According to Parents.com, the most popular baby names of 2008 were Isabella, Ava, and Emily for girls, along with Aiden, Jayden, and Jacob for boys  - with traditional names like Matthew and Olivia rounding out the top ten. No surprises there.

Some parents like to set their children apart from the crowd by naming them something more unique, while others are more comfortable sticking with the trends. Celebrities are no different; they just sit around bigger houses and drive more expensive cars while thinking up their kids’ names. So what is it that makes some people give their children such outlandish names as Zuma Nesta (Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale) or Bronx Mowgli (Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz), and others more “normal” names like Levi (Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves)?

There is no shortage of names to choose from, so how do most go about the process of making one of the first big decisions as a parent?

More traditional methods include using:

• Family names or naming the child after someone dear
• Favorite characters in literature
• Biblical /historical figures
• Family tradition
• Names with specific meaning

More interesting methods that I’ve come across include:

• Location of conception
• Street name where father/mother grew up
• Beloved first car
• Favorite time of year/season/holiday
• First love (seriously!)

Whatever the approach taken to tackle the mission, one fact is universal: naming your child is a parent’s first step in establishing his or her identity. Even in the grand scheme of things, it’s still a mighty big deal.

Check out all kinds of ways to go about naming that baby bump this year at Parenting.com‘s 2009 Top Trends for Baby Names.

And remember: someday little Sanibel Noel will be all grown up and may be deciding whether you live with her or in some retirement community, among 300 other old people eagerly anticipating what flavor tomorrow’s Jell-o will be. Choose that name wisely.

Photo by bies