The Ten Most Notable Celebrity Baby Names of 2006 by Neil Street

2006 was a big year for celebrity baby names, with the likes of Suri, Shiloh, and Jayden James leading the pack.

The Celebrity Baby Names Blog, which monitors celebrity baby names on a daily basis, and is the internet's leading site dedicated to the topic, has created a list of the Ten Most Notable Celebrity Baby Names of 2006. It includes not only the "weird" names, which are easy to spot, but also the notable names which made news in 2006 for reasons beyond the name itself. The list also highlights the trends that celebrities are setting, because without question, many of the names that celebrities choose this year will become popular names in future years.

# 10. Tennyson. The son of Russell Crowe and Danielle Spencer. Russell Crowe is supposedly a big fan of the 19th century British poet, Alfred, Lord Tennyson. If it's true, Crowe is the only person since Queen Victoria to admire Tennyson. Generations of British schoolchildren learned to hate the stuffy poet, and it's likely that Crowe, Jr. will also.

# 9. Maggie Rose. Comedian Jon Stewart and wife Tracey McShane welcomed little Maggie Rose in early February. It immediately started one of the celebrity trends of the year - giving daughters the name Rose, but only for a middle name. At least four more celebrities followed suit in 2006, including actor Jon Favreau, actress Anna Gunn, soccer star John Terry, and singer Melissa Etheridge.

# 8. Thijs. How do you pronounce 'Thijs?' Good question. Today Show host Matt Lauer and wife Annette Roque slapped the unpronounceable moniker on their newborn son in November. Why? Well, because Annette is Dutch, and "Thijs" is an abbreviation of the shortened Dutch variant of Matthew. And it's pronounced "Tice." Why not just name him Matt Junior?

# 7. Johnnie Rose. Before you leap to conclusions, Johnnie Rose (there's 'Rose' again) is the daughter of Melissa Etheridge & Tammy Lynn Michaels. Johnnie may be an unusual name for a girl, but when did being unusual ever stop a celebrity? Little Johnnie Rose is named in honor of Melissa Etheridge's father, who, according to a post on Tammy Lynn Michael's blog, was a very important figure in her early life.

# 6. Zolten. No celebrity baby name list is complete without a clanger from Penn Jillette and wife Emily Zolten. Last year, they named their daughter Moxie Crimefighter. This year, they named their son "Zolten," which happens to be Mrs. Jillette's maiden name. And they would have gotten away with it, except that in explaining their choice, Jillette stated that "most importantly, it's the name of Dracula's dog." And that's the meaning that has stuck.

# 5.Moses. When Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin named their son Moses, it left many observers puzzled. Why? Back in 2004 they named their daughter Apple. Did they now pick an ultra-traditional name to compensate? Sadly, it doesn't seem to have worked. Now all anyone can focus on is the sibling combination they have created. As in, "hi, please meet our two kids, Apple and Moses." It just doesn't work. Maybe Penn Jillette is on the right track. Give the first one a weird name, give 'em all a weird name.

# 4. Dannielynn Hope. In September, the tragic death of Anna Nicole Smith's 20 year-old son touched everyone. In the soap opera of Anna Nicole's life, it seemed that Daniel was an innocent bystander. Smith's daughter was born a few days before Daniel's death, and by naming her Dannielynn Hope, in honor of a brother she will never know, Smith at least did one thing well.

# 3. Jayden James. Is it Sutton? Is it Jesse? Is it a boy? Is it a girl? September was a month of frenzied speculation, as everyone awaited the birth of Britney Spears's and Kevin Federline's second child. First, everyone thought 'he' would be a 'she'. Wrong. Then everyone thought his name was Sutton Pierce. Wrong again. But more than a month passed before the world learned the shocking truth: little Sutton Pierce was really named Jayden James. Jayden means "Thankful" in Hebrew. The little guy is likely be anything but thankful, when he's old enough to understand where he landed.

# 2. Suri. In April, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes announced the birth of their daughter, Suri. What did "Suri" mean? Experts from Israel were consulted, when it appeared that "Suri" meant "get lost" in Hebrew. Other meanings surfaced from around the globe. It meant "rose" in Persian; "sun" in Sanskrit; it was a Pashtun tribe in India, and a "pickpocket" in Japan. No-one knew what to believe. Then, it was revealed that "Suri" meant "pointy-nosed" among the Toda people of southern India. Suri's stock was sinking fast. So Tom and Katie, Inc. went into full damage-control mode. October's Vanity Fair magazine was graced with a touching photo spread that portrayed little Suri with her doting parents. It worked. Everyone now loves little Suri. Even though no-one still knows what the name really means.

# 1. Shiloh Nouvel. Only the second coming of the Messiah could rival the media hysteria of May, 2006, as the world waited for Angelina to give birth. For weeks, Brad and Angelina had co-opted the entire African nation of Namibia, as their personal maternity ward. The world's press was agog with excitement. When little Shiloh finally arrived, nobody cared that much about her name. What the world cared about was that the waiting was over, and Angelina had really had her baby. The planet released its collective breath, which it had been holding for several weeks. The baby was finally here. Who cared if a few party poopers associated "Shiloh" was some bloodstained Civil War battlefield? Brad and Angelina had picked the name, and therefore it was good. The most-anticipated baby in human history had arrived. Mother and daughter were doing fine. It was only May, 2006, but the celebrity baby of the year had arrived.


About the Author
Neil Street is editor of the Celebrity Baby Names Blog, http://www.celebritybabynamesblog.com , a leading website covering celebrity baby names. He is also co-publisher of the Baby Names Garden website, which is home to a complete list of 2006 celebrity baby names, http://www.babynamesgarden.com/celebritybabies2006.aspx

New Ideas In The Top 100 Baby Names

Is it time to choose that wonderful name? Perhaps you are looking at the top 100 baby names. Or, you may be interested in names and their meanings.

Among the top 100 baby names are several new trends. Perhaps you can use them to help you make your choice.

Here 5 ideas from the latest top baby names:

1) Parents are choosing many biblical names. In fact, among the most popular baby boy names are Jacob, Michael, Joshua and Matthew. Each of these names is from the Hebrew. High on the list of baby girls names are Hannah, Abigail, Elizabeth, Samantha and Sarah. These names are also Hebrew in origin.

2) Last names are used as first names. There is a tendency for parents to give their children family names. Until the 1970s, such last names were reserved for boys. But from the 1970s until today they are increasingly given to girls. Ashley, Madison, and Sydney are high on the list of baby girls names. Tyler and Taylor remain popular as baby boy names.

3) Names and their meanings are important. Today, parents are looking at the meaning of names. For instance, Olivia means “olive tree,” the symbol of peace. Alyssa means “noble.” William denotes “valiant protector. And Alexander means “brave.”

4) Unusual baby names are more popular than ever. Baby girl names include Aaliyah, Autumn, Brooklyn, Destiny, Nevaeh, and Trinty. Among unusual baby boy names are Aiden, Caden, Jaden, and Xavier.

5) Baby names reflect the culture. Parents often choose baby boy names and baby girl names based on movies, TV shows, books and songs. Among popular baby girls names are Alexis from “Dynasty,” Ashley from singer Ashley Judd, and Samantha from the TV show “Bewitched.” Among celebrity baby boy names are Brandon from “Beverly Hills 90210,” and Ryan from the series “Ryan’s Hope.”

