Robert, on other hand, has survived vicissitudes of baby name popularity. It held a coveted spot on top ten most popular baby names list every year from 1896 to late 1980s, often peaking at number 1 between 1920s and 1950s. It has gradually slipped since 1990s, but still managed to hold respectable slot of number 35 in 2003.

When naming a baby there are, of course, many other points to consider besides how popular or unique a name is. Here are some helpful tips that you can use with your other children to get them involved in choosing a name for new baby and to make process fun:

1. Baby names need to go nicely with sound of your last name. Also, pick a first name and a middle name that go together well. (So maybe not something like Erasmus Beelzebub Smith !)

2. When your family finds a name you all like, look at initials to be sure that you don't give new baby a name with initials that will make people laugh. (So maybe not Pamela Iris Green, which equals P.I.G. !)

3. You might not want a baby name that is so unusual that other kids will make fun of your little brother or sister as he or she grows up. (So maybe not Rosebud or Molasses !) 4. You also might not want a baby name that is so trendy that it will sound funny by time baby is ten years old. (So maybe not Sunshine !)

5. You probably shouldn't pick a name that's really cute for an adorable little baby but will sound silly when baby grows up. (So maybe not Dimples !)

6. Avoid baby names that might produce insulting nicknames when people shorten them. (So maybe not Smellonius, or Smelly for short !)

7. You and your family might not want a name that is so hard to spell or to pronounce that people will always get it wrong and your poor little brother or sister will have to go through life correcting people. (So maybe not something like Incandescence, or is it Incandessints ? ) 8. You and your family might want to pick baby names in honor of favorite relatives or ancestors, or special names that show your family's ethnic roots. You might even find a special name from a book or movie that you love. (Like Harry ?)

9. You might want to look through books of baby names and pick one that has a special meaning that you like - maybe something that means "sweet" or "kind" or "brave." (So maybe not wimp !) 10. You might want to think about names that will go nicely with your name and your other brothers' and sisters' names, so that if mom or dad are calling you all for dinner or signing a birthday card to grandma it won't sound too crazy. (So maybe not "Happy Birthday, Grandma ! Love, Joey, Cindy and Dweevo !")

There are hundreds of names waiting for you out there, so good luck on your search for perfect name !

We are all like leaf. We all have a deep, profound purpose to our lives that we may not even understand until it becomes manifest. This purpose may be very simple on surface, but may deeply affect course of many lives. We are all instrumental in each other's greater purpose. You never know when you might be one with words to create next Mother Theresa or next loving mother who nurtures and creates a wonderful child.

This leaf struck me to my core and from my notions I crafted a story of simplicity and truth. It is called A Simple Brown Leaf. It tells story of an autumn leaf that thinks its life is over when it falls from a tree, not realizing that it is being watched by a squirrel who plans to use it to line her nest for winter. Its main message is that every living creature has a purpose, no matter how we try to trivialize it. I truly believe that this is one of most important messages we can give children today. Many children grow up believing that they could disappear off of face of Earth and no one would notice. Kids today grow up in a world of despair and lack a sense of hope. It doesn't have to be like this.

Words are powerful things. Perhaps solution is simple. Could I child pick up a book and begin thinking about his/her life's path? Can we instill a sense of importance from a young age - a sense of knowing that 'I have a place in world?' I think all of our futures depend on finding words within ourselves that say, 'I am powerful!'" Keep in mind: •Your words are you legacy •Never underestimate power of your words •Sharing a story is a great way to share your words •Words spoken to an impressionable mind can invoke a sense of purpose that fulfills a destiny •The mightiest words are those we share with our children

L.J. Davis is author of A Simple Brown Leaf, a story for a new generation of children.

"Every child has a purpose. Every child asks question, 'Who am I going to become.'"

Learn more at ljdavis.com.

©2005 L.J. Davis