Baby Names

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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 a $500 Visa debit card

Are you a parent? Simply take our survey for your chance to win a $500 pre-paid VISA debit card.

Breastfeeding doesn't make you a better mum - feeding your baby does

Given my immense dislike of Hopkins and her opinions, I was genuinely shocked to discover that last week she actually said something that I agreed with.

'Toni, another baby has died': the anguish of watching governments fail our babies

It has been six years since whooping cough claimed the life of four-week-old Dana McCaffery. Her parents are angry that lessons learnt weren't enough to save other babies.

Longer breastfeeding linked to higher IQ

A study of 3500 infants has found that babies who are breastfed grow up to be more intelligent and wealthy.

The 2015 flu vaccine: what's new, who should get it

For certain members of the community, catching flu can lead to severe illness or death. A vaccination can be lifesaving.

Dealing with a nappy escape artist

I hear about the tots that have a penchant for ripping their nappies off and the odd one that even smears the brown stuff on the walls and fine home furnishings, and I shudder.

Hospital apologises for 'traumatising' baby mix-up

St Vincent's Hospital has apologised "unreservedly" for a baby mix-up that left one new mum traumatised.

Tips for flying with a baby

Travelling with kids requires a whole other set of skills - ones that I have learned through (sometimes unfortunate) trial and error.

How to stay calm in an emergency

I’m not expecting you to be as calm as you might be right now. What I mean is that if your panic levels are through the roof during a stressful situation, let’s bring them down to just under the ceiling.

Toddler gets 'drunk' after cranberry juice mix-up

A toddler was taken to hospital after a waitress served her sangria instead of cranberry juice at a US restaurant.

We need to stop using this word when we talk about childbirth

Is it shaming to point out that women are often being let down in birth?

The certificate helping parents deal with pregnancy loss

For some people, this certificate will offer a sense of validation that their child was acknowledged as being here and now gone, and will help them with life post-loss.

Grieving families give warnings after toddler deaths

Two Queensland families are grieving the loss of their toddler sons after the boys drowned in separate incidents last week.

The phenomenon of phantom pregnancy kicks

'Phantom pregnancy kicks’ are encountered by many mums months - or even years - after their pregnancy is over.

The health insurance advice you can't afford to ignore

There's one simple switch that could save you hundreds of dollars a year in private health insurance.

4D scans show how smoking affects babies still in the womb

The harmful effects of smoking during pregnancy on unborn babies may be seen in tiny movements in their faces using 4D ultrasound scans, research has found.

How to babyproof your job interview

Once upon a time, I was a fan of job interviews. That all changed after I'd switched careers, had a baby and decided to spend the first year at home with her.

Sign up to our 30 days of #PlayIQ challenge

Sign up to receive 30 amazing tips and ideas for play with baby during the month of April and submit a picture or tip on our social wall for a chance to win an amazing Fisher-Price prize pack.

The most dangerous toddler food trends

Pete Evans' paleo cookbook for kids caused a storm, but there are plenty of other unsafe food trends for babies and toddlers.

Infection killed new mum of twins

Modern medicine could not save 19-year-old Sophie Burgess who died 48 hours after giving birth to twins in the UK.

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To celebrate the April 1 release of Holly's Magic Wand on DVD and Digital, we are giving away five DVD packs featuring the newest installment of Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom Holly's Magic Wand and many more hours of family entertainment! Enter Now!

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The Essential Baby & Toddler Show is back this April! Save $8 off the door price for a limited time only!

Today's Top 10 Baby Names

No. Girl Names Boy Names
1 Kendra Etu
2 Aaliyah Griorgair
3 Amelia Andrew
4 Alice Jared
5 Ella Kane
6 Pauline Alfred
7 A'ishah Bailey
8 Bree Beaufort
9 Emily Nicholas
10 Helene Bemot

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