Whether you are researching the meaning of names or looking for unusual baby names, the name you give your baby is a gift that lasts a lifetime.


About the Author:

Benedict Manovill shows you more about names and their meanings plus discover a dazzling gift at giftscrolls4u.com

Read more articles by: Benedict Manovill

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Five Easy Steps To Picking The Perfect Baby Name

One of the few decisions you'll make during pregnancy thatwill, in fact, last throughout your child's lifetime is thechoice of your baby's name. (Unlike, for example, yourchoice of stroller or whether to use Lamaze or hypnosis toease labor pains.) To choose the best name for your baby,follow these simple tips:

1. Don't try to please other people.

Everyone from your in-laws to the supermarket checkout ladyis going to have an opinion about what you name your child.But the only opinions that really matter are yours and yourspouse's.

2. Keep it a secret!

If you tell everyone names you've chosen before the baby isborn, they won't hesitate to criticize your choices. But ifyou keep it to yourself and announce the name and the birthat the same time, everyone will compliment you on a greatname choice.

3. Consider how your child will feel about the name as he orshe grows up.

Will it be difficult for the teachers to pronounce inschool? Will she be teased because it sounds funny orrhymes with an unfortunate word? Does it sound like a veryyoung or very old name? You want to choose something yourchild will be comfortable with at all phases of his life.

4. Check the initials to make sure they aren't problematic.

One of the moms I surveyed for "The Gallagher Guide to theBaby Years" told the story about her relative who named hisbaby, William Eugene Thompson. A nice name, but theinitials (W.E.T) weren't ideal for monograms.

5. Decide in advance, or at least have a couple of namesunder consideration, by the beginning of the thirdtrimester.

There's so much to do as your due date gets closer. Youdon't want to be under pressure to choose a name because youwent into labor early and had to come up with something atthe hospital. Check out BabyNames.com (www.babynames.com)for lots of neat ideas for baby names.

About the Author:

Stephanie Gallagher is Author of "The Gallagher Guide to the Baby Years: The Real Mom's Survey of Top-Rated Products and Advice." To subscribe to her ezine, "The Shopping Mom's Weekly Tip, send a blank email to theshoppingmom@aweber.com.

Read more articles by: Stephanie Gallagher

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Dozens of Baby Shower Themes

Choosing baby shower themes is the first step in planning a baby shower. Or, you may choose not to have a theme at all. However, having a theme for your baby shower should make the party entertaining, fun, and a memorable experience.

Before picking a shower theme, decide on what your baby shower guests would find enjoyable. Put yourself in their shoes and think about what you would want to do if you were the baby shower guests. Themes for your baby shower are time savers by providing a focus on the baby shower party.

The theme you decide on will determine everything else about the baby shower. The location, whom to invite, what kind of baby shower decorations, games, food and beverages.

You also need to determine if the baby shower will be before the baby arrives or after.

One of the themes that the Ladies would like would be a tea theme party. There are tea gift baskets that would work well with a tea theme party. Not only can Gift Baskets provide the theme for the baby shower, they can double as a centerpiece for your table decorations. With so many themed gift baskets available, you will be able to use a gift basket for almost any baby shower theme.

More Examples of Baby Shower Themes:

Baby Diaper Cake shower theme
Teddy Bear shower theme
Gift Basket shower theme
Stork shower theme
Harvest Moon shower theme
Nursery Rhyme shower theme
Baby invitation shower theme
Baby safari shower theme
Winnie the pooh baby shower theme
Christmas baby shower theme
Baby Shower cake theme
Baby girl shower theme
baby duck shower theme
Baby boy shower theme
Baby game shower theme
Baby butterly shower theme
Noahs ark shower theme
Decoration shower theme
Frog shower theme
Book shower theme
Rubby ducky shower theme
Sports shower theme
Care bear shower theme
Ducky shower theme
Teddy bear shower theme
Snoopy shower theme
Tigger shower theme
Jungle shower theme
Princess shower theme
Angel shower theme
Cowboy shower theme
Precious moments shower theme
Sports theme
Jungle theme

© Copyright Randy Wilson, All Rights Reserved.

Randy is owner of How to Plan a Baby Shower where you can get more tips and ideas for your baby shower. You can also purchase and find free baby shower games. Randy owned and operated a very successful storefront/mailorder business from 1988 to 2003. Currently full time owner/operator of several online businesses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Randy_Wilson

Counterparts of the name Aaron and Abraham

English	German	French	Italian	Spanish	Portuguese	Finnish	Russian
Aaron	Aaron	Aaron	Aronne	Aarón	Aarão, Arão	Aaron	Аарон
Polish	Ukrainian	Latin	Arabic	Romanian	Hungarian	Lithuanian
Aaron	Аарон	Aaron	Haroon	Aron	Áron	Aronas

English	German	French	Italian	Spanish	Portuguese	Finnish	Russian
Abraham	Abraham	Abraham	Abramo	Abraham	Abraão	Aapo	Авраам, Абрам
Polish	Ukrainian	Latin	Arabic	Romanian	Hungarian	Lithuanian
Abraham	Авраам	n/a	Ibrahim	Avram	n/a	Abraomas

Baby Name Trends: From Classic To Hip

Goodbye Bertha, Hello Kaitlyn! The top baby names of today break with tradition and follow-up on new trends. Because choosing the perfect name can be a daunting task, many informative web sites have been launched with parents in mind.

A name is central to a child's earliest sense of identity. It's often the first word he or she learns to read and write. Naming trends of today are defined by celebrities, literary classics, and even name brands. Look no further than your favorite book, car, or brand for baby name ideas. Names like "Armani", "Del Monte", "Infiniti", "Celica", "Chevy", and "Lexus" are increasing in popularity.

Unisex names are another trend that is gaining steam. Parents are using names such as Jordan, Madison, Devon, Bailey, Parker, and Logan on boys and girls. However, when naming a baby, parents must consider if it invites potential teasing. Boys are often targeted more heavily than girls.

Want to add a twist to your baby's name? Another naming trend includes spelling classical names untraditionally. There are usually at least five different ways to spell any name. This way, you can add variety to a classical favorite.

You could also use a name inspired by nature. Examples for boys include Ashton, Avery, Birch, Bradley, Grant, Holden, Landon, Logan, or Wesley. For girls you could use Beverly, Brooke, Erica, Hayley, Lauren, Lillian, or Olivia.

Want a crafty name? Bailey, Baker, Carter, Cooper, Foster, Mason, Porter, and Turner may be more your style. However, you can’t go wrong with the following chart-topping baby names, whether you prefer the 1900's or the 1990's.

