Baby experts, teachers, and sociologists all say your baby's name will impact on his or her personality. These same experts also agree that baby's ability to interact with his or her peers (ugh, let's refer to baby as 'she' and 'her'!) is also affected by her name. So a name is one of the most precious things you will give your baby - no pressure then! Here is a list of things to consider.

- Unusual spelling: The fashion these days is to choose a baby name that is somehow 'different'. Either by spelling a traditional name in a different way, or making up a unique name. It is easy to understand the reasons for choosing a different name, but is it a good idea? First, let's consider different spelling: if a girl's name is spelt differently but stills sounds the same as the traditional spelling, when teacher calls Katey, then Katie and Katy will also come running. Furthermore, Katey will find that most people will spell her name incorrectly and she will probably have trouble with important official documents later in life. The only people to spell her name will likely be her husband and parents!

- Invented names: The celebs can get away with calling their offspring names like Apple (Gwyneth Paltrow's daughter) and Moon Unit (Frank Zappa's child - no idea whether that is a boy or girl!) because their wealth will help to insulate them from any teasing. Your baby will only be a cute bundle for a comparatively short time and that name that sounds cute when he is 6 months old is unlikely to suit a strapping hunk over 6 foot. Dr Mehrabian, author of The Name Game, says that unusual names rate lower in all categories: a person's success, cheerfulness, and morality.

- Initials: Make sure the initials of all baby's names do not make up a word. Or, if they do, make sure it isn't a word that will cause your child embarrassment in later life! Also, there are some surnames that don't go well with certain initials - P Green for example.

- Puns: Most of us have heard the song 'A Boy Named Sue'. Great song, bad idea. Some names are amusing when coupled with certain last names. I worked with a girl called Hazel Nutt, and knew a nurse called Rosie Bottom - readers in the UK will smile at the that, those across the pond should substitute 'Butt' for 'Bottom' to see the point. Both girls joined in the laughter each time someone new heard their names, or was the smile really a grimace?!

- Compatibility and Sound: According to the experts, first names that end in a vowel and last names that start with a vowel tend to sound like one name. Other advice is to choose a long first name if the last name is short, and vice versa.

- Name Meanings: If you can't decide on a name from the short-list you have drawn up, try looking at the meanings of the names to see if one stands out. If you want to give your baby two names, perhaps you would like them both to have the same meaning? Or maybe opposite meanings? Zoe and Eve both mean 'Life'; Melanie means 'Dark', whilst Phoebe and Lucy both mean 'Light'; and Mia and Marianne both mean 'Wished for child'.

- Twins: Choosing names for one baby is hard enough, but twins! The suggestion in the last paragraph is useful here. Tasmin and Tammy both mean 'Twins'; Patrick and Archie both mean 'Noble'; Carl and Brian both mean 'Strong'; Cheryl and Charity both mean 'Dear'; and of course there are many names that are also the names of flowers.

The name you give your baby is a gift and perhaps the most important apart from life itself. So take time and care when choosing the name and make it one she will be proud of.