Some parents spend hours agonising over the perfect name for their baby, envisioning how it will fit them in school, work, and relationships.
However, clever parents on social media have now shared a foolproof method to test potential baby names, known as the ‘porch rule’.
This advice came after a mum considered naming her daughter ‘Cutie’, which was met with a collective online gasp of ‘no’. One savvy parent suggested: “Go to your front door and open it. Pretend your daughter is playing outside but you can’t see her from where you stand. Yell her name as loudly as you can.”
She continued, advising to call out something like: “Shout, ‘Cutie, time to come home’, or ‘Cutie, dinner’s ready’. Now the whole full entire name including your surname. ‘Cutie Smith get in here right now’. Does it sound like you want to name your daughter Cutie?” Many people were delighted with her response and shared their own experiences with the ‘porch test’.
One person commented: “My parents used the ‘Porch Rule’ as well. It was how they decided against my little sister’s middle name. She was going to be named ‘FaeRose’, after two of our great-grandmothers. However, that sounded too much like ‘Pharaoh,’ so they changed it. The ‘Porch Rule,’ although seemingly silly, can help save your child from a lifetime of embarrassment.”
Another person added: “The porch rule sounds like the peak of the scientific method.” One individual offered some advice, saying: “When my daughter was pregnant with her first she asked for advice. She had a boy and I said to choose a name that would suit a man. Imagine him as a strapping 21-year-old and be careful. A lot of names will suit a baby or young boy but not a grown man.”
Some even admitted to using the ‘porch rule’ when naming their pets. One person revealed: “This is the method I use for naming pets! The pets don’t seem to care how ridiculous their names are – but sometimes I have to decide if I really want to have to shout “Professor Fluffenstien! Where are you?”
Another pet lover agreed: “Exactly this! When I was younger we got a cocker spaniel that was black and white – she looked like a scoop of cookies and cream. As we were driving home we excitedly decided to name her Oreo. Then my dad paused while driving…and said nope, he could not stand at the front door yelling out into the neighbourhood “Hey Oreo! We decided to name her Cookie instead.
Do you have a story to share? Email [email protected]