Naming Your Baby - How to Choose the Right Baby Name

Where to start with picking a name for your baby: There are many ways to name a baby. Perhaps you stumbled on the perfect name. Maybe you and your spouse have already decided long ago. Or maybe you're like me and wrestling with the decision for a long, long time. I'd suggest starting with narrowing some of the names or types of names you don't like. If you hate certain names don't consider them. Start with the positive names. Then define your baby naming style. From there I'd suggest lists of baby names. Baby names books are great for that purpose.

• Most Popular Baby Names

Baby Names for Boys: Names for baby boys are changing. Gone are the days of about 20 standard names. The names parents are choosing for a baby boy vary greatly. You still see the standard names like John and Mark, but now names like Ashton are creeping up the charts as well. There is still more pressure placed on baby boys when it comes to the perfect name, so take everything to heart when choosing an offbeat name for your child to wear.

• Most Popular Baby Boy Names
• Baby Boy Names
• The Baby Names Dictionary

Baby Names for Girls: What's in a baby girl's name? Sugar, spice and anything, including nice or naughty depending on the parent. The names that are given to baby girls are more open to spelling variations (Caryn, Karen, Karen, etc.) and don't seem to be confined to any preconceived notions. That doesn't mean you should go wild, but know that the constraints are fewer. There is also a resurgence in older names that had fallen out of favor, like Olivia, Sophia, Lilah and Clara.

• Most Popular Baby Girl Names
• Baby Girl Names
• The Baby Names Dictionary

Baby Names for Twins: Naming twins or other multiples puts a whole new spin on the baby name issue. Now you have many more combinations to come up with! That also brings up how do you go about naming twins. Do you give similar names or very different names? Do you use their birth order to name them (Baby A gets an A name, etc.)? My best advice is to really avoid similar initials, it saves on determining who owns what later on!