Most Popular Baby Names

The joys of parenthood are arguably the most intense you will ever experience, so it's little surprise that most new parents spend the months before the birth of their new child agonising over everything from the colour of the nursery to whether they will use cloth or disposable nappies. It's natural to want to ensure that everything is perfect for a new arrival, and finding the ideal name for a new baby is one of those searches that can have parents in knots for a considerable length of time.

However, it doesn't have to be difficult. Baby names follow lifts and drops in fashion in much the same way as clothes do, and it's easy to see the rise and falls in popularity of certain names. For example, there are few new babies called Ethel these days but it was a popular choice once.

The top baby names of any particular period tend to be influenced by popular culture as people become more exposed to some names over others and associate them with positive meanings. The top boys name in 2008 was Jack - it seems likely that the trendiness of Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean films and Jack Harkness in Doctor Who had something to do with this.

While some names become popular for their unusualness, many remain firm favourites year after year because of their traditional feel. Oliver, Thomas, Harry and Joshua have all been popular in recent years. Meanwhile, pretty sounding girls' names like Olivia, Ruby, Emily, Grace and Jessica have topped the popularity charts for girls in recent times.

When it comes to choosing names for baby girls, many parents choose names that represent a good personal quality or a beautiful object. That's why there are so many girls named after attributes such as Patience or Grace as well as precious jewels and flowers.

Many people struggle and swither over a name for their new baby for a long time, only to find that once their child is born the whole process becomes much easier. Although sometimes they find that none of the names they have been considering fit and that they need to choose a new name that suits the personality of their new born.

That doesn't mean that planning ahead before the birth of your child is wrong, it's one of the most exciting things you'll do! From choosing a list of your favourite names to setting up a child trust fund, the preparation is an important part of getting ready to welcome your new addition.