Baby experts, teachers, and sociologists all say your baby’s name will impact on his or her personality. These same experts also agree that baby’s ability to interact with his or her peers (ugh, let’s refer to baby as ’she’ and ‘her’!) is also affected by her name. So a name is one of the most precious things you will give your baby - no pressure then! Here is a list of things to consider.

- Unusual spelling: The fashion these days is to choose a baby name that is somehow ‘different’. Either by spelling a traditional name in a different way, or making up a unique name. It is easy to understand the reasons for choosing a different name, but is it a good idea? First, let’s consider different spelling: if a girl’s name is spelt differently but stills sounds the same as the traditional spelling, when teacher calls Katey, then Katie and Katy will also come running. Furthermore, Katey will find that most people will spell her name incorrectly and she will probably have trouble with important official documents later in life. The only people to spell her name will likely be her husband and parents!

- Invented names: The celebs can get away with calling their offspring names like Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow’s daughter) and Moon Unit (Frank Zappa’s child - no idea whether that is a boy or girl!) because their wealth will help to insulate them from any teasing. Your baby will only be a cute bundle for a comparatively short time and that name that sounds cute when he is 6 months old is unlikely to suit a strapping hunk over 6 foot. Dr Mehrabian, author of The Name Game, says that unusual names rate lower in all categories: a person’s success, cheerfulness, and morality.

- Initials: Check to ensure that the initials of baby’s names, including the last name, do not make a word; or at least not an unfortunate word that will lead to your child’s embarrassment in later years.

- Puns: Most of us have heard the song ‘A Boy Named Sue’. Great song, bad idea. Some names are amusing when coupled with certain last names. I worked with a girl called Hazel Nutt, and knew a nurse called Rosie Bottom - readers in the UK will smile at the that, those across the pond should substitute ‘Butt’ for ‘Bottom’ to see the point. Both girls joined in the laughter each time someone new heard their names, or was the smile really a grimace?!

- Compatibility: Experts say you should opt for a short first name if the last name is a long one, and vice versa. Also, if your last name starts with a vowel, avoid a first name that ends in a vowel, apparently the two names tend to run into one.

- Meaning: If you can’t decide between two or more names, look up the meanings of the names; it may help you to choose. If you wish to give your baby girl two names, how about names that mean the same or opposite? For example: Lucy and Phoebe mean ‘Light’ and Melanie means ‘Dark’.

- Twins: Choosing names for one baby is hard enough, but twins! The suggestion in the last paragraph is useful here. Tasmin and Tammy both mean ‘Twins’; Patrick and Archie both mean ‘Noble’; Carl and Brian both mean ‘Strong’; Cheryl and Charity both mean ‘Dear’; and of course there are many names that are also the names of flowers.

Take time to choose the name you will give your baby. The name you will give her is a gift, make it one she will be proud of.