Names of the 1900's:

Boys: John, William, James, Charles and Robert
Girls: Mary, Helen, Elizabeth, Marie, and Alice

Names of the 1990's:

Boys: Michael, Christopher, Joshua, Jacob, Andrew, David, and Tyler
Girls: Ahley, Emily, Sarah, Amanda, Taylor, Megan, Kayla, and Nicole

Best of luck. ; )

About the Author:

GranMamma is the webmaster at the Baby Names Box - http://www.babynamebox.com - Where you can explore over 6,000 baby names and their meanings. Read articles on parenting, family, home and gardening. Be sure to say hi to GranMamma!Read more articles by: Alli Ross Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Popular Baby Girl Names in Europe

Female names

Region (year)	No. 1	No. 2	No. 3	No. 4	No. 5	No. 6	No. 7	No. 8	No. 9	No.10
Austria (2003) [5]	Sarah	Anna	Julia	Laura	Lena	Hannah	Lisa	Katharina	Leonie	Vanessa
Belgium (2004) [6]	Emma	Marie	Laura	Julie	Sarah	Clara	Manon	Léa	Lisa	Camille
Czech Republic (2005, among Czech-speakers) [7]	Tereza	Eliška	Adéla	Natálie	Anna	Karolína	Kristýna	Aneta	Nikola	Kateřina
Denmark (first half of 2005) [8]	Mathilde	Emma	Laura	Sofie	Freja	Caroline	Ida	Sara	Julie	Anna
England and Wales (2005) [9]	Jessica	Emily	Sophie	Olivia	Chloe	Ellie	Grace	Lucy	Charlotte	Katie
Estonia (2003, among Estonian-speakers)[citation needed]	Sandra	Kristina	Anna	Laura	Maria	Diana	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Finland (2005, among Finnish-speakers) [10]	Emma	Ella	Siiri	Aino	Anni	Sara	Venla	Aada	Emilia	Hilda
France (2003) [11]	Léa	Manon	Emma	Chloé	Camille	Océane	Clara	Marie	Sarah	Inès
Germany (2005) [12]	Marie	Sophie, Sofie	Maria	Anna, Anne	Leonie	Lena	Emily	Lea, Leah	Julia	Laura
Hungary (2005) [13]	Anna	Viktória	Réka	Vivien	Zsófia	Petra	Dorina	Fanni	Boglárka	Eszter
Iceland (2000-2004) [14]	Anna	Sara	Katrín	Guðrún	María	Telma	Kristín	Birta	Eva	Helga
Ireland (2005) [15]	Emma	Sarah	Katie	Amy	Aoife	Ciara	Sophie	Chloe	Leah	Ella
Lithuania (2004, total population)[16]	Ona	Janina	Irena	Elena	Danutė	Regina	Aldona	Marija	N/A	N/A
Lithuania (2005, babies born)[16]	Gabija	Kamilė	Emilija	Gabrielė	Ugnė	Austėja	Viktorija	Evelina	Augustė	Rugilė
Netherlands (2005) [17]	Sanne	Emma	Anna	Iris	Anouk	Lisa	Eva	Julia	Lotte	Isa
Northern Ireland (2003) [18]	Emma	Katie	Chloe	Caitlin	Amy	Ellie	Rachel	Sarah	Megan	Hannah
Norway (2005) [19]	Emma	Thea	Ida	Sara	Julie	Emilie	Hanna	Nora	Malin	Ingrid
Poland (2004, total population) [20]	Anna	Maria	Katarzyna	Małgorzata	Agnieszka	Krystyna	Barbara	Ewa	Elżbieta	Zofia
Portugal (2003) [citation needed]	Catarina	Maria	Joana	Inês	Ana	Cátia	Filipa	Mafalda	Vanessa	Carolina
Scotland (2005) [21]	Sophie	Emma	Ellie	Amy	Erin	Lucy	Katie	Chloe	Rebecca	Emily
Slovenia (2004, total population) [citation needed]	Marija	Ana	Irena	Jožefa	Maja	Frančiška	Mojca	Ivana	Mateja	n/a
Spain (2005, excluding Basque Country & Catalonia) [22]	Lucía	María	Paula	Laura	Marta	Andrea	Alba	Sara	Claudia	Ana
Basque Country, Spain (2005) [22]	Ana	Irati	Leire	Izaro	Naroa	Maria	Nerea	June	Paula	Nahia
Catalonia, Spain (2005) [22]	Paula	Maria	Carla	Laura	Laia	Julia	Alba	Marta	Claudia	Andrea
Sweden (2005, ) [23]	Emma	Maja	Julia	Alice	Ida	Linnéa	Elin	Alva	Hanna	Ella
Switzerland (2004, among German-speakers) [24]	Lea	Anna	Laura	Leonie	Julia	Lara	Chiara	Nina	Jana	Vanessa
Turkey (2000-2005) [25]	Zeynep	Merve	Elif	Irem	Fatma	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a	n.a

Popular baby boys name in Europe

Male names

Region (year)	No. 1	No. 2	No. 3	No. 4	No. 5	No. 6	No. 7	No. 8	No. 9	No. 10
Austria (2003) [5]	Lukas	Florian	Tobias	David	Alexander	Fabian	Michael	Julian	Daniel	Simon
Belgium (2004) [6]	Noah	Thomas	Lucas	Milan	Nathan	Louis	Maxime	Arthur	Robbe	Hugo
Czech Republic (2005, among Czech-speakers) [7]	Jan	Jakub	Tomáš	Adam	Ondřej	Martin	Filip	Lukáš	Vojtěch	Matěj
Denmark (first half of 2005) [8]	Magnus	Lucas	Mathias	Oliver	Frederik	Emil	Mikkel	Tobias	Nikolaj	Victor
England and Wales (2005, b.) [9]	Jack	Joshua	Thomas	James	Oliver	Daniel	Samuel	William	Harry	Joseph
Estonia (2003, among Estonian-speakers)[citation needed]	Martin	Markus	Aleksander	Rasmus	Kevin	Robin	Sander	N/A	N/A	N/A
Finland (2005, among Finnish-speakers) [10]	Veeti	Eetu	Aleksi	Joona	Elias	Juho	Lauri	Arttu	Leevi	Matias
France (2003) [11]	Lucas	Théo	Thomas	Hugo	Maxime	Enzo	Antoine	Clément	Alexandre	Quentin
Germany (2005) [12]	Alexander	Maximilian	Leon	Lukas, Lucas	Luca	Paul	Jonas	Felix	Tim	David
Hungary (2005) [13]	Bence	Máté	Balázs	Dávid	Dániel	Levente	Tamás	Ádám	Péter	Gergő
Iceland (2001) [14]	Sigurður	Guðmundur	Jón	Gunnar	Ólafur	Magnús	Einar	Kristján	Björn	Bjarni
Ireland (2004) [15]	Sean	Jack	Conor	Adam	James	Daniel	Cian	Luke	Michael	Aaron
Lithuania (2004, total population)[16]	Jonas	Antanas	Vytautas	Juozas	Petras	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A
Lithuania (2005, babies born)[16]	Lukas	Matas	Nojus	Mantas	Rokas	Dovydas	Dominykas	Martynas	Nedas	Arnas
Netherlands (2005) [17]	Daan	Sem	Thomas	Tim	Lucas	Lars	Thijs	Milan	Jesse	Bram
Northern Ireland (2003) [18]	Jack	Matthew	Adam	James	Ryan	Joshua	Conor	Ben	Daniel	Dylan
Norway (2005) [19]	Markus	Mathias	Jonas	Kristian	Tobias	Alexander	Adrian	Henrik	Andreas	Martin
Poland (2004, total population) [20]	Jan	Andrzej	Piotr	Krzysztof	Stanisław	Tomasz	Paweł	Józef	Marcin	Marek
Portugal (2003) [citation needed]	Miguel	João	Pedro	Tiago	Filipe	José	Gonçalo	Marco	Daniel	Carlos
Scotland (2005) [21]	Lewis	Jack	Callum	James	Ryan	Cameron	Kyle	Jamie	Daniel	Matthew
Slovenia (2004, total population) [citation needed]	Franc	Janez	Anton	Jožef	Ivan	Andrej	Jože	Marko	Marjan	Peter
Spain (2005, excluding Basque Country & Catalonia) [22]	Alejandro	Daniel	Pablo	David	Javier	Adrián	Álvaro	Sergio	Carlos	Hugo
Basque Country, Spain (2005) [22]	Iker	Unai	Jon	Mikel	Ander	Asier	Aitor	Eneko	Julen	Aimar
Catalonia, Spain (2005) [22]	Marc	Alex	Pau	David	Pol	Daniel	Arnau	Joel	Gerard	Jordi
Sweden (2005) [23]	Oscar	William	Lucas	Filip	Isak	Elias	Alexander	Emil	Hugo	Viktor
Switzerland (2004, among German-speakers) [24]	Luca	Noah	David	Jan	Joël	Simon	Nico	Tim	Jonas	Lukas
Turkey (2000-2005) [25]	Mehmet	Yusuf	Furkan	Mustafa	Emre	n.a	n.a	n.a	n.a	n.a

