Choosing Baby's Names

Picking a name for your new baby is not easy; do you canvass grandparents and friends with your ideas?  Do you keep it simple, short and easy for the baby to say when they are older or do you go for something elaborate?  Do you go for conventional or really way-out names?  It seems that a surprisingly large number of parents - over half! - actually regret the name they originally giver their baby.

Some say it doesn’t reflect the baby’s true personality or that they felt pressured to give a name so didn’t take enough time. Some say that they didn’t like the name in the first place and just over 25% say the name became too popular so went off it when they heard lots of other babies being called the same thing.

Research has been done by Northwestern University in Illinois to look into the impact that names have on babies and children.  That there is an impact, he says, is testament to the number of baby name books that are on the market... parents clearly feel its a big and serious job. to name their child appropriately.

In 2011 approximately 58,000 people changed their own name according to the UK Deed Poll Service.  This is some 4,000 more than the previous year. However, ten years ago this number was nearer 5,000 people changing their name each year!