How Important Is Your Baby's Name?

Choosing a baby's name may sound simple. It may be a lot of fun. But we shouldn't forget that this is perhaps the most important decision we will make for our baby. They will have to live with it for the rest of their lives - or at least until they are eighteen and can change it by deed poll!

In the past, naming our children wasn't difficult. Many kept a family tradition, naming the baby after a parent or grandparent. Others played safe with biblical names: 'Matthew', 'Mark', 'Luke' or 'John'. In the Victorian era class became important; being named ' Victoria ', 'Albert' or 'Elizabeth' would certainly give a child more kudos than being called ' Ada ' or 'Norris'.

Popular culture plays a big part in babies' names today. A keen football supporter may name the baby after their favourite team, such as ' Chelsea '. However, it should be remembered that naming a son 'David' or 'Michael' won't ensure that he will become a premiership football player!

Devotees of soaps and sitcoms may not be able to resist naming their offspring after their favourite characters. But these names can age a person later in life; the names 'Joey', 'Ross' or 'Rachel' can place a person's birth somewhere in the mid-'90s when Friends was popular.

Celebrities lead the current trend of choosing a name that is unique rather than popular. They often make headlines with unusual names for their children. Will Gwyneth's next baby join the fruity A-list of 'Apple' and 'Peaches' by becoming a cool ' Orange '?

It is a competitive business to ensure that your baby's name stands out proudly from the others in the post-natal ward and later, in the school register.

In this quest parents are now indulging even stranger influences, such as favourite shops and brand names; the Beckhams' next baby may follow this trend and be called 'Gucci'. Don't be surprised if your child comes home from school asking if they can play with 'Ikea' or ' Argos '!

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