Short, sweet, and zero regrets: why I gave my kids simple names

Naming your baby can feel like the biggest decision of your life. But one mum says keeping it simple might be the smartest move of all.

Naming your baby is one of those deceptively simple things that quickly becomes anything but. One minute you’re dreaming up names that sound cute with your surname, the next you’re cross-referencing numerology charts and asking your barista if they think “Elowen” sounds too much like “lemon.”

It’s a lot.

And in a world where baby names can feel like personal branding, it’s easy to get caught up in the idea that you need to be clever, or original, or edgy. Something beautiful. Something trending. Something that’ll make your child stand out in all the right ways.

But when it came time to name my own children, I went in the opposite direction. I gave them short, simple names. No more than four letters. A couple of syllables, max. Easy to spell, easy to say, and - importantly - easy to live with.

And I’ve never once regretted it.

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this.

I gave my kids short, simple names. Here’s why I’ve never looked back.

The name that made me

I say this as someone who grew up with a name that - at the time - was very different.

My name is Rebel. And while today you’ll find the odd Rebel floating around a kindy class or on the red carpet, back in the 70s it was practically unheard of. No one else had it. Not at school. Not in the street. Not in the baby names book. 

I got to grow up explaining myself. A lot.

Not because it was hard to spell or hard to say - just because it was… unexpected. Adults would arch an eyebrow. Teachers would hesitate at roll call. Other kids would ask if it was a nickname. I felt like I had to be cool enough to deserve a name like Rebel - which is an exhausting identity crisis to have before you’re old enough to own a school bag.

RELATED: 'I've never met another person with my weird name. I love it'

When it was my turn

When I became a mum myself, I had a choice: go bold, or go quiet.

And after years of living with a name that did a lot of the talking before I even opened my mouth, I opted for quiet.

Each of my kids has a short, simple name. Nothing invented. Nothing you’d see trending on a celebrity birth announcement. Just sweet, solid, easy names that suit them - and that don’t need an explanation.

No spelling struggles. No confused looks. No pressure to grow into a name that makes people go “Oh wow, that’s different!”

A gentle protest against the naming Olympics

There’s a weird kind of pressure around baby names these days. Like you’re not just naming a human - you’re curating a vibe. Something aesthetic. Something aspirational. Something that says: “I’m a thoughtful parent and I read design blogs.”

I see it all the time - parents stressing over whether a name is unique enough or if it’s already been claimed by someone in their mother’s group. People changing the spelling to make it “special,” or testing nicknames out loud until they forget what they’re even saying.

It’s easy to get swept up in it. But I guess I’m here to gently remind you that you don’t have to.

RELATED: My not-yet-pregnant sister wants me to change my daughter's name

The quiet joy of simplicity

Years down the track, I can confidently say that giving my kids simple names was one of the best parenting decisions I’ve made.

Their names fit on everything from library cards to birthday cakes. They’re easy to call out at sport, easy to whisper at bedtime, easy for a teacher to jot down without checking twice.

And most importantly? Not once has any of my kids said they wished they had a different name.

They don’t feel like they missed out. They don’t feel like I played it too safe. Their names are theirs, and that’s enough.

No judgement 

Let me be clear: I love a unique name. I’ve cooed over babies called Clover and Dune and August and Blue. I respect the parents who dive deep into language, meaning, and culture to find the perfect match. There’s beauty in being bold.

But there’s also beauty in not trying to win the naming Olympics.

If you’re a parent who likes names that are soft, simple, and easy to live with - this is your sign that that’s enough. You don’t have to go viral. You don’t have to be clever. You just have to love it.

Less drama, more ease

So here’s to the names that don’t make a scene. The ones that don’t need a story to be special. The ones that sound just right without all the mental gymnastics.

I gave my kids simple names. And I’ve never once regretted it.

Originally published as Short, sweet, and zero regrets: why I gave my kids simple names