Finding Baby Boy Names and Baby Girl Names that are just perfect, can seem like a daunting task. However, there are many ways to make it easier, and it’s important to remember that this should be an enjoyable time.

Here are some helpful tips for choosing Baby Names and Meanings:

1. Keep a list of all the names you’ve thought of handy, so you can add new ones to it as you think of them.

2. Try shouting out the name you’ve chosen and see if it still sounds good to you!

   Talk about it with others. If you’re comfortable with the entire family getting involved, don’t be afraid to ask them what they think.

3. If you don’t want to be pressured by others in the naming process, consider not telling people the names you have chosen until after the birth.
4. Be compromising with your spouse. It’s important that you both like what you’ve chosen. If necessary, use one choice for the given and one for the middle name.
5. Choose names for both genders even if the ultrasound has told you are having one sex or the other. They do sometimes get it wrong!
6. Be flexible. If possible have a couple of choices picked out. You may find that when your baby finally makes his appearance he doesn’t look like an “Andrew” at all!
7. Most children have 3 names, but this isn’t mandatory. If you prefer, you can choose to use just a middle initial, or have no middle or several middle names. Remember, however, that a very long name can be a problem in the future when filling out forms!
8. Think carefully about using the same first initial as another member of the family—this can become inconvenient later on when initials are used to identify possessions in the household.
9. Consider calling your baby by their middle name if the first must be handed down. This avoids the “Junior” complex and makes your child feel like an individual.
10. If using a family name, ask around to see if other relatives intend to use the same one, so you don’t have many family members with exactly the same name.
11. If you don’t want to use family names try using just the initials. If your father’s given and middle names are “Robert Douglas” you may decide to name your baby “Ryan David”.
12. You can use ethnic variations of names. If your grandfather was called Giovanni, for instance, you may choose “John” which is the English form of that Italian name.

13. Be Flexible. Choose several names, just in case your baby doesn’t seem to suit the one name you’ve chosen!

    Another common choice is to use the Mother’s maiden name as a first or middle name.

14. If you are stuck on 2 choices and can’t decide which one to use, consider combining them. For example, Carleigh and Katelyn.
15. Avoid cutesy names or using a nickname. This can backfire if your child is 65 and still going by the name of “Baby”.
16. Beware of names you give your baby while you are pregnant. Sometimes they can stick. You don’t want your baby going through life being called, “Peanut”!
17. Don’t name your baby after a beloved pet! Your son might find it disconcerting to discover that you named him “Ben” after your favorite goldfish!
18. Don’t choose the name of someone you dislike. Even if you love it, you might find it difficult to get over the negative connotations this name brings with it.
19. Don’t tell your other children that they can name the baby. You’d be surprised at how many Sponge Bob Square Pants we’d have if everyone did this!
20. Say your choice out loud—does it sound good? Melodious, harsh?
21. Shout it out the back door several times. Do you feel comfortable using this name?
22. Don’t be pressured by anyone. The important thing about this decision is that the name is one you and your partner like.
23. Don’t rush. This is an important decision—names are permanent things! Take your time and really enjoy the process.

One of the most popular Google search term for baby names these days is “rare baby names”. According to the popular Keyword search tool, “Wordtracker”, over 3000 people are searching the Internet for “rare baby names” every day! Dependent upon your definition of “rare”, this may actually be a very logical progression in the evolution of baby name choices over the past half-century.

50 years ago people desired “traditional” and “popular” names. 20 years ago these name styles started to make way for more “unusual” and “uncommon” choices. Then, more recently “exotic” and “unique” names became all the rage. But what of this new direction towards “rare” names? Well, if we consider that parents view “rare” names as being uncommon and unusual, but with that certain extra exceptional quality—like a “rare jewel” or “rare find”—then it seems that this is just another step in a continuing trend towards names that are more selective and significant.

