How to choose a baby name

1. Family Names: Are you planning on naming a child after a family member? If so, is it because you particularly like the person, or do you just want to keep a name in the family?

2. Will the child be a Jr or III? If so, will the child be called by his first name? A nickname? Or perhaps his middle name? Just how many, George Albert's can one family have without getting mail and credit reports confused?

3. How will the name be shortened? Chances are that other people will come up with variations that you may not care for. Think about how the name can be shortened and common variations.

4. Cultural influences: If you give your child a name that is not common in the country that the child will grow up in, make sure that it doesn't mean something else not so savory in that country. Also, consider how difficult is will be for people to pronounce.

5. Syllables. Consider how the name flows. Is there a pattern in the syllables? Does Jane Anne Smith, all one syllables, sound better or worse than Jennifer Amber Smith, with syllables decreasing from 3, 2, 1? Does one have more impact? The other softer? Which do you prefer?

6. What are current popular names? Will all of your childrens friends have the same name?

7. Sounds in names, do the sounds flow? Having a first name that ends in a vowel sound and a last name that begins in vowel sound can sound jarring. Susanna Evans doesn't flow as well as Elizabeth Evans. Are the sounds too similar? Ashley Yates sounds like Ashley Ates.

8. How will you spell the name, is this going to be a struggle? It isn't uncommon for people to change the spelling of names, but if you do will this cause problems down the road? How frustrating will this be for your child later on in life?

9. Is it just a mean name? Don't give your child a number as a name. Don't name your child "Violence". Don't name your child "Number 16 Bus Shelter" Dont' name your child "Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii". Yes, these are all real names that parents have given their children.

10. What do the initials spell? If your last name is Lime, don't give your child a first name that starts with S. While it is not rude, it will guarantee a nickname of "Slime". I went to school with a "Slime", and I have no idea what his first name was. Another friend realized her sons initials would be B.S if she gave the name she really liked as a first name. She gave the name as a middle name instead. While you can't think of everything, at least try to avoid the obvious.

11. Don't name your son Sue.

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So your significant other likes a name that you hate? Do what one of my friends did, buy a dog and give it that same name.

Let's hope there is only one really bad name on the list.

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In 2008 news reports told of a young girl in New Zealand who had been given the unfortunate name of Talula Does The Hula From Hawaii. She was so embarrassed by her name, that she ask friends to call her K and didn't reveal her real name to anyone, not even her closest friends.

At age 9 Talula was made a ward of the state so that her name could be changed.

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Don't expect everyone to love the name you choose to give your baby, and don't be swayed by others once you have decided on a name. You may even decide to wait to tell people until the big day. If you ask others their thoughts, then be prepared to hear what they have to say. If you can't handle the truth, then don't ask for it. Announce the name with a smile.

Remember this is your child, give her the name you want, family members will get used to it over time.

Still need help? Get advice and support from moms at one of the largest social networking sites for new mothers. Cafemom - A place for moms to make new friends, have fun and express themselves.

According to a 2009 study from the University of Pennsylvania, boys in the U.S. that have unpopular names such as Ernest and Ivan are more likely to commit crimes.

One theory is that having an unpopular name may result in the boys being treated differently by their peers.

According to the study "...adolescents with unpopular names may be more prone to crime because they are treated differently by their peers, making it more difficult for them to form relationships,"

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