Can Your Name Shape Your Destiny?

People have always believed in the power of your name to shape your destiny. But can it really? And can knowledge of the hidden power of a name help parents pick a 'better' name for their baby?

Several philosophies embody strong beliefs about the significance, and power, behind your name. There is the 'psychological' camp, the 'mystical' camp, the 'religious/spiritual' camp, and the 'sound' camp. All four overlap, but there are real differences.

The psychological approach maintains that your name influences how people perceive you, and this affects how they treat you. In turn, this affects your self-image and self-esteem, from early childhood onward. In its simplest form, a child with an 'unusual' name, such as Archibald, may be continuously teased in school, and this will hurt Archibald's self-image and development. By contrast, an 'Andrew' or a 'Christopher,' both very popular names, are empowering, because other people unconsciously respond to them with a certain level of respect.

Psychological research shows that boys with unusual first names tend to display more emotional disturbances than boys with more traditional names. But, as researchers point out, it is important not to overstate this phenomenon. Are the boys in question more troubled because of their names, or because of the parents, and family background, which gave them strange names in the first place? But certainly, there are many instances where 'desirable' names are shown to lead to greater success.

In the mystical realm, there are several ancient belief systems which hold that your name has innate power and meaning, and that by knowing this meaning, you can harness the power in your life.

Numerology is the systematic study of numbers and their interrelationships. Since ancient times, many cultures have developed complex symbolic number systems. Numerologists assign meanings and significance to each number. Through numerology, according to its adherents, you can gain a deep understanding of the symbolic meaning of your name, and harness this understanding in your daily life.

The Kabbalah, the ancient mystical philosophy of the Jewish religion, is based on the Tree of Life and the interrelationship among all things. These interrelationships include numerical values from the Tree of Life, and can be combined with the mystical meanings of letters in the alphabet. A Kabbalistic analysis of a person's name provides deep insights into their personality and character. Your name, according to this philosophy, is a key to understanding yourself.

The ancient European system of 'runes' also assigns special meanings to each symbol. Using the runic 'alphabet,' also known as the 'Futhark,' you can convert your name into a group of runic symbols, which in turn, paint a full picture of your personality and attributes.

Turning to more traditional faith-based beliefs, many religions and cultures place enormous importance on given names, and, often, on the naming ceremony. Ashkenazic Jews believe that the name represents a person's soul, and hence can influence an entire life. Because of this, Ashkenazic Jews refuse to name a baby after a living relative, for fear that the two souls would have to share a name, thereby shortening the life of the older relative.

In the Book of Proverbs, 22:1, it says that 'a good name is to be chosen rather than great riches.' What does this mean? Many biblical names have both literal and spiritual meanings, and for many parents, a biblical baby name is believed to bestow spiritual gifts on a baby. The biblical name Ariel literally means 'Lion of God' in Hebrew, and its spiritual meaning is 'Powerful Leader.' Religious parents who name a child this way are hoping the child will grow up to be a strong leader in society.

One fascinating school of thought holds that the very sound of a name, repeated endlessly through the centuries, helps determine what that name 'means.' In his book 'The Secret Universe of Names,' Roy Feinson argues that the sound of a name itself evokes a particular emotional response in those who hear it. Furthermore, Feinson claims, the act of speaking contorts the facial muscles in certain ways, in turn affecting the emotional response of the listener. Feinson tracks various paramaters showing how certain names, and name sounds, can affect our lives in many ways.

Finally, there is the 'harmonic vibration' school, espoused by Pierre Le Rouzic in his book 'The Secret Meaning of Names'. Le Rouzic argues that names contain hidden vibrations, which are an embedded aspect of a person's character. The vibrations begin before birth, as the child within the mother's womb 'speaks' to the mother. For this reason, Le Rouzic says, it is mothers who best understand the nature of the child they are bearing, and it is mothers who should take the lead in naming the child. The vibrations of a name are also connected to specific colors, animals, plants, and so forth. All come together to form 'character' types that can accurately describe a child's future personality and character.

Can you be sure that your baby's name will affect his or her entire life? Probably not. But prospective parents may want to give some credence to the various schools of thought about the significance of names. All of these belief systems are based on ancient, time-tested philosophies. Even if you don't subscribe fully to any one system, there is much to learn, and think about, in all of them. For parents who make up new names in order to be different - they may want to think twice about what they are doing. If your name is truly part of your destiny, then naming your baby is a serious responsibility.

About the Author

Neil Street is co-publisher of http://www.babynamesgarden.com , a website dedicated to helping prospective parents choose a baby name. He has written about names and destiny at http://www.babynamesgarden.com/nameasdestiny.aspx

Dealing with Pregnancy Weight Gain-The Right Foods, Exercise, and Stress-Relieving Tips

Gaining weight is a natural and, in fact, essential part of pregnancy. On average, a pregnant woman will gain anywhere from 25 to 35 pounds. Such weight gain is vital to a baby's development. Therefore, dieting during pregnancy can be disastrous for both mother and child.

Yet, there are some women who gain an excess amount of weight during pregnancy. They may put on upwards of 75 pounds before the baby is due. Such large weight gain can be quite unhealthy for the mother, and can make the delivery that much harder. (After Delivery Tip: One benefit of breastfeeding is that it helps your uterus get back to its normal size faster, and, can help you drop weight faster.)

The Importance of a Healthy Diet

The critical role of a healthy diet during pregnancy cannot be overstated. Both you and your baby need key vitamins and minerals during this time. While it is true that you can benefit from taking prenatal vitamins, it's also important to maintain a safe eating plan during pregnancy. Therefore, when at all possible, eliminate junk food from your diet. Such food is loaded with empty calories that will do nothing but pack on the pounds. Rely on fruits to satisfy your sweet tooth, and use fresh vegetables to alleviate your hunger pangs. Also, make sure that you have sufficient servings of lean meat, fish, and poultry.

Exercise-A Critical Factor

It's important that you exercise during pregnancy. Not only will it help to keep you in good shape, but it could also ease your delivery. Perhaps the best exercise a pregnant woman can do is simple walking. You can do it anytime, anywhere, and it will keep you in fine form. If you were an athlete prior to getting pregnant, be sure to consult with your doctor to find out which types of physical activities you can continue into your pregnancy. (After Delivery Tip: Exercise after pregnancy is just as important as exercise during pregnancy. If you love the outdoors, look into purchasing a baby jogging stroller. That way - you and baby can be together while you get your much needed exercise).