The differences in baby naming from my parent and grandparent’s era are very obvious. They were looking for traditional names that were time-honored and widely liked or appreciated. My grandparents obviously didn’t feel the need to linger over name choices. My father was Bill, brother to Dave and Tom. Not even a middle name to confuse the issue. Nor were my mother’s parents obliged to spend hours pouring over a baby-naming book. They chose Margaret, Mary, and Ralph for their children’s names. So I guess it’s no surprise that my parents doled out similarly traditional and popular names for their children. My brothers are Bob, John, and Tom to my somewhat unimaginative, Kathy.

So why is it that my parents were content to follow in their parent’s footsteps while I felt the irresistible need to break free of their conservative mindset and find something a bit more unusual for my two daughters? I’m sure it’s as simple as the population explosion of the Baby Boom. As a Boomer I went through school being called either Kathy G. or Kathy 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5. Although my parents probably had another Bill or Margaret in their school, the population simply didn’t allow for 5 or 6 of them in every class. After 12 years of sharing my name with the other 4 Kathy/Cathys in my class, I was determined to endow my girls with something that would give them a little more individuality.

My oldest daughter is named Bryn, a Welsh name meaning, “hill”, that belonged to a couple other girls in her elementary school. My youngest daughter is Lea, an Old English name that seemed very fitting because it means, “meadow”. There are a few Leahs in her school, but it’s not over-run with them. I followed the same path that was typical of many of my peers. I picked names that were not usual, common, or ordinary; but nothing that would make people’s jaws drop or eyebrows rise.

Now my nephew and his wife are expecting a baby and I was very interested to see what names they would come up with. Given their choices, it seems reasonable to assume that they were drawn to some of the hottest name style choices these days: the unusual and unique. But without really thinking about it, this couple took it just a little bit further and managed to find unusual names that have something extra. That additional, interesting quality. This is the definition of a “rare” name in my mind. It’s a bit illusive when you try to distinguish it from simply an unusual or uncommon name—but much different non the less. A rare name is not simply one that few others have; it’s a cut above.

So, what are my nephew and niece-in-law’s choices? My nephew has a Mexican heritage so they looked at Spanish names for boys and came up with Gustavo. Like my nephew’s own name, this one has a formal, exotic flair to it, but can be shortened to a very Canadian sounding “Gus”. This gives this name that special something—a common rhythm with his father’s—that makes it a more than just an unusual choice but also a rare choice.

If they have a girl baby (and the ultrasound seems to hint at this), they have chosen the name Evangeline, and will call her Eva for short. Again, this name has a formal version plus a beautiful short-form. it’s a very unusual name that means “bringer of good news”, which conveys a wonderful feeling of bright hope and expectation. Added to this, is the fact that a Great Grandmother’s name was Eva. In my mind this is another “rare” baby name choice.

So is it worthwhile to follow this newest trend and take the time to find a really “rare” name for your baby girl or baby boy? Absolutely. If you want a name that’s just a little off the beaten track, why not go that extra distance and come up with something truly selective and significant. Your child will carry his or her name for life and will definitely appreciate the story about why their name was such a rare find and therefore just right for them.

Celebrities are not like everyday people. They have busy schedules, drive expensive cars, and wear jewelry that others can only dream of owning. Maybe it is because celebrities are so far removed from normal life that they often give their babies unusual names.

Some names are just a little different. John Travolta and Kelly Preston have two beautiful children. Their daughter’s name is Ella Bleu. Their son’s name is Jett. Jett is different, but anyone who knows anything about John Travolta knows he has a love for flying. Gwyneth Paltrow, pregnant again, came under scrutiny for naming her first child Apple. While it is unusual, it is somewhat cute, like in the “apple of their eye.” Chris Martin, her husband, tired of the controversy over the name Apple, has jokingly stated their second child, whether male or female, will be named Banana. Another cute name is Dandelion, the name of Keith Richards’ daughter. Julie Roberts recently gave birth to twins – a boy and a girl – and received flack over the names she chose. She received almost as much grief over the choice for her daughter’s name, Hazel, as she did the more eccentric choice of Phinnaeus for her son.

