PARENTS TEND TO CHOOSE SOFTER, LIGHTER-SOUNDING NAMES FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS, LIKE EMILY AND EMMA (#1 and #2 top female names) AND NAMES THAT BEGIN WITH CONSONANTS, LIKE JACOB AND JOSHUA (#1 AND #3 top male names) FOR THEIR SONS

The softer sound of feminine names has to do with vowel sounds and softer-sounding consonants, like "S" "L" and "M". Consonants with a harder sound we relate to strength and masculinity. Like Rex. Or Nathan, Patrick, and Trevor versus Abra, Elena, Ava. The girls' names sound more fluid, less confrontational. Also, male names tend to be shorter which gives them added energy, And a stressed first syllable, common to male names, also makes them sound strong. Final vowel sounds, especially long "E" sound also mean that female names sound diminutive and child-like. Melanie, Natalie, Phoebe, Kayley -- and you could easily come up with a dozen more.

PARENTS TEND TO CHOOSE NAMES FOR THEIR SONS THAT CONNOTE STRENGTH OR LEADERSHIP LIKE ANDREW (#5 top male name), AND NAMES LIKE HANNAH AND OLIVIA (#4 AND #5 top female names) THAT CONNOTE MORE FEMININE CHARACTERISTICS, LIKE GOODNESS, FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS.

Andrew means manly, courageous. Damian means tamer (of people). Occupation names are generally masculine too -- Tanner, Carter, Fletcher, Warren, Hunter.

Hannah on other hand means gracious, full of mercy. Olivia is an elaborated form of Olive which is associated with peace and kindness. Also, favorite girls' names often reflect appearance and traditionally feminine characteristics. Linda is Spanish for beautiful, as is Arabic Leila (dark beauty).

It would seem that girls lose out by being given less "serious" names or lighter, less substantive, weaker sounding names than boys. Parents might worry that a feminine-sounding name like Lucinda will cause her to be passed over in favor of Christopher for job promotions, all things being equal. But before we all try to level playing field by joining boys' club and naming our daughters Christopher or Michael, it might be worthwhile to consider that creativity, individuality, kindness and gentleness are also positive characteristics. They have a quiet power in their own right, and those qualities are just as desirable as courage and strength.

If you live in a region where stores will double your coupons then you have it made. I wish I did, but with keeping a careful eye on sales and knowing what I have on hand and store policy I do quite well and stock up on a lot of necessary items. Some stores may have a great deal but limit coupon to only one per person per item, this is where my teenagers and husband come in handy.. I have had people make fun of me for clipping coupons, clerks who rolled their eyes, and even my own family giving me a hard time for doing this. Every time I went to store I calculated how much I saved by using my coupons and first year no one seemed to complain when we went to Disneyland using savings I had built up thru coupon clipping. Now my kids get in act and help finding coupons, getting extra flyers when possible (our complex has a paper recycling bin, most flyers are thrown out) and a lot of stores have coupons in store that you have to carefully watch for or you will miss it. Clipping coupons may not make you rich but it sure can add a nice big bonus to family savings account when you take time to do so.