner.

Do they sound good? Will your neighbors think you’re crazy when they hear those names over the coming years?

If your names pass this final test, you’re good to go.