Many people speculated what Madonna would name her first child. Lourdes Maria seems a fitting name for child who’s mother’s name is Madonna, but she often goes by Lola. Her son is named Rocco, which sounds a bit like a cartoon character, but at least it is a tough sounding name. Actor Casey Affleck and fiancé Summer Phoenix recently had a son named Indiana August, which leads one to wonder what state and month their son was conceived in. Toni Braxton has two sons, Denim and Diezel. While both useful products, they make somewhat strange names for children. Rob Marrow decided it would be cute if he named his daughter Tu Simone Ayer, calling her Tu Morrow. Wonder if she will think it is cute 20 years from now? Actor Jason Lee named his son Pilot Inspektor, but magician Penn Jillette may have topped them all. He named his daughter, Moxie Crimefighter, saying “because when she’s pulled over for speeding she can say, `But officer, we’re on the same side, my middle name is CrimeFighter.”‘

If you think it is a new trend, think again. Back in 1971, David Bowie and his then wife Angela decided to name their son Duncan Zowie Heywood Jones. He soon became known as Zowie Bowie. Cher named her children Chastity Sun and Elijah Blue.

The Phoenix family is well known for their unusual choice of baby names. Summer Phoenix’s siblings are the late actor River Phoenix, actresses Rain and Liberty Phoenix and actor Joaquin Phoenix. Joaquin felt his name was so out of place with his siblings, that when he was four, he decided to change his name to Leaf. By the early 1990’s, he had reverted back to using his birth name. Another family infamous for their choices of baby names is the Zappa family. Frank’s children are Dweezil, Moon Unit, Ahmed Emuukha Rodan and Diva Muffin. While many people think that Dweezil is his given name, his birth name was originally Ian Donald Calvin Euclid Zappa because the hospital refused to register the name Dweezil. Always called Dweezil, when he was a child, he wanted to make the name official and his parents took him to have it changed legally. Paula Yates, former wife of Sir Bob Geldof and girlfriend of late rocker Michael Hutchence, also had a knack for giving her children unusual names. Among her brood are Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa, Heavenly Hiraani Tigerlily, and Little Pixie.

Some celebrity baby names make sense if you know the story behind them. Eurythmic’s Dave Stewart named his son Django after jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt. Stevie Wonder named his son Mandla Kadjaly Carl Stevland, however Mandla means “powerful” in Zulu and Kadjaly means “born from God” in Swahili. Helen Hunt just gave birth to a baby girl she named Makena’lei Gordon. The name Makena’lei is from a friend’s dream and means “many flowers of heaven.” Gordon, an unlikely girl’s name, was to honor of Helen’s father, television director Gordon Hunt. Nicolas Cage just named his new baby boy Kal-el. Because Nicolas took his stage name of Cage from comic book character Luke Cage, he decided to name his son Kal-el after one of his favorite comic book heroes. Kal-el is Superman’s kryptonian name.

So, do the children like these unconventional names given them by their parents? In some cases, they do. The Phoenix’s seem to love their nature-inspired names and the Zappa children seem to have had no ill effects from their eccentric names. However, some children tire of the peculiar names quickly. Zowie Bowie had had enough of his moniker by the time he was 12 and asked to be referred to as “Joey.” Although Dandelion Richards does not seem too bad, she has since started referring to herself as Angela. Recently, Peaches Honeyblossom Michelle Charlotte Angel Vanessa Geldof has been the most outspoken about the odd choice her parents made in naming her. She has been quoted as saying, “I hate ridiculous names. My weird name has haunted me all my life.”

While having an unusual name might be difficult for any child, the celebrity of a child’s parents may enhance it even further. Thankfully, celebrity children who decide they don’t like their given names can switch to a nickname or even eventually have their names legally changed.

Check out the Top 100 Baby Name Lists for baby girls and baby boys . This list was compiled by the Social Security Administration of the USA.

