After parents determine that they are going to have a baby, the next step is usually do we want to know in advance if it is going to be a boy or a girl? Some couples like the "old fashion" method of waiting until it arrives. It is easier for parents to name a baby if they know what gender the baby will be. Parents that wait until the baby is actually born to pick a name usually have some favorite names selected in advance.

There are many websites that have exhaustive lists of baby names that potential parents can use as suggestions. There are thousands of names to pick from the problem that most couples face is finding a name that they can both agree on. A Google search for baby names will produce somewhere in the neighborhood of 3,770,000 pages to view. For some people more name choices makes the decision more difficult.

In many cultures it is customary to name the children after parents or relatives. This can create challenges as well. Should the child be named after the father or mothers side? Some couples settle the debate by combining names from both sides of the family. Family members are usually honored when a child is named after them, but it may be a good idea to visit with them prior to child birth.

Most child birthing facilities will also assist with obtaining the child's birth certificate. This may seem like a small thing, but when the birth certificate is printed it will need to contain the exact spelling of the name. This should also be a source of pre-birth discussion. There is more than one way to spell a name. There may be several ways to spell a name. Having this decided prior to child birth will make the entire hospital stay less stressful. With many small decisions out of the way parents can give their full attention to the new arrival to their family.

When a little girl is born it needs the decision will need to be made as to whether or not the little girl will have a middle name. This may seem like a small thing, but when the girl arrives at the age of marriage she will typically take the last name of her husband. This will in essence give her 4 names assuming that she has a middle name. It is for this reason that some people forgo giving their girl daughters a middle name.

A little boy will not change or receive his name when he is married, so the decision for him is not as complicated. He will have the same 3 names for the rest of his life. Of course this custom is susceptible to change like everything. With a little planning the name of a child will just be a minor factor in the entire process of giving birth to a child.