50,001 Best Baby Names Review

When choosing the name for your baby, you want something that will represent the child and his or her family, and certainly one that won't be despised later. Some parents opt for tradition, while others want a unique, creative name. Parents also consider possible nicknames, alternative spellings, and possibly naming their child after a famous figure as a means of inspiration.

"50,001 Best Baby Names" offers assistance in this important choice, including tips on choosing a name and lists of names broken down by personality, trends, and the most popular names by decade. The information may seem overwhelming, but as author Diane Stafford explains in the introduction, "a name can affect the ebb and flow of our entire existence". Stafford explains the nuisance of a bad name, leading to resentment from the child who will likely change it when he's an adult, or go by an entirely different name. Stafford also cites the effect of famous characters and people on names, with "Erica" being cast in a new light after the villian Erica Kane's popularity on the soap opera 'All My Children', and "Monica" becoming less popular after the Lewinsky/Clinton scandal.

A helpful section in the book, "Tips for Naming Your Baby" in Part One, breaks down the process in ten steps:

-Voicing the full name, assuring that the first and last name sound good together
-Knowing the effect of common names; considering the drawbacks of a strange name
-Being aware of how old-fashioned names will sound in modern times
-The pros and cons of namesakes (juniors and "the thirds")
-Utilizing the middle name as a means of creativity or tradition
-Knowing the name's meaning and origin
-Keeping in mind that other children will pick out nicknames and notice odd initials (e.g., D.U.M, F.A.T.)
-Trying out each name ("Jacob Reilly Jones, come help with the dishes") to see how it sounds in context
-Keeping the name a secret to avoid outside criticism