The Baby Name Rule on the Porch That Could Save Parents From Name Regret

Celebrities and influencers have popularized unconventional names, from Gwyneth Paltrow naming her daughter Apple in 2004 to Francesca Farago naming her twins Poetry and Locket last week.

However, netizens are urging non-celebrity parents-to-be to use the “porch rule” to spare their children the undue ridicule and humiliation that comes with a name that’s too unique. After all, the name you give your child will affect them throughout their life.

The “porch rule” of baby naming can save parents a lifetime of name regrets.

Quora users brought the porch rule to the attention of a mother who was considering naming her unborn daughter “Cutie.” While many people were horrified and warned the mom-to-be against the name, one person urged her to practice the porch rule.

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“Go to your front door and open it. Pretend your daughter is playing outside but you can’t see her from where you are. Scream her name as loud as you can,” the user advised.

“Yell, ‘Cutie, it’s time to go home’ or ‘Cutie, dinner is ready,'” they continued. “Now the full name, including your last name. ‘Cutie Smith, come in here right now.’ Does it look like you want to call your daughter Cutie?

If you’re afraid of saying the potential name out loud, then it’s probably not a good choice for an actual human being. The same goes if you feel like you’re summoning a pet or are embarrassed to call it out.

According to a recent BabyCenter survey, one in 10 moms admit to regretting their baby’s name, so adhering to the porch rule might be a really good idea, especially if you already have doubts about the name and turn to the internet for advice.

People online have shared other iterations of the porch rule.

While the porch rule is helpful when it comes to naming your baby, there are other real-life scenarios where you can imagine how their names might affect them.

Imagine what that would look like for a teacher calling for attendance or a job recruiter reading their resume. Will they do a double take and wonder what their parents were thinking when they named them? If this is the case, you may want to consider choosing a different name.

“If someone named Cutie was your lawyer, would you trust him?” » asked a Quora user. “Imagine an inauguration ceremony celebrating President Cutie,” wrote another.

Others suggested thinking of events like graduations where the name would be announced for all to see.

Another tactic that has been discussed on social media is giving the barista your potential baby’s name as your own. Not only will you see how it feels to say the name to a stranger, you’ll hear them remind you when the drink is ready.

When you name a baby, you also name a child, a teenager and an adult.

It’s important to remember that when you name a newborn baby, you are naming a human being who will grow up and live under that name.

A name that suits a cherubic child may not suit a grown man looking to land a job in the financial industry.

One of the most important jobs of a parent is to protect their children and ensure their well-being – it starts before they are even born. Giving them a name that allows them to be taken seriously as an adult is one way to do this.

Megan Quinn is a writer at YourTango covering entertainment & news, self, love & relationships.