As a person of Chinese descent, names fascinate me. There is an old Chinese saying that goes like this, " your name makes you or breaks you" (or something like that anyway...the translation does not quite explain it). Hence, when I named my kids, these were some simple principles that

(1) keep the names simple. Biblical names are always good. For example, Samuel, Matthew, Thomas, Rachel etc

(2) ensure that the names cannot be shortened and does not rhyme with certain parts of the body.  Kids can be cruel and I really don't want my kids teased.

(3) Keep pretention in check. And skip names that are too lofty, such as Winston Churchill Smith.

(4) ensure that the first and last names do not alliterate - such as Jack Jackson or Jennifer Jennings. This is only cool for characters in Marvel comic books.

(5) ensure that there is a balance of Ying and Yang by looking at your child when naming your child. Although this is more relevant in Chinese names, you can generally apply this principle to Western names too.  Hence, a child who is shy and withdrawn could do with the name of a famous fighter or soldier.

(6)  ensure that there is no negative meanings associated with the name. Did you know that the name "Jonah" means the "bringer of bad luck"? And we all know what  "Judas" means...

(7) Last but not least, and I only discovered this by accident, there is another principle to be added here... and this is all revealed in this booked called "The Secret Universe of Names" by Roy Feinson.

http://www.penguin.com.au/spotlight/spotlight.cfm?SBN=0670028894

Believe it or not, it is the most fun that I have had reading up names of people that I know.   Your child's name and the way in which it is pronounced or read (dictated by the consonant sound) may determine whether your child is charismatic, shy or a negative person.

Did you know that if you name starts with a "J"  you are more likely to succeed in life? And if your name contains a pronounced "N" sound, you can be quite a pessimistic kind of person?

Well, these are true according to Mr Feinson! The theories are quite "out there" but not entirely unbelievable as they do tie in with the Chinese adage mentioned earlier.

I recommend that anyone who is interested in names has a read of it .

Enjoy!