Baby Names

In 1994, my husband and I had a daughter and named her Miley Elizabeth. Even though she was named way before people even heard of Miley Cyrus, people keep insisting that she was named after her and call her mean names because they do not like the Cyrus kid. My daughter hates her name now and wants to change it. I suggested we call her by her middle name but in our area there are a lot of girls named Elizabeth and pretty much any nickname for Elizabeth has been taken. She wants to change her name to Zarya because no one has that name and it means princess. Should we let her? I personally do not like the name Zarya and the name Miley Elizabeth means so much to my husband and me.

- Miley's Mom

Ah, your poor daughter! There she was, all set with a creative, unusual name that put a smile on people's faces, when a celebrity came along and stole it right out from under her.

Selecting a name for a child is one of the most important choices a Hindu parent will make, as Hindus believe baby names help ensure the child will be moral during life and will one day attain immortality.

Babies most often are named after deities, gods, goddesses or holy and revered individuals, or after sacred qualities.

If you are considering a Hindu baby name, either for religious reasons or because the names are simply beautiful, here are the best resources for Hindu baby names lists and ideas:

Indian Hindu Names: This comprehensive website for Hindu baby names includes many sections, including Names of Gods and Goddesses, Indian Baby Names A-Z and Baby Names by Month, Rashi. There also is a page that provides a star chart for parents desiring to name their baby according to the child's birth star. Some examples of names found in this Hindu baby names list are Chandra (moon), Madhuri (sweet) and Sahira (mountain) for girls, and Barindra (ocean), Harit (green) and Padmal (lotus) for boys.

Spanish is a Romance language, so it's only natural that Spanish baby names sound beautiful and melodic to American ears. Names including Xavier, Sebastian, Cruz and Joaquin are now popular boy baby names among Hispanic and non-Hispanic parents alike.

And, with nearly 16 percent of the U.S. population being of Hispanic origin, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, more and more parents are looking to honor their heritage, often by picking Spanish baby names.

Some parents looking for unique Spanish baby names may want to pick something that is popular outside of the United States. For example, Santiago is one of the 10 most popular names in Mexico, but only ranks 130th in the United States. Cruz is also poised to become a trendy Spanish baby name. The name currently is ranked 346th in the United States, but it has almost doubled in popularity since 1990. Much of the name's popularity can be attributed to David and Victoria Beckham, who named one of their sons Cruz in 2005.

When it comes to choosing a name for a newborn son, many parents consider monikers that are strong and classic. And, among the most popular and timeless boys' names, are those with origins in Greek language, culture, history and mythology.

But many parents often choose these Greek baby names without knowing the roots of their meanings. Here's a quick guide to some of the most popular, and a few less common, Greek baby names for boys.

Alexander: A classic, strong Greek name with roots in Greek culture and history, Alexander means "protector of mankind." The popularity of this name can be traced back to Alexander the Great, the legendary emperor who ruled during the fourth century B.C. Though his reign was brief -- Alexander died when he was only 33 -- his influence in spreading Greek culture throughout the known world lasted for centuries.

Anthony: Another popular Greek boy name, Anthony means "worthy of praise." The name's spelling also is associated with the Greek word "anthos," meaning flower.

Picking the right baby name is never easy, but with the right resources, Sikh parents can find a name that honors their religious and cultural traditions.

Sikh baby names are uncommon in the United States, so if you're hoping to give your child a Sikh baby name, online resources will help. Here are a few sites to get you started.

About.com: This site offers a comprehensive list of Sikh baby names by letter, and is one of the best resources for understanding how Sikh baby names are selected.

All girls' names end with Kaur, which means princess, and all boys' names end with Singh, meaning lion. This tradition in Sikh baby names was intended to reduce the prejudice in India created on caste-typing based on the family name and to show equality between men and women.

Each of my grandchildren have been given a family name for their middle names, two from the mother's family and two from the father's side. One of the children's middle name is my maiden name, which will not be continued other than with this child. Is it proper for me to leave this child, and only this child, with property from that family? I can leave other equally valuable items for the other children, but they will not be of ancestral value.

- Grandmother

Names are my profession, and my obsession. So when I say this, I don't say it lightly: you're placing much too much importance on the children's names.

Thanks to first daughter Malia Obama, Hawaiian baby names are more popular than ever.

But Malia, a Hawaiian form of Mary that means "calm," "peaceful" or "probably," isn't the only interesting and popular Hawaiian name you may consider for your baby girl.

With a few exceptions, Hawaiian-influenced girls' names are more widely used today than boys' names. Still, there are many unique and engaging Hawaiian baby names for parents to consider for their son, as well.

I'm a first-time mom pregnant with a daughter. Our absolute favorite name is Charlotte. It's just so beautiful! Here's the catch. We live in North Carolina. Charlotte is the largest and most well-known city in our state. Is it out for us?

- NC Mom

There's no simple rule for how a place name plays to people from that place. Some city names sound silly on babies to the locals, whereas others sound extra-appealing. And still others just sound like, well, names.

What do Mary, Sophie and Rachel have in common with Kristen, Shiloh and Alexandra?

They're all biblical baby names that happen to be popular, as well.

Many parents pick biblical baby names to honor their Christian or Jewish heritage and often, their choices are inspired by a favorite Bible story.

For boys, Jesus is a top baby name in Hispanic communities, and the apostles, evangelists and heroes of the Old Testament often appear on annual top 100 boy baby names lists.

But, even if parents are not religious, there are still good reasons to pick biblical baby names. These names are timeless, since they have been used continuously for thousands of years, and a widely-used baby name such as Matthew or David is a safe choice for parents concerned their child might be teased over an unusual name.

Muslim baby names for baby girls can be beautiful, but it's important that parents also consider the meanings behind the names.

The most popular Muslim baby names are Arabic, since this is the language of the Qur'an (Koran), but when selecting Muslim baby names, an honorable meaning is even more important than the language.

In fact, some names are forbidden or highly discouraged for Muslims. Parents are advised to avoid selecting any name with a negative or idolatrous meaning. Additionally, Muslim baby names may not be any of Allah's names and parents are discouraged from naming their child after a tyrant, villain or idolater mentioned in the Qur'an.

For inspiration in selecting Muslim baby names for girls, some expectant parents turn to the Qur'an or to Islamic history. In Islam, there are four women who are recognized as the most righteous (or "perfect") because of their piety. These are Khadijah, Fatima, Maryam and Asiyah.

I'm sorry for your loss. It sounds like you and your brother were close, and that having a child to carry on his name and his memory would be deeply meaningful for you.