As any new parent knows, choosing a name for your baby can be fraught with challenges. When we were naming our first-born son I insisted on sticking with family tradition and calling him after his dad (me) in the same way I was after mine.
But my wife didn't exactly agree. "Over my dead body," were her exact words.
"But what's wrong with Keith?" I insisted.
"Keith Chegwin, Keith Harris & Orville, Keith from The Office. Little babies should not be called 'Keith'. End of!" she replied.
"But I was," I retorted.
"Yes, and look how you turned out."
So in the end, we compromised and I was able to persuade my wife to stick with family names by calling our son after his grandfathers and two of his uncles: Thomas George.But my wife didn't exactly agree. "Over my dead body," were her exact words.
"But what's wrong with Keith?" I insisted.
"Keith Chegwin, Keith Harris & Orville, Keith from The Office. Little babies should not be called 'Keith'. End of!" she replied.
"But I was," I retorted.
"Yes, and look how you turned out."
We are nothing if not imaginative in our family! The next son was easier: we named him after my childhood dog – Sam.
This might sound a bit harsh, but I reasoned that my great-grandfather was called Sam and that was why we named our two family dogs Sam. Human Sam would be carrying on a tradition that stretched back more than 100 years. And this time, my wife bought it! (It could have been worse – my granddad's middle name was Maurice!).
Such discussions are the battleground for new parents up and down the country every hour of every day.
Do you fall in line and go for a name from the Most Popular lists that are published every year? (This year, for boys it's Oliver, Jack and Charlie; and for girls Olivia, Emily and Sophia).
Or do you find your inspiration from current affairs, celebrities, television and music?
If you've just had a baby or are having a baby in 2014, what names have struck a chord? After all, this is a big decision – one that will affect your child's life for all of their days.
Perhaps a trawl through the archive of baby names in 2103 might provide some inspiration - if not what to call your child, then certainly what not to call them!
If you thought Keith was bad some parents intent on being different have thrown out the most common baby names this year in favour of something a tad more, er, memorable.
The American website BabyCenter put together their list of the most common baby names of the year after surveying half a million parents and found that at least three parents had named their new babies Cheese, Egypt, Panda, Stetson, Hurricane and Tintin. And those are just a few of the stranger boys names.
The weird girl names include Archita, Blip, Fair, Green, Nyx, and Ezgi. While some seem random, others among the bizarre names have a familiar ring to them.
Wrigley, for instance, conjures images of the glory days of baseball in Chicago. Though it should be noted, it's on the girl list.
Ajax isn't just a bath and tile scrub but also a classical soldier's name. It's on the boy list.
In addition to Cheese, other food related names include Danish, Kiwi and Chow. Bears were also a popular inspiration. Included on the weird name list were Cub, Kodiak, and Panda (all boys).
So what are you going to call your little cherub? If you've given birth in the last few days, perhaps Nelson chimes? No doubt Mr Mandela will be remembered as one of history's greatest ever leaders, so perhaps some of that statesmanship will rub off on your offspring as they grow up.
Then, of course, there's George, after the newest heir to the throne. Or if you fancy something a bit cooler, how about 'Prince', or the young Royal's middle names, Alexander and Louis.
Dedicated followers of cultural fashion have found their inspiration from hit US TV showsBreaking Bad, Homeland and Game Of Thrones. There here has been a 70 per cent increase in Skyler, drug dealer Walter White's wife in Breaking Bad.
There has also been a 40 per cent rise in Brody, Homeland's renegade soldier, and a 183 per cent increase in Arya, Game Of Thrones' tomboy.
British drama Downton Abbey has also helped prompt double-digit increases for Violet, Elsie and Rose. And looking forward, fans might think Sherlock or Luther have a certain inquisitive appeal, and if not the characters, then how about the unusually-monikered men who play them: Benedict and Idris?
Sarah Barrett, managing editor for the BabyCenter, said: "Inspiration for your baby's name can come from anywhere, which is why a show like Breaking Bad, which has been hugely popular, has influenced naming choices this year."
Turning to babies of celebrities born in 2013, there have been a few notable doozeys (now there's a name!).
