Before you choose the name you adore, think about the possible ways it can be shortened and the nicknames that may result. If not, you or your child can always insist on using the formal name. If the name lends itself to a very undesirable nickname, how ever, you may want to reconsider. The general sound and rhythm of the name is very important. You will say it and your child will hear it over and over again.
Names tend to follow trends and cycles of popularity.
Aside from the extremely common names that have always been popular, names that are currently very trendy are likely to go out of style. When choosing your baby's name, try to be objective and be sure that this name will sound as good in fifty years as it does today. It might also cause some hardship for your child to find that there are three other children in the same class with the identical name. Some parents look for extremely rare names to avoid the problem of overly popular names, while still others try to find a name that is fairly popular, yet not overly trendy. Many parents feel that it is very important to find a name that conjures positive or meaningful associations.