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Baby names, tips and advice

Hot baby name trends for 2014

LETITIA ROWLANDS Pregnant and looking for a name for your baby, or just interested in the latest naming fashions? You might like to check out our predictions for the baby naming trends of 2014.

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The quest for a baby name

KATE FRIDKIS I spent the entire evening on my computer, reading lists of thousands of names. My daughter needed a name!

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Most unusual names of 2013

Melanie Mahoney Brand names, animals, places and seemingly random nouns (Cheese, anyone?) have given some parents inspiration for naming their babies in the US in 2013.

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Baby names inspired by TV and movies

BabyCentre has released its list of the top 100 baby names for the UK and the US, based on details sent to them by more than half a million new parents in 2013. The list suggests that TV shows and movies such as Breaking Bad, The Great Gatsby, Game of Thrones, Duck Dynasty and Girls are all inspiring baby names this year.

Old-fashioned nicknames as baby names

Here's a selection of vintage boys and girls monikers which have traditionally been used as either nicknames or given names, from the 1880s through to the 1950s.

Top baby names from around the world in 2013

We've collected the most popular baby names for boys and girls from around the world in 2013.

A no-stress guide to baby names

MCT There's no way around it - every baby needs a name. It isn't always an easy decision, but with these tips it can be a fun one.

Bizarre, cruel and strangely sweet Puritanical names

Joseph Norwood Fly-fornication, Humiliation, Dust, and Jolly ... perhaps the Puritans' greatest gift to history is their wonderfully strange taste in names.

Traditional vs unique

Richie Young Are traditional names a thing of the past? Following in the celebs' footsteps, more and more parents are being daring when naming their babies. How do you decide which way to go?

Free: 'The First Year' ebook

Check out our new interactive ebook, part of the brand new SMH Shortbooks series, for free!

Size does matter for baby names

NICKY PHILLIPS Your name may have been chosen by your parents, but a new study says there's a chance evolution had a say too.

Symmetry is the latest baby name trend

Melody McCabe The new word for all I-want-my-baby's-name-to-be-different parents is 'palindrome appellation'. In plain English, that's a name that reads the same backwards as forwards.

Baby names on the rise in 2013

Nameberry.com has released a list of the most searched-for names from the first half of 2013. Will we soon see a rise in the number of children given these names? Only time will tell. Here are the hottest names of 2013 so far.

Celebrity baby names inspired by places

Looking for naming inspiration? Look no further than the nearest atlas (or, in more modern times, Google Maps). Celebrities are leading the charge when it comes to naming children after places around the world; here are some of their picks and their cute offspring.

Top baby name predictions of 2013

Top US baby name site Nameberry has released its list of names that have attracted the most views in the first nine months of 2013. Will the search popularity of these top 10 boy, girl and unisex names be reflected in the official 2013 results?

Baby name checklist

Richie Young Whilst your child can change their name by deed poll in the future, it's probably not what you want to envision when thinking suitable names. Here's six points to consider as you're narrowing down your shortlist.

Most unusual names of 2012

US parenting site Baby Center asked parents of babies born in 2012 what they named their children. More than 500,000 people responded, and the site then compiled a list of the most out-there names. Each name on this list wasn't a one-off; to make the cut, at least two children must have been given that name in 2012.

Beating baby name anxiety

Donna Webeck For some parents, naming a baby is a challenging but fun process. For others, it just brings anxiety and stress. But there are ways to cope with the indecision and decide on a name you're happy with.

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Australia's top 100 baby names of 2012

Essential Baby has compiled the data available from government records around the country to bring you the list of Australia's top baby names of 2012.

My Favourite Baby Names

Create a shortlist of the names you love by selecting the star icon.

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WIN an exclusive performance from Sam Moran!

To celebrate the release of children’s musical series Play Along with Sam, out now on DVD, we’re giving one lucky parent the chance to have Sam perform at their child’s pre-school or day care!

The myths and truths of gender swaying

Here are a few popular methods hopeful parents-to-be use to try to get a baby of their preferred gender – and what an expert says about whether they really work.

10 easy DIY Christmas decoration ideas

It's officially time to get into the Christmas spirit. Why not branch out when you put up your tree this year and add a personal touch with a few DIY decorations? We've found the perfect easy-to-make ways to put more festive fever into your home.

The dangerous new trend of glucose challenge test refusal

A dangerous trend is seeing more mothers-to-be declining a relatively simple and painless test to check for gestational diabetes.

Office of Fair Trading reveals naughty toys ahead of Christmas

The Office of Fair Trading has pulled seven toys from shelves ahead of Christmas after they fail safety tests.

Video: Baby boy's trouble with twins

These twin girls will no doubt have fun fooling people in years to come, but nobody will be as confused as baby Landon.

Long-term reversible male contraceptive on its way

Men could soon have access to an injectable long-term contraceptive which works in a similar way to a vasectomy but promises to be easily reversed.

'I tried to kill my baby': one mum's story

After bathing and dressing her three-month-old son, Amanda had a rare moment alone with her baby.

Attack of the 'mummy brain'

I feel that almost every day, someone in my life - be they a friend, family member or complete stranger - feels the need to excuse my behaviour as I have other things on my mind.

Mum of baby who fell ill after drinking raw milk speaks out

A Melbourne mother has described how her son turned grey when he became seriously ill after drinking raw milk.

Australian divorce rate lowest since 1976

Modern newlyweds are now well into their 30s and marriage still offers something powerful a new book argues.

The aftermath of a traumatic birth experience

In Australia, 30 per cent of women find their birth experience traumatic, with 6 per cent going on to develop post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Young mum burns 'from inside-out'

A young mum is in intensive care after she took a friend's antibiotic and wound up with an ailment that is burning her body 'from the inside-out'.

The disagreement that can break a relationship

If he doesn't change his mind, all I can hope is that I will. It would be a waste to spend the rest of my marriage mourning a baby that never was.

Co-sleeping or no-sleeping? Mum videos worst nap ever

One mother's futile attempt to sleep in caught on camera in a hilarious - and very cute - video.

Why children misbehave during the festive season

While we all like to imagine the holiday season as being a fun, loving and bonding experience; often our reality is quiet different.

I was fat-shamed by my doctor

The fear of being weighed is the most significant factor in women cancelling medical appointments - and now weight-shaming has happened to me.

End of an era: no more childcare

As we reach the end of 2014, we're closing the book on many things for another year, most notably childcare. Our last child has attended childcare for the very last time.

The 7-year itch is more like the 10-year itch: study

Contrary to popular belief, making it past the seven-year mark doesn't mean your marriage will be smooth sailing from there on.

Stop telling us that parenting gets harder

I’m sure that parenting will get harder. But life isn’t exactly smooth sailing for many of us right now, either.

Should children be forced to sit on Santa's lap?

We teach kids it’s okay to say no if they don’t feel safe, so why do some parents force their children to climb in to Santa's lap?

Download now: Essential Kids Activity Finder app

Got bored kids? Quickly find the best activities for kids wherever you are in Australia with the Essential Kids app.

Today's Top 10 Baby Names

No. Girl Names Boy Names
1 Lauren Luca
2 Sage Nicholas
3 Sari Peter
4 Amelia Skylar
5 Cressida Isaac
6 Eleanor Joseph
7 Gabrielle Riley
8 Hailey Fenton
9 Joanna Zac
10 Jude Abd al Jabbar

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