Katie Price added another to her brood of Harvey, Princess and Junior, with Jett Riviera. And Saturdays' star Frankie Sandford came up with the moniker Parker for her little 'un with footballer Wayne Bridge.
Pop couple Rochelle Wiseman and JLS's Marvin Hughes had Alaia-Mai. And who can forget Klay, born to Coleen and Wayne Rooney, or Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's new arrival North (as in North West. Yes, we get it)?
Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon virtually had her baby in secret, but then gave her a very look-at-me name with Azura Sienna. In January, Lily Allen/Cooper had Marnie Rose, a sibling for Ethel and William, the baby she lost in 2010.
Then there was model Caprice's dilemma: she had two babies in the space of a month, after both she and her surrogate mum gave birth. Now both are thriving with the names Jett and Jax.
But the prize for the most exotic monikers goes to Peaches Geldof's children, Astala Dylan Willow and Phaedra Bloom Forever. Try getting those on a business card!
If politics is your thing, then one name stands out above all others: Pleb. OK, not the sweetest name, granted, but one that is certain to court controversy whenever it is uttered, as Troy grandee Andrew Mitchell knows only too well after he was alleged to (and denied) have uttered it to a couple of policeman as he exited Down Street one evening.
One name that might signify that your child is going places is HS2 – the fast-rail proposal to link London to the North. Although it's a risky one as the plan might yet hit the buffers, sending your child off the tracks. Boom, boom.
Perhaps reality TV is your bag, in which case you might have a soft spot for X Factor's Tamera – or even Scewbo (real name, Sam!). Or how about I'm A Celebrity's pick of the bunch: Amy, Rebecca, Joey or, the winner, Kian?
The Apprentice usually throws up a couple of surprise names, and this year's winner Leah has a pleasing ring about it, though the runner-up Luisa might have more get-up-and-get-my-name-in-the-papers about it.
There have, of course, been certain words of the year – and the people who have put them into the pantheon. 'Miley Twerk' might appeal to some. As might 'Ylvis Fox' (of 'What does the fox say' fame).
But for the self-obsessed new mum or dad, there really can be only one name for your little precious: Selfie. Birth announcement Instagrammed via Twitter, of course.
Baby Names: Which Are Most Popular?
These are the most popular names among the 21,000 babies born in the UK this year:
The top 10 girls' names:
1. Olivia
2. Emily
3. Sophia
4. Lily
5. Isabella
6. Isabelle
7. Amelia
8. Isla
9. Sophie
10. Ava
The top 10 boys' names:
1. Oliver
2. Jack
3. Charlie
4. Harry
5. Oscar
6. Thomas
7. Jacob
8. Ethan
9. Noah
10. James
AND THE ODDEST NAMES FROM THE U.S. BABY CENTER SURVEY
BOYS
Ab
Ajax
Anibal
Apollo
Baobao
Braulio
Bright
Cadence
Caige
Cheese
Chow
Cub
Daxx
Danish
Dragos
Egypt
Enno
Finch
Holmes
Hurricane
Ivory
Jag
Kashmere
Kazz
Kodiak
Lalo
Legend
Leviathan
Lorcan
Miggy
Osbaldo
Panda
Ripley
Rocket
Stetson
Thiago
Thirdy
Tintin
Trace
Yash
Zion
AND ODDEST GIRLS
Amorette
Archita
Azza
Blip
Blue
Chevy
Creedence
Delara
Duda
Elektra
Eternity
Ezgi
Fairy
Feline
Flower
Galya
Green
Harlowe
Huxley
Jurie
Justus
Kalliope
Kelby
Kinzly
Kiwi
Kukua
Lovelle
Loveena
Manda
Nyx
Oceana
Pippin
Sida
Trixie
Tulip
Viggo
Wrigley
Xaviera
Zabrina
Zelia
Zona
British drama Downton Abbey has also helped prompt double-digit increases for Violet, Elsie and Rose. And looking forward, fans might think Sherlock or Luther have a certain inquisitive appeal, and if not the characters, then how about the unusually-monikered men who play them: Benedict and Idris?
