Choosing a name for your new little one is important. After all he will have that name the rest of his life. This decision isn't to be taken lightly.

According to the Social Security Administration, the most popular baby names in 2005 were Jacob and Emily, followed by Michael and Emma. Names that may have been unusual once, such as Madison for a girl, have now become commonplace. In order to pick a unique name, it takes a little creativity.

"I think, as parents, we want our child to have the best of everything," says Marcia Layton Turner, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to 30,000 Baby Names (Alpha, 2005). "We want their future to be full of possibilities. And since their name is their identity, it also reflects their potential. Some parents believe a name can shape their child's personality, too."

Because a name is such an intimate part of a child's life, parents need to be careful. "I don't think there's a wrong way to choose a name, although I'd caution parents against choosing words and names with negative connotations," Turner says. "That negative association can have far greater consequences than you anticipate. Just think about childhood nicknames kids get, like 'Stinky' or 'Stupid,' that can brand them for life – and not in a good way."

It's common to name babies after family members or to use names indicative of heritage. But there are many other ways, too.

Teresa Norman, author of three name books, including A World of Baby Names (Perigee Trade, rev. update ed., 2003), has several unique suggestions for choosing names:

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