• Think about the surname.  Does the name go well with it?  

• Consider what the initials will spell out.

• Family names are great, but if the name is not what you want to call the child, consider using the family name as a middle name, or plan to call the child by the middle name of your choice.

• Children must live with the name for the rest of their lives, so while unique names and spellings are very favorable, consider that the child could always have their name mispronounced or mispelled.  This can be very frustrating for a child.  My daughter's name is Kirstyn (pronounced Kurstin).  It was a compromise between Kristen and Kirsten.  People always call her either Kristin or Kirsten.  Oh well, so much for letting my best friend decide on the spelling!

• Consider names that are of ethnic origin.  They don't even have to be your own ethnic origin.  Ethnic names are beautiful and unique.

• Choose a name based upon it's meaning.  Sometimes the meaning of a name can steer you away from it, or draw you closer to it.  Positive meanings are the best guide.  You can find a lot of names, meanings and origins at BabyChatter.com.

• Consider the possible nicknames that could arise from your baby's name.  Do you like the nicknames? 

• Say the entire name outloud many times.  Does it sound right?  Does it rhyme?  If so, does the rhyme sound good?

• Consider popularity.  Names that are popular today, may not be 20 years from now when your child is 20.  Consider the trendiness of the name today.

• If you are stuck on 2 names, consider combining the two.  An example:  Two names I considered for my second child were Carl and Leigh (Carl is my father's name and Leigh is my bestfriend's middle name).  If I was to have a girl, I would have named her Carly.  As it turned out I was blessed with a boy (and I didn't name him Carl).

Above all else, this is the name that YOU choose and are proud of, 
so choose what YOU like.