When Do Babies Recognize Their Name?
Name recognition is an exciting language development milestone for babies. Here's an expected timeline, plus tips for helping your little one master the skill.
Medically reviewed by Wendy L. Hunter, M.D.
During their first year, your baby will meet many milestones. Perhaps one of the most exciting is recognizing and reacting to their name. You just can't beat that burst of joy that comes when your little one turns their head after you call them!
Name recognition relies on "receptive language," which involves processing spoken words and sounds. It might sound complex, but you can expect your little one to master this skill a few months before their first birthday.
Keep reading to learn more about the name recognition timeline for babies. We also offer tips for supporting the development of this milestone, plus advice on when to contact the pediatrician if you’re concerned about their progress.
Related: A Month-By-Month Guide to Your Baby's First Words
When Do Babies Recognize Their Name?
Most babies recognize their names between 4 and 9 months of age. When your baby masters the skill, you might notice them consistently looking at you—or reacting in some other way—whenever you call them.
Parents will likely see some other language-related milestones before this. For example, around 4 to 6 months, your baby might sense changes in your tone when you talk to them, according to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASLHA).
And beginning sometime after 7 months, they'll turn their attention to see where different sounds are coming from. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says most babies look when you call their name by 9 months of age.
It's important to note, however, that “infants develop different language skills at different times," says Kristen Cook, MD, a pediatrician with Ascension All Saints Hospital in Wisconsin. This means your baby might take longer than others to know and respond to their name, and in many cases, that's completely fine. Bring up any concerns with the pediatrician.
Related: What Toddlers Understand When Adults Talk
How to Help Your Baby Learn Their Name
Many parents eagerly await the day their baby recognizes their name. You can help them master this milestone with a few different strategies, which we broke down below.
Repeat their name. Repeat your baby's name often in everyday conversation, looking at them whenever you do. This will familiarize them with the sound.
Talk to your baby. Although your baby doesn’t understand what you’re saying, talking to them and changing your tone helps them learn to communicate.
Narrate your actions. Have you ever found yourself explaining little things to your baby? This narration is actually beneficial for their development. “Even verbalizing mundane tasks, like changing a diaper or putting a child into a car seat, exposes them to language as much as possible," says Dr. Cook.
Read and sing. Reading and singing to your baby exposes them to an expanded vocabulary. In addition to supporting language skills, it also strengthens babies' overall brain development.
Work on expressive language skills. To master receptive language skills (like name recognition), your baby also needs to practice expressive language skills. “Expressive language refers to the ability to communicate, either through gestures or using spoken words,” says Dr. Cook. Essentially, this means that every little coo, babble, smile (and even those tears) aren’t just adorable—they're also the building blocks of your baby’s language skills.
Related: Everything You Need to Know About Language Development and Speech Delays in Children
When to Call the Doctor
Every baby develops at a different pace. Still, you'll want to visit the doctor if they don't respond to their name by 9 months old.
Your baby could just be slow to reach this milestone. But various factors might also be preventing your child from recognizing their name, including hearing problems, a developmental delay, or autism spectrum disorder.
Jonathan Maynard, MD, a pediatrician with Providence Mission Hospital in California, tells parents to voice concerns about language development to their health care provider during regular visits. He also encourages them to keep their regular appointments for long-term benefits. “Going to all routine well-child visits is essential. It provides pediatricians with the ability to monitor the child’s development and answer any questions parents might have," he says.
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