Proven Stress-Relievers

It's also important that you do what you can to reduce stress in your life. It's well-documented that people who feel as if they are under extreme stress may eat more in order to reduce their anxiety level. A warm bath, some relaxing music, candlelight, and a good book are all proven stress-relievers. Following these, and other pregnancy stress tips, can help keep your weight gain in the normal range, and help keep your stress level down, after all - you should enjoy your pregnancy!

Article by Michelle O'Connor, Citizens of Humanity Maternity Jeans

Sore Nipples - Weaning Baby Off The Nipple Tipple

Sore nipples are a condition that is the cause behind discomfort and stress for most women and especially more so for the mother who has a baby that enjoys a tipple from mummy's nipple. Babies love their mums to nestle - and not wrestle with them at feeding times. In the early days of breastfeeding sore nipples is sometimes unavoidable. What you need to remember at this stage is the difference between the meaning of sore and painful. Pain at feed times could be a sign that you need to make changes so that feeding sessions is more comfortable for both you and your new born baby.

Babies have an unbelievable strong suction - which therefore can result in the nipple area becoming tender. When baby comes in contact with the nipple it stretches the breast tissue. Experience from this may feel like a pulling sensation which evidently points to why the discomfort. When the infant sucks and the milk begins to flow, breastfeeding becomes more bearable i.e. easing the sore nipples. You may notice after time (2-4 days) breast soreness will ease. If the baby is not positioned right during his or her feed then this can be the cause of the discomfort. Help and advice is available for those unsure as what is the correct way for breastfeeding.

Pain felt at feed time that persists longer than seven days or more can indicate another problem other than what would be expected from the way the infant is latching-on or sucking. Do not ignore this condition because nipple soreness can worsen where the nipple develops painful cracks. Breastfeeding is an experience you should look forward to - not one you dread. Do not suffer in silence talk to your midwife or doctor about your concerns. Thinking about weaning your baby off the breast, if so, then it is good idea to test baby formulas to see which one your baby is satisfied and content with. If you are counting the pennies why not collect free baby samples of baby formula from the free baby products being offered online. Find out what baby freebies are up for grabs below.

Success in breast feeding results in more content babies. Sore nipples do not normally have to relate to breastfeeding. Persisting symptoms that continue to go beyond the early weeks or develop after months of pain-free breastfeeding can be the result of something other than that of the baby not positioned comfortably. Another known cause for sore breast nipples is the Candida infection. A good way to help prevent sore nipples is to pay more attention to how your new born baby takes to the breast. Babies can develop poor nursing habits if this matter is not corrected.

When you nestle (position) you're baby onto the nipple - double check on how the infant is latching on. If this is correctly done then you will feel the sucking pressure of his or her tongue/gums is on the areola (the pigmented area around the nipple), rather than on the sensitive nipple itself. There is also a possibility that your baby is not getting enough breast tissue into his or her mouth if not comfortable. Certain signs that show the nipples are not far enough back in the baby's mouth during sucking is that of a horizontal red stripe across the tip of the nipple or a temporary indentation at the base.

Babies are too young to let you know if their bellies are filled. What you do not want is the baby's gums chomping at the base of the nipple instead of on the areola over the milk sinuses because they may have difficulty in getting enough milk. Try feeding baby on the side that is least tender. If you need to release the breast that is painful then switch the infant over to that nipple after you have had a milk-ejection reflex. Women say the pain eases after the milk is flowing. Sore nipples do not last forever. Remember by varying the positions from one feeding to the next - changes the distribution of pressure on the areola and nipple during sucking - therefore leaving you bonding with a well fed content baby.

by Maisy Day

About the author

Free Baby Samples http://www.toddlertitbits.com Shed Those Pounds http://www.sheddingthepounds.com Fabulous Beauty http://www.spotthepimple.com

A Baby Footprint Frame Makes A Unique & Special Gift

If you're a proud new parent struggling to come up with gift ideas for your parents or in-laws this Christmas, then a baby footprint frame is a great option. Using a baby footprint kit, it's incredibly easy to take ink prints or impressions of your little one's tiny feet and hands. You can then display these any way you like in a decorative frame, making a beautiful personalized keepsake that is sure to be cherished. Added to this is the fact that baby footprint and handprint crafts are inexpensive to buy, and you're sure to enjoy spending time with baby making your prints. So - you get to save money on expensive gifts, amuse your baby and keep the relatives happy all in one go!

Baby footprint kits are specially made to be baby-friendly, and will include all the materials you'll need, such as non-toxic wipes, acid-free paper or baby-safe impression clay if you choose to make casts of your baby's prints. It's so simple to buy an affordable kit online or from a craft store, there really is no excuse for not taking the time to preserve those tiny prints for posterity. A baby keepsake footprint will be a treasured gift that any close family member will be delighted to receive.

You can have lots of fun making your prints or impressions, and how you choose to present the final results is entirely up to you. Frames come in a range of sizes, colors and finishes. For a bold impact, you could display a single footprint or handprint in a small frame. Alternatively, you could mount a favorite baby photo in the centre and use a series of prints to encircle the picture. Another option is to include a specially-chosen poem that sums up the joys of parenthood.

Once you've made your baby footprint or handprint frames, they make adorable gifts and will be sure to take pride of place on granny's mantelpiece or daddy's office desk!

About the Author

Caroline Smith is a regular contributor to MyBabyFootprint.com - an online baby footprint and handprint crafts resource, including ideas for using a baby footprint frame, tips on choosing a baby footprint and handprint kit and much more.

Today's Baby Names

One of the most exciting things new parents get to do before the arrival of their child is choose the baby's name. Will it be something popular or unusual? A family name or something original? We will explore the top baby names as well as some of the more unique possibilities to help you choose the perfect name.

Top Baby Names

In the 90s, the most popular name for a boy was Michael. For the past five years, the most common name has been Jacob. Other popular names include Joshua, Matthew, Ethan, Andrew, Daniel, William, Joseph, Gregory, Jonathan, Benjamin, and Christopher. If you are looking for a classic, these baby names have been popular for years.

The most popular name for a girl has not changed in the past fifteen years. It continues to be Emily, and is currently followed by Emma, Madison, Olivia, Hannah, Abigail, Isabella, Ashley, Samantha, and Elizabeth. Except for Ashley and Elizabeth, the popularity of the others is recent and affected by pop culture, especially television shows.

Other sources of popular names are best-selling novels and celebrities. After Gweneth Paltrow named her daughter Apple, many people have done the same. The Harry Potter books and the Lord of the Rings movies have also added many names to the list of the most popular.

Unusual Baby Names

One way today's parents have created unusual names for their children is by changing the spelling of a popular name. Variations that are becoming less unusual include Emilie, Elisabeth, Karin, and Erika. Names like Stacy can be spelled in three different ways (Stacy, Stacie, Staci).

Another way to personalize a baby name is to use a nickname as the child's full name. For instance, Ben instead of Benjamin, Jon instead of Jonathan, and Matt instead of Matthew are becoming more common.

