by Tania Williams

Created on: September 09, 2009

You have just sent out your resume in response to a job add in the paper, but because the name Honey Blossom Saffron appears at the top of the page it gets thrown in a pile of possibilities, or file 13. Choosing an appropriate name for a child is a thought process that plagues many parents. Celebrities can choose odd names for their children because it's unlikely it will harm them in the business world. As for us average Americans, an unprofessional name will only hinder us from moving up on the corporate ladder. This isn't to say people with odd names are not successful in life, but they probably have to work twice as hard just to get their work noticed and for people to take them seriously.

Here are a few guidelines to follow when choosing a baby name:

Consider your ancestry and family history: Many people pass names down from generation to generation. The older the name tends to be, the more likely it upholds a standard.

Uniqueness: Consider if you want a traditional, popular or unique name. A name can be creative and not sound made-up at the same time. Try and steer away from naming all your children after themes, for example Forrest, Shepherd, Winter and Rain.

Choose a first name that easily goes with the last name. For instance Charles Anthony might sound good compared to Charles Crawley.

Be gender specific: How would your son feel about growing up with a name like Kelly or Dana? That might have flown in the golden ages, but kids are rough teasers nowadays.

Pronunciation: Choose a name that isn't easily mistaken for something else. For example let's look at the name Maria. We may be saying it (Ma-ree-a) where the parent wants it pronounced (Ma-ri-ah) like the singer.

Those are just a few suggestions that shouldn't be taken lightly. Some people have named their children Faith, Charity, Chastity, & Knowledge. Although as parents we hope our children live up to their names, some of them don't. Or the name may no suit them. Realistically, Charity might be stingy and Knowledge may have an IQ below 100.

Our name doesn't necessarily define who we are, but influences how we are perceived by the world. So consider what the outcome could be for your child before you give them a name, because it's something they will have to live with for the rest of their lives.

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