Baby Names

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Baby names, tips and advice

8 top baby name trends for 2015

LETITIA ROWLANDS The Anzac Centenary and the birth of a royal baby will be among the events that are likely to inspire parents facing the job of naming their baby this year.

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Top 100 boy and girl baby names of 2014

Staff writers From Adam to Xavier, Aaliyah to Zoe, here are the most popular baby names for 2014.

Baby names: top movers of 2014

Staff writers The top 10 baby names list may not have changed much since 2013, but the rest of the top 100 has had a shake-up.

Baby names on the verge of the top 1000

Pamela Redmond Satran What about the baby names right below the top 1000, hiding just out of sight?

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 copy of 'Breakfast, School Run, Chemo'

To celebrate the launch of EB member and contributor Julia's Watson's first book, we have five copies of Breakfast, School Run, Chemo give away.

Electronic tags may keep newborns safe

The possibility of using electronic bracelets for mothers and their newborn babies is being investigated by Adelaide's Women's and Children's Hospital. 

Baby steps: when your little one starts walking

As a parent there are so many milestones to look forward to. That first smile, first word - and, of course, that first step.

Julia Watson's new book 'Breakfast, School Run, Chemo'

Tomorrow my friend Julia launches her first book. And while we're all overjoyed, the success is tinged with sadness. You see, Julia has stage 4 bowel cancer.

How not to name twins

Call me boring, but I don't think that when it comes to choosing my twins' names is the right time to use a good pun.

Fun Sunny Life pool inflatables just for babies

The babies of 2015 will thus be thrilled to paddle their happy baby legs in these brand new flamingo and swan baby inflatables.

Breastfeeding basics for beginners

Here are 10 tips to help make breastfeeding successful and stress free for both you and your baby as quickly as possible.

Girl smothers baby brother with peanut butter

This mum had a big clean up job on her hands.

How to hide those under eye shadows

Pandas are the only ones who benefit from under-eye shadows. If you're not fluffy and cute, you'll just look tired.

Young mum dies after being denied pap smear

A mother has died after she was denied a pap smear because she was deemed "too young" to need it.

Birthday cakes banned at childcare centre

A childcare centre in Sydney has banned birthday cakes after parent complaints about excessive sugar and children with allergies being left out.

Triplet surprise for newlyweds

As the radiographer moved the wand over her abdomen, Shelley King got the surprise of her life.

3 yummy Thermomix baby and toddler recipes

Louise Fulton Keats shares her recipes for babies and toddlers, including corn and sweet pikelets, pumpkin and pea risotto, and cheesy bunny biscuits.

Man arrested over toddler Nikki's death

A 31-year-old man has been arrested over the death of two-year-old Nikki Francis-Coslovich in Mildura.

Adoption ban on pregnant women to be lifted

Pregnant women will no longer be barred from adoption waiting lists in NSW, after the Baird Government decided the practice was discriminatory.

Are you getting enough magnesium?

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in the body, but we don't talk enough about it and the vital role it plays in great health and energy, as well as disease prevention.

5 workplace lessons for new parents

Take heart in these principles that will transfer seamlessly from the workplace into your new life as a parent.

Mums to follow on Instagram

A creative outlet for many, there are some savvy women complementing their blogs and businesses with riveting Instagrams feeds. We've chosen a few which have bucketloads of appeal; there are some big time players and some smaller local ones, and they each bring their special brand of magic to the Instagram experience.

Review: The Volvo 2015 XC90 SUV has all the safety features your family needs

The new Volvo XC90 SUV's focus on keeping you safe does not come at the expense of comfort in the XC90.

Kim Kardashian reveals she may have hysterectomy

Kim Kardashian has revealed complications during pregnancy means she might have to have a hysterectomy after the birth of her second child.

Why late night snacks wreak havoc on weight loss

 Loath as you may be to admit it, chances are that at some point you have found yourself in the kitchen late at night, devouring food.

Toddler twins pretend to be asleep to fool mum

They say twins have a unique connection. If this cute clip is anything to go by, these toddler sisters like to use their special bond to try to fool their mother.

Dad bags: 10 picks for out and about

Getting out of the house is a big priority in the early years of parenthood and you need to take a well-stocked kit with you. We've chosen 10 of the best nappy bags sure to appeal to dads in style and function.

Win a Mountain Buggy Swift

To celebrate Essential Baby reaching half a million Facebook fans, we have a Mountain Buggy Swift to giveaway to a lucky fan.

Get your FREE Baby & Toddler Show ticket!

Get your free ticket to the Sydney Essential Baby & Toddler Show for September 25-27 - register online now.

Today's Top 10 Baby Names

No. Girl Names Boy Names
1 Grace Harry
2 Hanna Mikayla
3 Jane Gray
4 Mia Jacob
5 Milla Oliver
6 Olivia Zachariah
7 Ani Cathmor
8 Anika Elijah
9 Bree Fairlie
10 Charlotte Grayson

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