Other unusual sources for baby names come from the world around us. The popularity of names such as April and May continues to come and go, while names such as Winter, and Hazel are still unusual. Consider choosing a baby name reminiscient of the time of year when your child will be born or the time of year they were conceived. Fruit, vegetables, colors, and the adjectives that describe them are a good starting point (Pear, Lemon, Azure). Other uncommon names are those of plants and flowers, such as Hyacinth, Daisy, and Fern.

Other ideas to get you thinking:
Africa
Autumn
Butterfly
Calla
Kansas
Peach

Names that describe an ideal or a personality, such as Hope, Grace, Prudence, Patience, Temperance, or Chastity, are still unusual although not entirely unique. Other descriptive baby names include Cadence and Candid.

Other unusual names come from sources that are not commonly used today. While Biblical names are popular, Greek mythology is only rarely used. Your child may be the only one in their class to have the name Athena, Minerva, or Pan. Or you could give them a name from another culture, such as the Swedish Carina or the Polish Aleksy.

Baby names from other cultures include:
Anuket - Egyptian mythology
Augustyn - Polish
Crina - Romanian
Dimitriy (Dima) - Russian
Freya - Norse mythology
Hestia - Greek mythology
Kirill - Russian

The possibilities are endless! But as mentioned above, remember that if the source of your baby's name is a television show, novel, or celebrity, the name may not be that unusual when they begin school several years down the road. This is especially true for girls. Look for Apple, Reese, and Uma to be popular over the next five years.

Perhaps you'd like something even more original.

Unique Baby Names

If you don't want your child's name to be the same as anyone else's, you can create a unique baby name. These names can have many sources. The more common methods of creating something original are by the combination of family names or the addition of a syllable or letter to a popular name. An example of the latter is Kylen, a unique girl's name which stems from the boy's name Kyle. Unique baby names which may come from a family name include Stafford, Prestoff, and Kilin. While some people may find these better suited for a middle name, others may prefer their unique nature.

A sampling of unique names:
Baton
Jaico
Kermin
Lorelai
Mady

The Meaning of a Name

For some people, it doesn't matter whether a baby name is popular or unique, it just has to mean a certain thing. Rather than choose a baby name with an obvious connotation such as Spring, Grace, or Rose, they want a name that will bring goodwill to their child through its ancient origin.

Some popular as well as unusual baby names include:
Adelaide (Adelia, Alyssa, Allison) - noble
Albert - bright
Alethea - truth
Beatrice - traveller
Cara - beloved
Colbert - bright
Darwin - friend
Elfleda - beauty
Gertrude - stength
Hannah (Anna) - favor, grace
Henry (Henrietta) - power
Isolde - beauty
Keisha - favorite
Letitia - joy
Manfred - strength
Osmund - protector
Robert (Bob) - fame
Vivian - alive

Tips For Choosing

There are many things to consider when you finally select a baby name. Will this be a name your child can use for life, or will it sound silly when it refers to an adult? Will this name cause your child to be picked on? Will they have to constantly correct people in its pronunciation or spelling, and does this concern you? Are there any stereotypes (good or bad) associated with it?

One last concern is: does it fit with your last name? Generally it sounds better if there are a different number of syllables in the first and last names. Only rarely should the first letter of the first and last names be the same. This is of course more of a concern for boys, as they will keep their name for life. Of course, any decisions about hyphenation in the last name should be made before the first name is chosen.

Try not to get overwhelmed by the possibilities. After all, you have nine months to make this decision! Leave yourself open to the myriad sources of ideas, and you will find the baby name for you. And of course, if you let people know you're looking, friends, family members, and even coworkers might add their own suggestions!

Keep these things in mind, and you will choose a popular, or unusual, or unique baby name that your child will be proud of for life.

About the author


Julie Parker is a successful writer and publisher providing valuable tips and advice on finding the top baby names, unusual baby names, and baby name meanings. http://www.about-baby-showers.com

Read more articles by: Julie Parker

Article Source: www.iSnare.com

Popular baby girl names in North and South America

Female names

Region (year)	No. 1	No. 2	No. 3	No. 4	No. 5	No. 6	No. 7	No. 8	No. 9	No. 10
Brazil (2003) [citation needed]	Tânia	Larissa	Marisa	Leila	Maria	Carla	Beatrice	Julieta	Gabriela	Carolina
Canada (2003, among English-speakers) [26]	Emily	Emma	Madison	Sarah	Hannah	Sydney	Megan	Ashley	Taylor	Paige
British Columbia, Canada (2005) [27]	Emma	Emily	Olivia	Hannah	Madison	Ava	Sarah	Ella	Isabella	Grace
Québec, Canada (2004) [28]	Lea	Rosalie	Noemie	Laurence	Jade	Megane	Sarah	Audrey	Camille	Coralie
Chile (2005) [29]	Constanza	Catalina	Valentina	Javiera	Martina	Sofía	María	Antonia	Fernanda	Francisca
Argentina (2003) [30]	María	Ana	Marta	Susana	Alicia	Rosa	Silvia	Graciela	Beatriz	Norma

Popular baby boy names in North and South America

Male names

Region (year)	No. 1	No. 2	No. 3	No. 4	No. 5	No. 6	No. 7	No. 8	No. 9	No. 10
Brazil (2003) [citation needed]	Lucas	Pedro	Rodrigo	Alex	Fábio	Julian	Miguel	Estevan	Júlio	Luis
Canada (2003, among Anglophones) [26]	Ethan	Joshua	Matthew	Jacob	Ryan	Logan	Nicholas	Tyler	Dylan	Connor
British Columbia, Canada (2005) [27]	Ethan	Joshua	Matthew	Jacob	Nathan	Ryan	Alexander	Liam	Nicholas	Noah
Québec, Canada (2004) [28]	Samuel	William	Alexis	Gabriel	Jeremy	Xavier	Felix	Thomas	Antoine	Olivier
Chile (2005) [29]	Benjamín	Matías	Vicente	Martín	Sebastián	Diego	Nicolás	Juan	José	Cristóbal
Argentina (2003) [30]	Juan	Carlos	Jorge	José	Luis	Roberto	Alberto	Eduardo	Ricardo	Miguel

Most popular baby girl names in Asia and the Pacifics

Female names

Region (year)	No. 1	No. 2	No. 3	No. 4	No. 5	No. 6	No. 7	No. 8	No. 9	No. 10
Australia (2005) [2]	Olivia	Charlotte	Emily	Chloe	Ella	Jessica	Isabella	Sophie	Mia	Emma
Japan (2002) [citation needed]	Misaki	Aoi	Nanami	Miu	Riko	Miyu	Moe	Mitsuki	Yūka	Rin
New Zealand (2003) [3]	Emma	Sophie	Ella	Emily	Jessica	Hannah	Olivia	Grace	Charlotte	Georgia
Philippines [4]	Maricel	Michelle	Jennifer	Janice	Mary Grace	Jocelyn	Catherine	Mary Anne	Rowena	Grace

Most popular baby boy names in Asia and the Pacifics

Asia & Pacific

Male names

Region (year)	No. 1	No. 2	No. 3	No. 4	No. 5	No. 6	No. 7	No. 8	No. 9	No. 10
Northern Territory, Australia (2005) [1]	Jack	James	Lachlan	Benjamin	Joshua	Ryan	John	Patrick	Samuel	William
New South Wales, Australia (2005) [2]	Jack	Lachlan	William	Joshua	Thomas	James	Ryan	Daniel	Matthew	Samuel
Japan (2002) [citation needed]	Shun	Takumi	Shō	Ren	Shōta	Sōta	Kaito	Kenta	Daiki	Yū
New Zealand (2003) [3]	Joshua	Jack	Benjamin	Samuel	Daniel	Jacob	Ethan	James	Thomas	Matthew
Philippines [4]	Michael	Ronald	Ryan	Joseph	Joel	Jeffrey	Marlon	Richard	Noel	Jonathan

How to Introduce New Foods to Your Baby

One of the great challenges of new motherhood is how to feed your baby. At the beginning of your child's life, you must decide whether to breastfeed, bottle-feed, or use a combination of the two methods. However, once your newborn baby matures and its time to stop breast feeding, you face another challenge: How can you introduce new foods into your little one's diet? As you might expect, there are a number of factors that go into such an undertaking.

