How do people choose names (0) ...for. their babies? In the past, many names were chosen for (1).......... religious associations or because of national or family tradition. If a boy's great-grandfather, his grandfather and father were all called Patrick, then(2)..........was very likely that the new-born baby would be called Patrick as (3)...........Sometimes parents wanted to please a wealthy or much loved relative (4)..........naming the baby after him or her and in countries (5)..........as Spain a child was often given the name of the saint whose feast day coincided (6)..........the birth. Mostly names (7)..........good connotations, though there are exceptions. Parents in some parts of the world gave their babies names like 'Ugly' or 'Disagreeable' so as to (8)..........the child unattractive to demons.
Nowadays the main consideration in most English-speaking countries seems to be fashion combined with (9)..........the name sounds. New names are sometimes invented simply (10)..........they sound pleasant. In Britain the influence of television soaps, pop music and Hollywood is clear as is the increasing appeal (11)..........less common names. In the United States current naming trends include naming children after places, using traditional last names as first names and borrowing (12).......... other languages and cultures.
There are hundreds of books and even web sites devoted (13)..........listing names for anxious parents who still can't make (14)..........their minds. Despite the almost bewildering range of choices plenty of children still end up in classrooms where three, four or even more of their classmates have the (15)..........name.
