While you’re getting ready for the baby to arrive, there’s plenty of preparing to do. You have to ensure that you have everything you need at the ready, including their room, clothes, and supplies. But you also might want to have something to call them when they finally arrive. Here, we’re going to look at a host of inspirations you can choose for naming your baby, and why the question matters so much to so many.

Look at your own family first

If you have a parent, grandparent, or beloved relative, living or lost, that holds special meaning to you, naming your child after them, or even giving them their name as a middle name, can be a touching tribute. You can take the time to explore your family tree, as well, for inspiration. You never know what interesting and meaningful names you might find that way.

Consider the meaning

A lot of people choose names based on how they sound, and what emotions they immediately invoke, but names can carry a lot more meaning, too. Clara, for instance, means “bright,” while Ethan means “strong.” You can take a look at name etymology sites to look up a wide range of names from across different cultural traditions, or simply search up the meaning that you would like your child’s name to have, to see what different options can hit that mark.

Look into themed names

There are plenty of names that have a more immediate significance to them. For instance, some people like to draw inspiration from nature, such as natural elements like flowers (Rose,) trees (Willow,) or bodies in the night sky (Luna.) Others prefer place names, or names with seasonal significance if your child is due to be born close to a holiday. Take a look at a name generator to mess around with all manner of themed names. You’re likely to see at least a couple that stick with you.

Consider some cultural inspiration

People have been looking to culture and the arts for name inspiration for as long as we have had plays, novels, and myths. You can take a look at the most popular pop culture names in circulation right now, or take a closer look at the movies, books, and other media that you love for some inspiration. You might want to consider that the names you get inspired by sound like they could actually be used in real life, however. Not everything translates across mediums.

Get creative

You don’t necessarily have to choose a name that’s immediately obvious. If you like a name but aren’t settled on it, you can look at the range of variations and combinations based on it. For instance, if you like Anna, you can consider alternative spellings like Ana or combination names like Anabelle.

The name that you choose is one that your child is going to carry with them for many years. Most run with their birth name for the rest of your life. As such, it’s a question you should feel free to ponder and use the tips above to help you find a place to land.