What's In a Name?

Now for the good news: In this, the age of the Internet, many readily available free resources exist to ease the process. Below you will find links to several sites that offer lists of currently popular names, lists of possible names, lists of ethnic names, and search features that allow you to find the etymologies of chosen names. As you consider what name you will choose for your child, keep in mind that it should be carefully evaluated on the basis of several criteria. Will your child's initials spell out anything undesirable? Will the name you choose lend itself to shortening into a nickname? Is that desirable? Is it easy to spell? To pronounce? Does it leave your child's gender ambiguous? Is that a good or bad thing in your mind? Is it unique? Is it TOO unique? What is it's meaning? Does it reflect your ethnic origin? Do you care? Is it associated with anythinggood or bad? For instance, I wouldn't recommend naming a child Dahmer Jones, or Hitler Smith.

Good luck and happy hunting for the perfect name.

Baby naming resources on the Internet

Mike's Baby Name page. http://www.charm.net/~shack/name/babynm....

Gleaned from social security card applications, it lists the top names of 1998 and features links to other resources.

BabyCenter | Popular Baby Names http://www.babycenter.com/babyname/popna...

This site includes top 10 and top 100 lists, and offers links to other baby naming topics, including popular names by state. Also includes links too other parenting topics, such as preconception, pregnancy and toddlers.

Parenthoodweb http://www.parenthoodweb.com/parent_cfmf...

Includes lists of the most popular names categorized by sex. A quick search feature allows you to discover the meaning of a given name, or to find a name based on chosen meanings.

Babynamer.com http://www.babynamer.com/BabyBlurbs.cfm

This is a service dedicated to helping new parents choose the perfect name for their baby. Its database contains 19,000 interconnected names. You can move easily from familiar favorites to nicknames, different spellings, non-English equivalents, and other related names.

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