" What's in a name? That which we call a roseBy any other name would smell as sweet. William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet "(Act II, Sc ii) Shakespeare may have had it wrong when he wrote those lines. A name is important because it is the one thing to stay with your child throughout their entire life and affects who it is they become. Having a name which they can live with and be proud of, therefore, is crucial to having a good start in life and this book will show you exactly how to pick the right one. Sometimes choosing the right name is simply a case of hearing one you like near the birth of your baby and knowing instantly that you've chosen correctly. However, for the vast majority of parents the naming process becomes a complex minefield of trying to please parents, grandparents, friends and siblings while trying to avoid embarrassing acronyms with their newborn's initials, or names that could be shortened into ridiculous nicknames. Parents also like to choose something unique, but not too unique, or common but not too common, or a name which is symbolic of a cultural event at the time of the baby's birth. A name could come from an admired celebrity's baby, a sports star, or an influential historical or political figure.

It could also come from the family tree, or be part of a long-standing tradition where sons are named after fathers and daughters are named after mothers. The possibilities and chances to make a mistake or offend someone are practically endless and it's understandable that it can set some parents into panic mode. Well, never fear. This book talks you through each of your options carefully and discusses how to solve your baby-naming dilemmas in practical ways. It's also updated annually, which means you'll know the latest trends in baby names and find out the most popular names for your baby's classmates to help guide you towards your final decision. If you are a parent for whom finding your baby's name is simply a case of seeing it written down then you'll love the dozens of lists we've included, highlighting the popular, the classic and the downright weird names children have been given over the years.