An Accurate Prediction for 2009 - Actions Speak Louder Than Words When Naming Baby

Dare are I ask what name you, or a friend have in mind for calling your baby this year. Remember name labelling stays with a child throughout their entire life. Thankfully names can be changed by deed poll if a child is not happy with the one they`ve been tarred with. Unfortunately some parents never consider the important part when it comes to picking a name for their son/daughter, and that is, forgetting the kids have to grow up with that name. This is unfortunate because parents have admitted to christening their baby purely because the name sounded nice, this is not good unless you know that your child can hold their own in the school playground, when made fun of because their name is Pluto or Gertrude (no offence intended but when shortened to "Plut" and "Gert" they aren`t so nice. More times than not a beautiful name is turned ugly through slang abbreviation.

It is a sensitive subject and one of a catch 22 situation when naming baby. Even if parents took into consideration the nicety of a name and suitability for the newborn, will it be seen as this by others or more so by the person who has been named it. The only way for a name to stick is to choose one that has a sincere meaning or comes with a story, and then there is every possibility that the child will stand proud and fight the cause to clear his/her name that they were blessed with.

My prediction for the year 2009 is that there will be a name changed by deed poll, whether it be because a child, now adult, just didn`t like it, or to follow an idol (Madonna or Elvis Presley.)

Olivia and Jack are the most popular names for babies born in Britain in 2008. A jewel of a name "Ruby," given to the daughter of opera singer turned pop Charlotte Church was the second most popular name for girls. Jack has remained the top name for boys for "14" years despite stiff competition from Oliver and Harry which ranked second and third. Parents appear to be influenced by celebrities and sporting personalities when choosing names for their babies, is this the right thing to do, well that would depend on the celebrity. Would your child love or loathe being called after (Fabrizio Ravanelli footballer for Juventus.) Now there's a thought let's call our kid Juventus, are you getting my gist on how silly this can all turn out, and expensive, when the time comes to change it.

It was said in recent study that "Parents are more likely to name girls after a well known movie star or celebrity." "Boys' names have witnessed a major change over the last ten years as parents are increasingly influenced by American culture and celebrity trends relating to films and sports personalities." Girls name "Amy," slipped to number 23 in popularity. Could this have something to do with singer Amy Winehouse`s troubled year, who had a huge hit with the song " Valerie," another lovely name we don`t hear a lot of. Theo jumped up 12 places to 58, probably inspired by Arsenal soccer hero Theo Walcott.

Sadly if you liked Hollie, Tegan, Patrick, Dominic and Gabriel then they are not in the 100 favourites. The ten most popular names for girls were: Olivia, Ruby, Grace, Emily, Jessica, Sophie, Chloe, Lily, Mia and Lucy. Hot picks for boys were: Jack, Oliver, Harry, Alfie, Charlie, Thomas, Joshua, Daniel, James and William.

The 3 top favourite boys and girl names meaning.

Olivia - It's a Latin name. This name means: Variant of Olive: Olive: symbol of peace.

Ruby – A Ruby Jewel – Origin English

Grace – Grace of God – Origin Latin This name means: From the word 'grace', derived from the Latin 'gratia', meaning God's favor. Famous bearer: American actress Grace Kelly

Jack –This name means: Diminutive of John: God is gracious. During the middle Ages, Jack was so common that it was used as a general term for 'man' or 'boy'. Famous Bearer: American actor Jack Lemmon.

Oliver – It's an English name. This name means: The olive tree. The biblical olive tree symbolizes fruitfulness and beauty and dignity. 'Extending an olive branch' signifies an offer of peace. There also different variations for Oliver.

Harry – It's an English name. This name means: A variant of Henry meaning home or house protector. Also can be a diminutive of Harold: 'Army commander.' Army, wield power. Famous Bearer: Prince Harry of England (son of Prince Charles now married to Camilla, and son of the late Diana Princess of Wales.)

The next time you have a baby to christen make sure you have considered all the drawbacks to that particular name. Go more for the name that will set them forth. Names of power may help but do to try to avoid names like Caesar as they may feel the need to live up to the name.

Good suggestions

• "Helen" of Troy her face launched a thousand ships
• "Joan" of Arc national heroine of France also known as "Maid of Orleans"

Blessed are those with names like Nelson and Teresa

"Nelson" Mandela - I have fought against white domination, and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic and free society in which all persons live together in harmony and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to live for and to achieve. But if needs be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die. His statement from the dock in the Rivonia Trial ended with these words.

I predict the above "WORDS" spoken by Mandela and the "ACTIONS" (work) of Mother "Teresa" below will never be forgot.

1. I see God in every human being. When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord himself. Is it not a beautiful experience?"

2. "When I see waste here, I feel angry on the inside. I don't approve of myself getting angry. But it's something you can't help after seeing Ethiopia."

3. "I choose the poverty of our poor people. But I am grateful to receive (the Nobel) in the name of the hungry, the naked, the homeless, of the crippled, of the blind, of the lepers, of all those people who feel unwanted, unloved, uncared-for throughout society, people that have become a burden to the society and are shunned by everyone." After accepting the Nobel Peace Prize, 1979

4. "I have never been in a war before, but I have seen famine and death. I was asking (myself,) 'what do they feel when they do this?' I don't understand it. They are all children of God. Why do they do it? I don't understand." -- Beirut 1982, during fighting between the Israeli army and Palestinian guerrillas.

5. "Please choose the way of peace. ... In the short term there may be winners and losers in this war that we all dread. But that never can, or never will justify the suffering, pain and loss of life your weapons will cause." Letter to U.S. President George Bush and Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, January 1991.

6. Abortion "is murder in the womb ... A child is a gift of God. If you do not want him, give him to me."

On her life's work