Popular Baby Names For 2012

Some parents announce the name; others wait until they are asked about baby gifts (or even the birth) to share.  But all of them spend time thinking about it; changing their minds; thinking some more; and finally choosing a name they love. 

Sometimes, when you are looking at the most popular baby names, they can inspire you.  What are people naming their babies in 2012?

Blue Ivy, Maxwell Lue, Micah Emmanuel…these are some of the names that celebrities have chosen in 2012, but what are “normal” people naming their children?

1. Harper.
2. Quinn.
3. Rowan.
4. Avery.
5. Sawyer.
6. Rory.
7. Riley.
8. Emerson.
9. Finley.
10. Dylan.
11. Luca.
12. Micah.
13. Sasha.
14. Emery.
15. Nico.
16. Peyton.
17. Remy.
18. Blake.
19. Aubrey.
20. Sage.

While many parents look at these lists for help in deciding on a baby name, many others look at it for names to avoid.  According to a 2011 study, 8 percent of parents regret the name they chose for their baby.  Why?  More than half of these parents chose a name that was “fashionable” at the time, while 32 percent said they regretted their choice because it was now a “common” name. 

Then again, when you go on vacation or want to purchase your child a special gift like a kids name sign, will they have your child's name available? There are pros and cons to choosing a popular name.

When you were in grade school, you probably had a lot of Jennifers, Jessicas, Amandas, and Ashleys or Michaels, Christophers, Davids, and Matthews.  In a few years, your child may be in a classroom with a bunch of Charlottes, Isabellas, Sophias, Liams, Masons, and Quinns.  Parents want their children’s names to be unique and not a trend that got tired before their child was two.  While names are trendy today, there is often a backlash against those same names: to wit, Britney and Michaela.

The following is a list compiled by Time of the most disliked baby names (given for 2011).

• Nevaeh. (Heaven backwards)
• Destiny.
• Madison.
• Mackenzie.
• McKenna.

You will notice that Madison has the honor of being on the most popular and most unpopular names lists!  This is a name that will see backlash in the coming years as parents start to see it as too trendy and too common.

• Jayden.
• Brayden.
• Aiden.
• Kaden.
• Hunter.

Again, Jayden and Aiden make both lists.  What’s a parent to do?

Choosing your child’s name is a very personal, emotional experience.  Here are some tips for making sure you are not in the 8 percent that regrets their choice:

• Listen to yourself and your partner.  It is common for excited grandparents to exert a little too much pressure (or guilt) onto parents when it comes to names.  You can be open to suggestions, or just smile politely and ignore them, but don’t let someone else sway you. You have to do what’s best for your baby: naming her Nevaeh may not be it!
• Say it to yourself.  Whisper or say the name aloud. See how it sounds; see how comfortable you are saying it.  Imagine being on a playground and calling to your child: Do you want to yell out, “Destiny McKenna, time to go!”  If so, that’s fine. Go with it, if that is a choice you will love forever.
• Make the name meaningful. Perhaps you shouldn’t name your daughter or son after a Twilight character.  What about naming her/him in honor of a beloved relative? Or after a favorite literary character or author.

The best advice is to enjoy the entire process.  Look through names, say them, spell them out; you will find that you fall in love with a few.  If you still love them when your baby is in your arms, you might just have a winner.