Sarah Barrett, managing editor for the BabyCenter, said: "Inspiration for your baby's name can come from anywhere, which is why a show like Breaking Bad, which has been hugely popular, has influenced naming choices this year."
Turning to babies of celebrities born in 2013, there have been a few notable doozeys (now there's a name!).
Katie Price added another to her brood of Harvey, Princess and Junior, with Jett Riviera. And Saturdays' star Frankie Sandford came up with the moniker Parker for her little 'un with footballer Wayne Bridge.
Pop couple Rochelle Wiseman and JLS's Marvin Hughes had Alaia-Mai. And who can forget Klay, born to Coleen and Wayne Rooney, or Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's new arrival North (as in North West. Yes, we get it)?
Britain's Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon virtually had her baby in secret, but then gave her a very look-at-me name with Azura Sienna. In January, Lily Allen/Cooper had Marnie Rose, a sibling for Ethel and William, the baby she lost in 2010.
Then there was model Caprice's dilemma: she had two babies in the space of a month, after both she and her surrogate mum gave birth. Now both are thriving with the names Jett and Jax.
But the prize for the most exotic monikers goes to Peaches Geldof's children, Astala Dylan Willow and Phaedra Bloom Forever. Try getting those on a business card!
If politics is your thing, then one name stands out above all others: Pleb. OK, not the sweetest name, granted, but one that is certain to court controversy whenever it is uttered, as Troy grandee Andrew Mitchell knows only too well after he was alleged to (and denied) have uttered it to a couple of policeman as he exited Down Street one evening.
One name that might signify that your child is going places is HS2 – the fast-rail proposal to link London to the North. Although it's a risky one as the plan might yet hit the buffers, sending your child off the tracks. Boom, boom.
Perhaps reality TV is your bag, in which case you might have a soft spot for X Factor's Tamera – or even Scewbo (real name, Sam!). Or how about I'm A Celebrity's pick of the bunch: Amy, Rebecca, Joey or, the winner, Kian?
The Apprentice usually throws up a couple of surprise names, and this year's winner Leah has a pleasing ring about it, though the runner-up Luisa might have more get-up-and-get-my-name-in-the-papers about it.
There have, of course, been certain words of the year – and the people who have put them into the pantheon. 'Miley Twerk' might appeal to some. As might 'Ylvis Fox' (of 'What does the fox say' fame).
But for the self-obsessed new mum or dad, there really can be only one name for your little precious: Selfie. Birth announcement Instagrammed via Twitter, of course.
Baby Names: Which Are Most Popular?
These are the most popular names among the 21,000 babies born in the UK this year:
The top 10 girls' names:
1. Olivia
2. Emily
3. Sophia
4. Lily
5. Isabella
6. Isabelle
7. Amelia
8. Isla
9. Sophie
10. Ava
The top 10 boys' names:
1. Oliver
2. Jack
3. Charlie
4. Harry
5. Oscar
6. Thomas
7. Jacob
8. Ethan
9. Noah
10. James
AND THE ODDEST NAMES FROM THE U.S. BABY CENTER SURVEY
BOYS
Ab
Ajax
Anibal
Apollo
Baobao
Braulio
Bright
Cadence
Caige
Cheese
Chow
Cub
Daxx
Danish
Dragos
Egypt
Enno
Finch
Holmes
Hurricane
Ivory
Jag
Kashmere
Kazz
Kodiak
Lalo
Legend
Leviathan
Lorcan
Miggy
Osbaldo
Panda
Ripley
Rocket
Stetson
Thiago
Thirdy
Tintin
Trace
Yash
Zion
AND ODDEST GIRLS
Amorette
Archita
Azza
Blip
Blue
Chevy
Creedence
Delara
Duda
Elektra
Eternity
Ezgi
Fairy
Feline
Flower
Galya
Green
Harlowe
Huxley
Jurie
Justus
Kalliope
Kelby
Kinzly
Kiwi
Kukua
Lovelle
Loveena
Manda
Nyx
Oceana
Pippin
Sida
Trixie
Tulip
Viggo
Wrigley
Xaviera
Zabrina
Zelia
Zona
Article from www.parentdish.co.uk
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