Timing

Timing is critical in just about everything, but particularly when it comes to introducing solids into your baby's diet. Theoretically, you can begin solid feedings any time between four and six months-although some pediatricians recommend that you wait even longer. A baby's digestive system simply cannot digest solids until he or she approaches the half-birthday mark. If you wait until your baby is ready, you will lessen the risk of an allergic reaction. You'll also shorten the transition period between spoon- and self-feeding.

There are certain things you should look for when determining whether your baby is ready for solids. For instance, he or she will need good head control. In addition, your baby must sit up well and must not use the tongue to push food out of the mouth. Your baby must be making chewing motions and demonstrate a growing appetite.

A Test Run

Consider doing a test run with your baby. For instance, start with a little bit of dry rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk. The portion should be small enough to fit on the tip of a spoon. Begin with a once-a-day feeding, and then build onto that. Before you add any other solid foods, your baby should be able to consume about a half-cup of cereal each day.

When is Baby Full?

There are certain tricks you can use to determine when baby is full. For instance, if your baby leans back in his or her wooden baby high chair, turns his or her head away from the food, and begins playing with the spoon, he or she may not want anything more to eat. The most important factor here is that you be patient and observe your baby's actions. You will know when the time is right to introduce new foods.

Article by: Michelle O'Connor, Maternity Dresses

Announce Your New Bundle Of Joy With Cute Baby Boy Announcements

I recently had the most strong and wonderful experience of my life. I gave birth to a wonderful, sweet little boy. Although he can not say anything but 'ga', and seems unable to really control his arms and legs that well, I have confidence that when he is older, he will grow in to a fully functional adult just like his father is.

And so, in spite of the fact that my little bundle of joy does not do much besides lie around all day, and is not much of a talker, I thought that it was important to send out baby boy announcements to all of my friends as soon as possible so that they could come by and meet little Johnny.

When I picked out my baby boy announcements, I certainly needed to take my time. I am particular in all things, especially important ones. There is nothing in this world that is more important than presenting a good appearance to friends, colleagues, and anyone you might pass on the street, and whether it is clothes or baby boy announcements, appropriate care must be taken to pick out just the perfect thing. Fortunately, the internet was chock full of baby boy birth announcements, and so there was an sufficient selection to satisfy even the most demanding consumer, such as myself. Yet, after hours and hours at the computer, I could not find quite the perfect baby boy announcements.

A lot of them had that perfect cutesy cheerful writing, some of them even printed, and they had those adorable pictures of little boys in blue diapers playing with kitties and balloons, but none of these letters seemed to express the full extent of my emotions, although they did come close. I had thought that I would have to cooperation and settle for some second rate baby boy announcements, when I saw it the perfect one.

On the surface, the baby boy announcement was much like all of the others. Like most of the baby boy announcements available, it had the same bubbly script, the same pale blues and purples, the same adorable little thing sucking his thumb. To tell you the truth, what made this one different from all of the other baby boy announcements was the look in the eyes of the cat he was playing with. Of all of the baby boy announcements, this was the only one where the cat was looking straight out at whoever was holding the card, and the sweet look in its catlike eyes completely charmed me.

About the author

Linda E. Joy provides readers with up-to-date commentaries, articles, and reviews for family, home as well as related information.

9 Tips For Choosing Baby Clothing

Shopping for baby clothing can be a fun and enjoyable time, and shopping online has never been easier. There are more styles, colors, and bargains than ever before. As the fall season rapidly approaches, get ready for brand new styles and colors. Now, with just a click of your mouse, you can enter a world of exciting fashions to show off your little one in style!

As the weather starts to change, you will be looking at light jackets and heavier clothes. You want your little one to stay warm, but you do not want him to feel constrained. With this fall's easy styles, you can effortlessly find just what you are looking for. Pastel shades are in this season, and you can set off their subtlety by mixing and matching colors and styles. You can coordinate for a dressier look or mix colors and get casual. There is something for everyone.

Here are some tips to choose the best baby clothing for your little one:

1. Make a list of what you need before you start to shop online. It is easy to get carried away when you see all those enticing styles and colors.

2. Decide how much you can spend before you shop. Do this for the same reason as above.

3. One important thing to remember is that infants will grow fast! Keep this fact in mind when you buy for them. Try to buy a size larger if you can. Allow for shrinkage on some fabrics, especially denim. You will get more wear out of the clothes this way.

4. Take advantage of sales and bargains whenever you can. Even if an item is a couple of sizes too big, your child will soon grow into it.

5. When buying baby clothing, it is important to be practical. Remember your little one is still in diapers, so be sure the garments you buy are easy for you to just slip off for easy diaper changing of your infant.

6. When it comes to sleepwear, look for garments that are flame retardant or tight-fitting cotton. These types of pajamas, nightgowns and robes offer the most in fire safety.

7. Be careful of "buttons and bows." Infants are often restless experimenters and will pull tassels, strings, or just little buttons and appliqués. Everything that can, will go into their mouths! So be stylish, but keep safety in mind when purchasing.

8. Keeping those feet covered: This can be a problem with young children, so one-piece suits are good until they start walking. If baby can pull herself up, she can slip down unless her feet are covered with non-slip soles.

9. A good rule of thumb is to wash all new garments before they are worn. This will make them softer and ensure they are completely clean and dust free before use.

Now you can really enjoy shopping for baby clothing and enjoy all the attention your little one will get when others see him in the latest fall styles and colors. Put the fun back into shopping when you shop online with http://www.webclothes.com. WebClothes offers a complete line of exciting styles and colors at affordable prices. Check out the special "bargain bin" and save even more money!

by IPRWire Staff Writer

About the author

Founded in December 1997, www.webclothes.com was one of the first online Baby Clothing retailers. The founders combined have over 50 years of experience in retail children's clothing.

How to Chose Exotic Baby Names

Nowadays, fewer parents are naming their kids with traditional and classic names, trying to find a different, refreshing name for their child. Because of this, finding a really exotic baby name is becoming much harder.

These are some helpful tips that we think may help you find an exotic, yet comfortable name for your child.

Traditional (but Exotic Baby Names): There are still the traditional ways of selecting your baby's name. The first, of course, is using a name that has been in the family for years - perhaps the name of an aunt or uncle, or a grandparent. The other way is to browse through the Baby Names Dictionaries 28,000+ names to select from. Although some of the names are common, you can certainly find some exotic names.

Name meanings: To choose an exotic name, you could decide on what you want your child's name to mean. Baby Names Dictionary has a resource where you can type in what you want your child's name to mean. From there, we will pull out a list of names, both popular and exotic, with that meaning.

