Pamela Redmond Satran, co-author with Linda Rosenkrantz of eight baby-naming books, including The Baby Name Bible and Cool Names for Babies, is one of the most popular baby name book authors.

Here are seven questions, which Pamela Redmond Satran graciously answered.

Q: What is the significance of names in your opinion? Can they mold personalities, destinies and characteristics?

Pamela: I think that names are important, but I don’t think they’re everything.  Just as such characteristics as height, or intelligence, or a beautiful smile can influence a person’s destiny, so too can names carry a significant amount of weight – but not be enough on their own to determine a person’s whole personality or future.  What makes a name different from other qualities is that you get to CHOOSE it, which definitely puts more pressure on parents.

Q: Do you see any new trends in naming?

Pamela: There are always new trends and they’re changing more quickly than ever.  Names that start with vowels – A, E, I, and O, particularly – are very much on the upswing.  So are exotic names from all cultures: Hispanic, Irish, and African.  Names that aren’t traditional first names – place names, surnames, word names – are getting more popular.

Q: Has baby naming gone through a change in recent years? Has the internet and global village affect naming?

Pamela: The internet has given people a great way to talk about names and gather lots of information about names as well as to collect new names.  It’s a fantastic research tool!

Q: Do you have any tips for naming?

Pamela: I think people should search for a name that really speaks to who they are and to what’s meaningful in their lives – whether that’s family history, ethnic identity, whatever – rather than just choosing a name that sounds good.

Q: How does one find a name? How can he be sure?

Pamela: Research, research, research!  Of course I recommend our books as they offer the kind of expert style and image advice that can’t be found anywhere else.  And we’re honest: If you pick a name with our guidance, you won’t discover that it’s getting really popular or that it has an unfortunate nickname when it’s too late to change it.

You can ask the opinions of your friends and family, and name discussions can be a lot of fun, but they can lead you astray too.  Friends might talk you out of a great name you really should choose or family might pressure you to pick a name you don’t love.

Q: How do you see the baby naming phenomenon? Should we really think that hard?

 Pamela: Absolutely!  A name is forever, and it’s worth choosing thoughtfully and carefully.  Plus, making the right choice can be a lot of fun.

Q: Does everybody have their name written in stone, or a name is just a name as Shakespeare said "What's in a name? That which we call a rose
by any other name would smell as sweet."

Pamela:  I think this goes back to the issue of how important a name is in determining your personality and your destiny.  Would Brad Pitt have become a sexy movie star if his name had been Marvin?  Maybe.  Or maybe he’d be wearing thick glasses and a pocket protector and living a much more ordinary life.

We at babyhold.com would like to thank Pamela Redmond Satran for this in-depth interview. For more information on Pamela's books go to the Baby Name Bible website.

What do you think of these tips? Do you have tips of your own? Please add your comments below.

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