Rank	Male name	Female name
1	Jacob	Emily
2	Michael	Emma
3	Joshua	Madison
4	Matthew	Abigail
5	Ethan	Olivia
6	Andrew	Isabella
7	Daniel	Hannah
8	Anthony	Samantha
9	Christopher	Ava
10	Joseph	Ashley
11	William	Sophia
12	Alexander	Elizabeth
13	Ryan	Alexis
14	David	Grace
15	Nicholas	Sarah
16	Tyler	Alyssa
17	James	Mia
18	John	Natalie
19	Jonathan	Chloe
20	Nathan	Brianna
21	Samuel	Lauren
22	Christian	Ella
23	Noah	Anna
24	Dylan	Taylor
25	Benjamin	Kayla
26	Logan	Hailey
27	Brandon	Jessica
28	Gabriel	Victoria
29	Zachary	Jasmine
30	Jose	Sydney
31	Elijah	Julia
32	Angel	Destiny
33	Kevin	Morgan
34	Jack	Kaitlyn
35	Caleb	Savannah
36	Justin	Katherine
37	Austin	Alexandra
38	Evan	Rachel
39	Robert	Lily
40	Thomas	Megan
41	Luke	Kaylee
42	Mason	Jennifer
43	Aidan	Angelina
44	Jackson	Makayla
45	Isaiah	Allison
46	Jordan	Brooke
47	Gavin	Maria
48	Connor	Trinity
49	Aiden	Lillian
50	Isaac	Mackenzie
51	Jason	Faith
52	Cameron	Sofia
53	Hunter	Riley
54	Jayden	Haley
55	Juan	Gabrielle
56	Charles	Nicole
57	Aaron	Kylie
58	Lucas	Katelyn
59	Luis	Zoe
60	Owen	Paige
61	Landon	Gabriella
62	Diego	Jenna
63	Brian	Kimberly
64	Adam	Stephanie
65	Adrian	Alexa
66	Kyle	Avery
67	Eric	Andrea
68	Ian	Leah
69	Nathaniel	Madeline
70	Carlos	Nevaeh
71	Alex	Evelyn
72	Bryan	Maya
73	Jesus	Mary
74	Julian	Michelle
75	Sean	Jada
76	Carter	Sara
77	Hayden	Audrey
78	Jeremiah	Brooklyn
79	Cole	Vanessa
80	Brayden	Amanda
81	Wyatt	Ariana
82	Chase	Rebecca
83	Steven	Caroline
84	Timothy	Amelia
85	Dominic	Mariah
86	Sebastian	Jordan
87	Xavier	Jocelyn
88	Jaden	Arianna
89	Jesse	Isabel
90	Devin	Marissa
91	Seth	Autumn
92	Antonio	Melanie
93	Richard	Aaliyah
94	Miguel	Gracie
95	Colin	Claire
96	Cody	Isabelle
97	Alejandro	Molly
98	Caden	Mya
99	Blake	Diana
100	Carson	Katie

Unfortunately, not all countries keep track of their Most Popular Baby names. However, here are the Top Ten Baby Names Lists from various different countries around the world.

Austrian

Girls Names	Boys Names
Anna	Lucas
Sarah	Florian
Leonie	Tobias
Julia	David
Lena	Fabian
Laura	Julian
Hannah	Simon
Katharina	Alexander
Lisa	Michael
Sophie	Sebastian

Chile

Girls Names	Boys Names
Constanza	Benjamin
Catalina	Matias
Valentina	Vicente
Javiera	Martin
Martina	Sebastian
Sofia	Diego
Maria	Nicolas
Antonia	Juan
Fernanda	Jose
Fransisca	Cristobal

England and Whales

Girls Names	Boys Names
Jessica	Jack
Emily	Joshua
Sophie	Thomas
Olivia	James
Chloe	Oliver
Ellie	Daniel
Grace	Samuel
Lucy	William
Charlotte	Harry
Katie	Joseph

Finland

Girls Names	Boys Names
Emilia	Johnannes
Olivia	Matias
Katariina	Aleksi
Amanda	Antero
Matilda	Tapani
Emma	Samuel
Iida	Emil
Ella	Leevi
Aada	Rasmus
Karoliina	Ville

