Naming Your Baby
You may have had a name already chosen for your baby, or could have been waiting to meet them before choosing the right name for them. Registering your baby’s birth and giving your baby a name can be a wonderful way to keep their memory alive and help you to talk about them and remember them, even if it’s challenging and painful.
Choosing a name
If you want to choose a name but you’re struggling, there are websites with baby name ideas to give you inspiration and help you research what a name means before making your choice. Some baby name websites are:
Registering the name
When you fill out a birth registration for a baby who has died, or was still-born, you will need to record baby’s name. There is no rush to complete the birth registration; you have two months from the date of birth to complete it. The form to register your baby’s birth is available online and there is no cost involved.
You may also choose to order a birth certificate, which will have baby’s name recorded on it. There is a cost of between $33 and $55 to order a birth certificate, depending on the type of certificate you choose. In the case of a still-birth, be prepared to see the word ‘stillborn’ on the certificate. This is to avoid identity fraud.
If your baby was miscarried, you aren’t required to register the birth. You can choose to give your baby a name or not. Again, there is no time limit or rush; give yourself the time you need to make the best choice for you.