Place names: A lot of parents nowadays are using this method to name their child. Some places actually make pretty good names, but because method is becoming popular, naming your child after the place she or he was born may not make a very uncommon name anymore. Places like Colorado, Phoenix, Denver or Salem are some popular names for boys. As for the girls, Paris, Vienna, Asia and Atlanta are some of the preferred names.

Names from nature: Words from nature are also a unique way of naming your kids. That way, the beauty of that word is in your child's name. How about something like Raine, Leaf, Sky or Dew?

Using a surname as a first name for exotic baby names is also another method of naming that is becoming more and more common. It means taking the surnames of your ancestors, famous people, or anyone of your choice and using it as a first name. Like for girls, some popular surnames used as first names are McCartney, Bronte, Liotta and Piper. For boys, Beckett, Addison, Brewster, Donovan and Jenson are popular.

Anagrams: Want an exotic name for your child but there are a few traditional ones that you really like? Take that name and create an anagram of it. Use scrabble tiles from the game and shift the letters or add a few more. Be creative. Let your imagination run wild.

Telescoping: Take the name and drop letters until you've found a name you like. Kahlil and Gibran can be combined and then telescoped to Kabran. Schuyler can be telescoped to become Sky. Get the picture?

You can name your child after their father. For example, if the father's name is Donald, his son can be Doni or his daughter, Donnie. The name John can be changed to Joanie, Joanna or Jonalie.

Naming a boy after his mother's maiden name is one way of doing it. You could change the mother's name to a suitable name for a boy. Like Mary, you could alter it to Martin, Matt, Mason or Marren. Or if it's a girl you could name her Marii, Marinne or Marine.

Name or word combinations: This means a name taken from combining two other names; most of the time it's from the child's parents or grandparents. For instance, let's say a couple, Ridge and Brooke, have a baby girl. They could combine their names together and name her Bridgette. This may not be very unique, but you get the idea. A better example would be David and Trina. (Davina) This way, you get an unusual name for your child and at the same time, you can honor a family member.

Change the spelling: Make an ordinary name more unusual by changing the spelling. Like Caitlin, it can become CaitLin. You could change Rianne to RiAnne. Or, you also could add an apostrophe, and Janet becomes J'Nette/J'Net.

Unique names are fun, different and anything goes! Its only limitation is your imagination. Names are inspired from everywhere, from fashion designers to colors to months. June and April make nice names for girls. Azure, Gray and Burgundy are also great names. Countries or states like Dakota or Carolina are also used. But remember, with every pro, there's a con.

Names that are very complicated to pronounce or spell, although it makes them stand out, it also brings aggravation to your child because they would have to constantly correct the spelling or pronunciation for the rest of their life.

Oh yeah, and also, giving a boy a girl's name or vice versa is something you absolutely do not want to do. Imagine the amount of teasing he or she would get from their classmates. Not something you would want for your child, to be laughed at and teased.

Overall, unique names are not a bad thing. Just be kind to your child and choose wisely.

by Anita Eracybab

About the author

Anita provides free advice on her site and has established an online community for those looking for information on how to care for their baby. Head on over to http://www.101babycare.com for more information on Exotic Baby Names.

How to Choose Petite Maternity Clothing That Will Fit You Just Right

If you are among those who have a petite frame, finding the right petite maternity clothes must be tough. To find appropriate clothes that minimize your growing waistline and bust line is necessary. This is where especially tailored maternity clothing comes as a blessing. Over the years, maternity clothes have diversified into a number of styles. These designs cater to every body type and size. Nowadays, you will find that tops, blouses, jeans, pants, skirts and evening dresses for pregnant women come in petite sizes.

What Types of Clothes to Wear and When - How to Select the Right Items

Wearing clothes with the right fit becomes even more important when you have a small frame. One has to keep in mind several points to dress smart. In the first trimester, you can wear most of your pre-pregnancy wear. Be careful not to wear form-fitting or tight jeans as this might harm the growing baby. Pants and skirts with elastic waists, dresses without a waistline, oversized clothing serves as wonderful maternity wear. This transitional clothing will come into use again after the baby is born and before you return to your pre-pregnancy size.

From the fifth month onwards, you will need to wear maternity clothes. We suggest you buy monochromatic tops and bottoms designed specially for petite women. The single color effect will make you appear taller and give you a slimmer look. Choose boat-neck or high-neck tops. This will emphasize your slim shoulders and give you a narrower effect. Avoid horizontal stripes especially in the later half of your pregnancy.

For a casual look, you could buy a good pair of black pants, a short or long black skirt, and a pair of twill or denim pants. Another good option you might want to try is a cotton/spandex jumpsuit that hugs your body and has a little extra room in the middle.

When choosing a maternity evening dress for a special occasion, buy a full-length one instead of a short or knee-length one. This will add to your height and frame your figure. Try not to go in for layered clothing when you are selecting petite size maternity clothes. Try out a slim silhouette instead. Many manufacturers are coming out with innovative designs of maternity clothes for the petite woman. A common choice for a special dress is the classic black number. This has been modified into a long sleeved, full-length, body-hugging style, which looks chic and glamorous.

How to Wear It Right!

Apart from buying petite size maternity clothes, one should remember a few things. Never buy clothes with big and heavy prints. Choose light and airy fabrics that will give you a fresh look. Wearing the right accessories is also crucial to looking great. A person who has a short frame should wear long necklaces and delicate jewelry. Never use over size bags as these can make you look bulky. Loosely knotted scarves are a good idea to give a dramatic effect.

With the right planning and eye towards colors, patterns and comfort - you will find the right fashionable maternity clothing for you!Article by Michelle O'Connor, Old Navy Maternity

How to Introduce New Foods to Your Baby

One of the great challenges of new motherhood is how to feed your baby. At the beginning of your child's life, you must decide whether to breastfeed, bottle-feed, or use a combination of the two methods. However, once your newborn baby matures and its time to stop breast feeding, you face another challenge: How can you introduce new foods into your little one's diet? As you might expect, there are a number of factors that go into such an undertaking.

Timing

Timing is critical in just about everything, but particularly when it comes to introducing solids into your baby's diet. Theoretically, you can begin solid feedings any time between four and six months-although some pediatricians recommend that you wait even longer. A baby's digestive system simply cannot digest solids until he or she approaches the half-birthday mark. If you wait until your baby is ready, you will lessen the risk of an allergic reaction. You'll also shorten the transition period between spoon- and self-feeding.

There are certain things you should look for when determining whether your baby is ready for solids. For instance, he or she will need good head control. In addition, your baby must sit up well and must not use the tongue to push food out of the mouth. Your baby must be making chewing motions and demonstrate a growing appetite.

A Test Run

Consider doing a test run with your baby. For instance, start with a little bit of dry rice cereal mixed with formula or breast milk. The portion should be small enough to fit on the tip of a spoon. Begin with a once-a-day feeding, and then build onto that. Before you add any other solid foods, your baby should be able to consume about a half-cup of cereal each day.

When is Baby Full?

There are certain tricks you can use to determine when baby is full. For instance, if your baby leans back in his or her wooden baby high chair, turns his or her head away from the food, and begins playing with the spoon, he or she may not want anything more to eat. The most important factor here is that you be patient and observe your baby's actions. You will know when the time is right to introduce new foods.

Article by: Michelle O'Connor, Maternity Dresses