Can Your Baby Name Be Too Adult?

There are so many factors to consider when choosing a baby name. Does the name go with your last name? How does it sound with sibling names? Are there any associated nicknames that you simply don’t care for?

For one mom of four on TikTok, she's worried that the name she ended up choosing for her baby boy sounds too adult. 

In a video captioned “name regrets?” the creator relays how her 4-month-old son is Reed, and she is having a hard time connecting the moniker with the “little, squishy baby.” The mom reiterates that she loves the name Reed, but somehow it seems so adult. 

She then appeals to social media users to see if anyone else has the same problem with boy names sounding too adult, and shares other examples that she sees falling into the category, such as George, Harrison, Theodore, and Thomas. 

Are Certain Baby Names Too Mature

Sure, we may associate some baby names—especially those inspired by grandparents or older family members—with grown-ups. “Certain names and name styles definitely have a more formal or serious tone, and certain name styles can sound more sweet and cute," says baby name consultant Colleen Slagen of Naming Bebe.

Examples of “cutesy names” include Charlie and Teddy, or ones like Lucy and Millie. Parents looking to avoid adult-sounding names may also favor "nickname names" like Jack and Gus. 

Meanwhile, Slagen says, “Surnames like Grant or Brooks have a more formal, polished sound and may be harder to picture on a baby.” This is also true when it comes to traditional names like John or Elizabeth, or "boomer" names that we're used to hearing on adults, not babies. 

Slagen notes that historically, adult-sounding names are probably more of an issue with boys. “People tend to want more ‘serious’ names for boys, but that is starting to change with the rise in gender neutral names,” she adds.

Babies Grow into Their Names

In my experience as a mom of five, kids’ names change and grow with them. Case in point: I chose a name for my firstborn that is typically associated with an older generation. I loved how unique it was for her age group when she was a baby, and still do, over 15 years later. So, my two cents is that if you love a name, go with it! 

Slagen seconds that notion, saying that when it comes to baby names we may associate with adults, “It's not something I would worry about...Not only will they grow into the name, but natural nicknames will develop even if they're not ‘planned’ nicknames.”

She adds that people more often have the opposite problem of only being able to picture a name working for a baby—and not later in life. 

Another reason not too worry: "Your child is a baby for a very brief period," says Slagen.

One TikToker points that out in her viral video too, saying, "You’re naming an adult. You’re not naming a baby. A baby is around for two seconds.”

If you are hung up on whether your baby name will stand the test of time, Slagen offers a tip for road testing it: “When I was naming my last baby, I would always picture the names on my list for people of all ages to see how it felt!”