Popular boy names

Some of the most common boy names include

• Mason – This is a name with French origin meaning ‘bricklayer’ or ‘stone mason’. It is derived from the name ‘macian’ meaning “to make”
• Liam – A name originating from Ireland meaning “to protect”. It is short for the name ‘William’.
• Jacob – It is Hebrew name. It means ‘held by the heel’. It is found in the Christian bible where Jacob was the son of Isaac.
• Ethan –This is also a Hebrew name meaning “to be strong or permanent”. It occurs often in the Christian and Hebrew bibles.

Popular girl names

There are names that many girls and women share. They include:

• Emma – It is a name of German origin. It means ‘absolute’ or ‘universal’. It is also a shortened form of the Hebrew name ‘Emmanuel’ meaning ‘God with us’
• Olivia – This is a name originating from Greece. It is a form of ‘olive’ with represents peace. It is also the female version of ‘Oliver’
• Sophia – This is also a Greek name meaning ‘wisdom’
• Isabella – This is a Hebrew name meaning ‘God is a vow’. It is also very popular in European countries like Spain and Italy.

The above names show that most parents prefer to adopt baby names with religious undertones.

It is important to take time in the baby name selection process. This is because there is a direct connection between the personality a baby develops and the name given to him or her.

Most parents want the best for their children. They want them to have a balanced life, to do well in school, to have a strong circle of friends etc. The best way to set this ball rolling is to give them names that represent these qualities. For instance, a baby named ‘Ethan’ will start associating himself with ‘unwavering strength’ during his formative years. It is not surprising to find that the baby develops a strong personality and good character when he grows up.

On the other hand, giving a baby names with negative meanings will wreak havoc in that baby’s life. Choosing a funny name will cause that child to be ridiculed by his/her peers in school. The end result is low self-esteem and in extreme cases, violent or suicidal tendencies. Personality flaws that develop during a child’s early years stay with them for the rest of their lives.

More parents are starting to avoid naming their children after their parents, relatives or using popular names. Instead, they are opting for unusual names. Some are naming their children after characters of antiquity, unknown plants, birds etc, all in a bid to have their babies stand out.

In a nutshell, names play a large role in how our lives turn out. It is important for parents to pay particular attention when looking for their children’s names.