France

Girls Names	Boys Names
Camille	Lucas
Chloe	Theo
Clara	Thomas
Emma	Hugo
Ines	Maxime
Lea	Antoine
Manon	Clement
Marie	Alexander
Oceane	Quentin

Germany

Girls Names	Boys Names
Marie	Maximilian
Sophie	Alexander
Maria	Paul
Anna, Anne	Leon
Leonie	Lukas
Lea (h)	Luca
Laura	Felix
Lena	Jonas
Katharina	Tim
Johanna	David

Ireland

Girls Names	Boys Names
Emma	Sean
Katie	Jack
Sarah	Conor
Amy	Adam
Aoife	James
Ciara	Daniel
Sophie	Cian
Chloe	Luke
Leah	Michael
Niamh	Aaron

Italy

Girls Names	Boys Names
Maria	Giuseppe
Anna	Giovanni
Giuseppina	Antonio
Rosa	Mario
Angela	Luigi
Giovanna	Francesco
Teresa	Angelo
Lucia	Vincenzo
Carmela	Pietro
Caterina	Salvatore

Phillipines

Girls Names	Boys Names
Maricel	Michael
Michelle	Ronald
Jennifer	Ryan
Janice	Joseph
Mary Grace	Joel
Jocelyn	Jeffrey
Catherine	Marlon
Mary Ann	Richard
Rowena	Noel
Grace	Jonathan

New Zealand

Girls Names	Boys Names
Emma	Joshua
Sophie	Jack
Ella	Benjamin
Emily	Samuel
Jessica	Daniel
Hannah	Jacob
Olivia	Ethan
Grace	James
Charlotte	Thomas
Georgia	Matthew

Northern Ireland

Girls Names	Boys Names
Katie	Jack
Emma	Matthew
Ellie	James
Sophie	Adam
Amy	Daniel
Sarah	Ben
Chloe	Ryan
Niamh	Dylan
Aimee	Conor
Rachel	Jamie

Norway

Girls Names	Boys Names
Emma	Markus
Thea	Mathias
Ida	Jonas
Sara	Kristian
Julie	Tobias
Emilie	Alexander
Hanna	Adrian
Nora	Henrik
Malin	Andreas
Ingrid	Martin

Scotland

Girls Names	Boys Names
Emma	Lewis
Ellie	Jack
Amy	Cameron
Sophie	James
Chloe	Kyle
Erin	Ryan
Rachel	Ben
Lucy	Callum
Lauren	Matthew
Katie	Jamie

Spain

Girls Names	Boys Names
Lucia	Alejandro
Maria	David
Paula	Daniel
Laura	Pablo
Marta	Adrian
Alba	Alvaro
Andrea	Javier
Claudia	Sergio
Sara	Carlos
Nerea	Marcos

 

Look for other top ranking Popular Baby Names Using The Baby Names Optimizer. Good Luck!

Unusual Baby Names, as well as Uncommon Baby Names are gaining momentum as choices for babies. There is a great trend today towards names that are unique and creative, and North American parents are going far a field to find Baby Names that sound delightful, have great meanings, and fit comfortably into American culture.

There are many wonderful sources for these Uncommon and Unusual Baby Names. They are often from far-away lands that give us a sense of mystery and romance. For instance:

Vietnamese Names Are Usually Short, Poetic, And Reflect Beautiful Sentiments Such As Nature, Love And Peace.

Tien A Girls Name Meaning Fairy, Spirit, Or Angel

 

Africans Believe That The Name Chosen For Their Children Will Exert An Influence On The Life Of That Child. African Names Are Appealing And Melodic, And Often Their Meanings Coincide With The Day The Child Was Born, Or The Parent’s Reaction To The Birth.

Abena A Girl’s Name Meaning Born On Tuesday

 

Hawaiian Names Are Full Of Vowel Sounds And Melody. They Are Soft And Flowing And Describe Lovely Sentiments And/Or Nature.

