Not so very long ago, it was common practice for prospective parents to lean toward choosing one of the tried and true most popular first names for their babies. But more recently, the trend has changed with more and more parents opting for names that are uncommon, unique or even personally created. So what to do? There are pros and cons to either decision. When a child grows up with a highly used name, there will be more of a tendency to blend in or to experience many others with the same name throughout life. In school, this could result in teachers shortening names, giving nicknames or differentiating one student from the next with the first initial of the surname… Michael J. or John D. An uncommon name will provide more of a unique identity, but could bring challenges with pronunciation if the spelling is unusual or not readily recognized by the general public. Do be cautious when actually creating a new name on your own. Arriving at an invented spelling could result in an unbalanced subliminal influence that might have your child feel a sense of internal emotional discord all through life.

Ultimately, when weighing your options in name choices consider a multitude of factors. Is your family more traditional or progressive? Will your surname support the sight and sound of an unusual first name? Do you live in a community where fitting in, is preferred to standing out? And of course before deciding on any name, engage the services of a baby naming specialist to be sure you’ve effectively addressed all the name components with attention to their meaning, influence and interaction.

Just in case you’re set on going the popular route, here are the top 50 girls’ and boys’ names in the U.S. for 2009 as compiled by the Social Security Commission.