| Getting ready for a new baby can be exciting, | | | | the old-fashioned and classic to |
| exhausting, and exhilarating | | | | made up and unique to downright strange. |
| all at once. One of the most challenging obstacles | | | | Consider Frank Zappa, who named two of |
| for new parents can be | | | | his children Moon Unit and Dweezil. Madonna's |
| choosing a baby name. A name will identify your | | | | children are named Lourdes and |
| child throughout their life, | | | | Rocco. Nicole Kidman and Tom cruise named |
| people will form opinions about your child based | | | | their children Isabella Jane and |
| solely on their name, and the | | | | Connor Anthony. They traverse the spectrum, |
| name you choose will also play a role in molding | | | | but one thing almost all celebrity |
| your child's personality and | | | | children have in common is that their names are |
| behavior. Learning baby name meanings is a good | | | | not. |
| first step in narrowing your | | | | Creating a NameMaking up a name for your |
| choices. | | | | baby is |
| Biblical and Hebrew NamesBiblical and Hebrew | | | | becoming more popular, but it is still a choice you |
| names are | | | | should consider carefully. |
| probably the most popular names in the United | | | | There is some evidence of job discrimination |
| States. Michael is consistently | | | | when it comes to applicants with |
| one of the most popular name for boys. In 2004 | | | | extremely unusual or made up names. Your child |
| it was second, with the other | | | | may also be subject to frequent |
| four top five boy's names in order being Jacob, | | | | mispronunciation by teachers and later |
| Joshua, Matthew, and Ethan. The | | | | coworkers. Creating a new name can also |
| origins for all are biblical or Hebrew. Biblical names | | | | give your child a B sense of identity, as with |
| for girls also endure | | | | using a word not normally |
| consistent popularity with Hannah, Abigail, and | | | | thought of as a name. Make sure you check |
| Samantha being in the top ten | | | | dictionaries and other reference |
| most popular. Sarah, Rebecca, and Jessica also | | | | sources if you make up a name, though. It could |
| have enduring usage. | | | | already be an obscure word that |
| Vintage NamesIt is sometimes possible to "date" | | | | may potentially embarrass your child. |
| someone | | | | Names and PersonalityThe name you give your |
| by knowing when their name was popular, | | | | child can go |
| especially for fad names that are used | | | | on to affect their personality, their behavior, their |
| for only a short period of time due to the | | | | self-worth and their |
| current popularity of a singer, movie | | | | identity. Choosing a strange and unusual name |
| star, or fictional character. Consider Marilyn, | | | | can make your child a target for |
| Jacquelyn, and Shirley, all | | | | teasing and bullying. While using words for names, |
| examples of names that became popular for | | | | or making them up entirely, |
| brief periods because of public | | | | is gaining some popularity, your child will probably |
| figures. Another source of old-fashioned sounding | | | | still encounter prejudices |
| names is classic literature. | | | | based on their given name. Some children may |
| | | | even choose to change their names |
| Baby name meanings are often less important in | | | | as adults or to use their initials instead of given |
| vintage names, since usually | | | | names. |
| the original meaning is secondary to the cultural | | | | Using a name that is extremely common also |
| associations. Girl's names | | | | has its pitfalls. If you select an |
| seem to be more subject to trends and fads, as | | | | extremely popular name for your child, like |
| well, with boy's names changing | | | | Matthew, Brittany, Dylan, or Ashley, |
| less. For old fashioned names, look to your | | | | it's probable that he or she will be one of several |
| grandparents or great-grandparents, | | | | in his or her class at |
| books, and movies from the era you would like a | | | | school. While that may not be an issue for your |
| name from. | | | | child, some may feel as though |
| Ethnic NamesChoosing a name based on your | | | | it is difficult to establish an independent identity. |
| ancestry can | | | | Others may feel that they |
| be a way of showing pride in your heritage and | | | | don't fit in if they are identified differently than |
| passing that on to your child. | | | | other children, such as by |
| Names from other cultures can also be a way of | | | | last name or first name and an initial, if other |
| giving your child a less common | | | | children aren't also identified |
| name, but without some of the negative | | | | that way. |
| associations that can come with making | | | | Tips for Choosing a NameTry saying the name |
| one up. You can look to other languages for | | | | out loud. |
| different spellings of common names, | | | | Make sure it sounds good with your last name. It |
| too. Using a common name in a foreign language | | | | may take some time for you to |
| can result in a distinctive name | | | | get used to it. Avoid names that can easily be |
| for your child, for instance the Swedish Mattias | | | | turned into taunting nicknames. |
| instead of Matthew. | | | | See if the name you like rhymes with any words |
| Another option for a distinctive name is to use | | | | likely to be used in an insult. |
| family names. Find out what | | | | You might not want to use Bart as a nickname if |
| your grandparent's or great-grandparent's middle | | | | you choose to call your son |
| names are. Using a mother or | | | | Bartholomew. |
| grandmother's maiden name can be a way of | | | | Check to see if the initials spell anything |
| providing a unique identity for your | | | | potentially embarrassing. If you |
| child while preserving family ties and heritage. | | | | are making up a name, check the dictionary first. |
| Unisex NamesChoosing a unisex name can be an | | | | Urban legends are rife with |
| easy | | | | stories of children named something |
| compromise rather than coming up with a "boy | | | | embarrassing by unwitting parents. Remember |
| name" and a "girl name", but it is | | | | that your child's name will be with them for life. |
| rarely necessary now that most expecting | | | | Choose something that they |
| parents know the gender of their child | | | | will be proud of. |
| before birth. Unisex names can seem stylish and | | | | Coming up with prospective names for your child |
| clever, but be aware that gender | | | | doesn't need to be difficult |
| confusion can upset children. It's a safer choice to | | | | and fraught with arguments. Discovering the |
| give a unisex name like | | | | different name origins of common |
| Mackenzie, Tracy, or Morgan to a girl. It is more | | | | monikers can be both fun and educational. Even if |
| accepted for women to go by | | | | you have already decided to |
| seemingly masculine names than for men to go | | | | use a name that has been in your family for |
| by feminine sounding names. Plenty | | | | generations, learning baby name |
| of girls with feminine names like Samantha or | | | | meanings can still be fun.Julie Parker is a |
| Maxine may even go by shortened | | | | successful writer and publisher providing valuable |
| forms that are male names like Sam and Max. | | | | tips and advice on finding the top baby names, |
| Hollywood NamesHollywood often sets the style | | | | unusual baby names, and baby name meanings. |
| for baby | | | | Her numerous articles offer thoughtful tips and |
| names, just as it does for so many other trends. | | | | valuable insight into baby naming. Check out the |
| The rich and famous rarely give | | | | "Top 100 Baby Names" list from the last 6 years. |
| their children common names. They range from | | | | |