Kalani Of The Heavens

The choices are boundless, and you can be sure that picking an unusual, uncommon, or exotic name will give your child something to be proud of and something that is meaningful to him or her.

It can be difficult to decide on a style of Baby Name that’s right for you. The first step is to define what exactly Traditional, Popular, Unusual and Modern Baby Names are.

Traditional Baby Names

Andrew? Or Armani?

These names are usually good, old-fashioned names that our parent’s parents were given. Many of them are biblical and are still common choices today. A child with a traditional name is unlikely to need to explain their name to friends or acquaintances.

A Traditional name can be Popular or Unusual. Some Traditional names have been hot items forever, while others are just starting to make a come back. There are still other Traditional names that have such an old-fashioned flavor that they are unlikely to ever be back on the scene. Names like Bertha, Ethel, Mabel, Clarence, Ernest, and Elmer were very popular in the 1800’s but just seem out of touch today.

If you choose the more common Traditional names (interestingly enough, 10 out of 10 of the top boys names in the 2000’s are Traditional, and 8 out of 10 of the top girls names in the 2000’s are Traditional), you are faced with the probability that your child will be one of 4 or 5 children in his or her class with the same name.

Modern Baby Names (Trendy)

Sarah? Or Sumalee?

These are names that are in vogue at one particular time. Occasionally a trend can involve the use of Traditional names, but usually it is a bit more “out there”.

Today’s trends include unusual spellings of more common names, the use of brand names such as Lexus and Armani, and totally made-up names—these are often copied from celebrities who seem to have this trend down pat! These are names that are more likely to be in need of explanation. “I’ve never heard of that name” or “That’s not how I would spell it” are often associated with them.

It’s important to remember that trends can give us names that are pleasing for years to come, or names that just sound plain odd when the trend is over. An example of the first is the trend several years ago to “J” names. This brought many Jessicas, Jennas, Jasons, and Jonathans into the world. These names are still holding strong. However, will Armani, Infinity, Chevrolet, Canon, and Chanel fare as well? And will a child with one of these names think their name is weird or strange down the road?

If you are considering a Modern or Trendy baby name it would be wise to try and determine if the trend is one that has staying power.

Popular Baby Names

These names, by definition, are more common than other names. At this time both Trendy and Traditional names can make this list. A girl or boy whose name is Popular, is likely to have several classmates with the same name and will have no problems having their name accepted by the crowd.

Some research has shown that children with Popular names do better in school (this research, however, seems to be up for debate). They may feel more accepted by their classmates and therefore find it easier to fit in. However, if you are picking a Popular name, be prepared to have at least 3 or 4 of your child’s classmates sporting the same one.

Unusual Baby Names

Names that aren’t heard very often are obviously Unusual. They are often ethnic in origin and are picked because they have a sound or meaning that particularly appeals to the parents. Children with these names are often asked to explain or spell them. They are unlikely to have classmates with the same name and will stand out from the crowd because their name has not been heard before.

It is thought that children with Unusual Baby Names can benefit by having greater self esteem because they feel they are unique. The uniqueness of their names can make them feel special which may also increase their confidence with peers. As with Trendy names, it’s good to try and determine if the Unusual name you are picking will stand the test of time. If Dweezil or Moon Unit appeals to you, you may want to think again.

So what should you do?

Experts have suggested that parents who admire and cultivate certain characteristics will chose names that reflect these, and in this way they will help to foster them in their children. Therefore, parents who enjoy traditional values will tend to gravitate to Traditional names. Parents who appreciate creativity, imagination, and freethinking will pick Unusual or Trendy names. Finally, parents who value harmony and convention will chose Popular names.

Furthermore, because the characteristics represented by these types of names are highly valued by the parents, any disadvantages that come along with them will be easily dealt with. For example, children with Popular and/or Traditional names will be raised in such a way that they enjoy being one of a group, while children with Unusual and/or Trendy names will learn to revel in their uniqueness.

So the message seems to be that by following your heart you will be picking the perfect type of name for your baby.