Introduction So, you've got a baby to name. As if preparing for the arrival of the baby isn't enough, you're dealing with all the pressure of figuring out what, exactly, to call the little bundle of joy. It can be stressful to find a name that will do justice to the hope you have for your child. After all, names influence first impressions. They can trigger great-or unpleasant-nicknames. They can affect your child's self-esteem. They can be a tangible, lasting link to a family legacy. But let's not forget that they can be fun.

And that's what this book is all about. Remember The Old Farmer's Almanac, which comes out annually as a guide to each year's trends, forecasts, and hot spots? Aimed at farmers, of course, the book provides a way to put the year into context, to navigate the shifting seasons, and to understand all the factors swirling in the atmosphere. The 2013 Baby Names Almanac aims to be a similar lifeline for parents. With a finger on the pulse of pop culture and an ear to the ground of what's hip, new, and relevant, this book offers you an instant, idiosyncratic snapshot of how the world today is shaping what you may want to name your child tomorrow. Jam-packed with information and ideas, plus thousands of names to browse, this book analyzes the most recent trends and fads in baby naming, offering up forecasts and predictions. You'll find our take on questions like these (and much more!): * Which cutting-edge names are on the rise? * Which popular names are on the decline? * What influence do celebrities have on names? -- Names in music: Could you name your daughter Blue Ivy? Could Carly call your name, maybe? Will Brantley continue to climb? -- Names in movies: Will Katniss be the hot new girls' name of 2012? How long can Bella last now that the movie franchise is over? -- Names in sports: Watch out, Iker! Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas is inspiring a host of parents, and the 2012 Olympic Games in London may bring a new crop of babies named Ryan, Michael, or Gabrielle. * How many babies get the most popular name, anyway? * Which letter do most girls' names start with? How about boys' names? * What are the most popular "gender-neutral" names today-and which gender uses each name more often? (If you name your daughter Jordan, will she find herself playing with lots of other little girls named Jordan-or little boys instead?) * How can you take a trend and turn it into a name you love? (How about a little Archer of your own?) We understand that sometimes this information on trends and popularity is hard to digest, so we've created some easy-to-visualize graphics. Turn to page 4, for example, to see a map of the United States showing where Sophia reigns and where little Mason is king.

And what baby name book would be complete without the names? Flip to page 69 to begin browsing through more than 20,000 names, including entries for the most popular names for girls and boys as reported by the Social Security Administration (www.ssa.gov/OACT/babynames). A little bit of a mishmash and a screenshot of the world today, The 2013 Baby Names Almanac is like no other book out there. Stuffed with ideas on what's hip and hot and how you can take a trend and turn it into a name you love, this book is your all-in-one guide to baby names now.