What's in a Name?

When you're expecting, it's one of the most important decisions you make -- choosing a name for your baby. It's such a personal experience, and we put so much weight on it. After all, this is what we'll be calling our offspring from their first days in the world to the time their 40-year-old adults with careers and families of their own. There is a lot of research that has been done on names and how they affect you, from whether it makes a difference when a perspective employer sees your name on a resume to whether your name affects your personality.

So what are we naming our kids today? It's funny how we want something somewhat unique, so our kid isn't one of 10 Jennifers in a class. But most of us aren't going as far as naming our kids Suri or Apple. The Social Security Administration has released the top names of 2011, and the list is definitely interesting. Topping the list are Sophia and Aiden. And in true fashion, I can't remember a single Sophia or Aiden in my entire peer group from high school or college. But in my son's small preschool there are two of each!

If you're in the midst of trying to figure out a name for a new baby, there is plenty of help online. Check out BabyCenter.com for lists of names and their origins. Or try out Nymbler.com, a baby name assistant that helps you narrow down your choices based on your personal preferences. It's a fun website even if you don't have to name a baby right now. Maybe I'll use it for my next puppy!

-- Karen Alley, Web Editor.

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