What's in a Name? Moms Talk

One of the most important things you will do in the hours after you have your child is give him or her a name.

A child's name is a huge part of its identity. And choosing it can be a huge minefield for parents.

According to a recent poll, almost 10 percent of parents regret the name they gave their child.

Many of those who had regrets said they went with a too-popular name, or a trendy name in pop culture. Something to think about if you're considering the names Bella, Renesmee, Cullen or Jacob.

Letting their own parents get involved in the decision is one that can come back to haunt new parents, as they can feel pressured to go with a family name they don't like, or feel guilt afterwards because they went against their parents' wishes.

A common suggestion for choosing a name is to imagine how it sounds next to a professional title, like "Dr." or "Supreme Court Justice." If it sounds more fitting for "tonight's featured pole dancer" or "fugitive of the week," the advice goes, pick something else.

Spelling of names can also be an issue. If you're considering a "kre8iv" spelling of your child's name, also consider how many times your offspring is going to have to deal with banks, schools, employers and government offices over their lifetime because someone didn't know that the name is D'Anna, not Deanna.

Let's talk names. Would a Rose really be as sweet if she were named Nevaeh? Do you open the front door to call Aiden in for dinner and nine boys from the neighborhood show up?

Share how you chose your children's names, what other names you considered, if you got any pressure for or against a name, and what you wish you'd done differently.

Joining us, as always, is our terrific Moms Council.

 is a freelance reporter with Patch. Julie, a longtime reporter and communications professional, is a first-time mom of a son born in November.

 works in public relations. She and husband Timothy have a daughter, Amara. Monina is also a member of the Disney Moms Panel, one of 15 moms selected nationwide, advising people online about planning Disney vacations.

 is a mom of three children ages 5 and under with her husband, Bill. They are expecting their fourth child this winter. She also works part-time.

 is a native of New Jersey. She is a marketing professional who has worked in advertising, market research, vending and equipment companies. She and her husband live in Avon with their two children.

 is a mom to a Girl Scout and lives in Avon.

 is the newest member of the  and past president of Avon Early Childhood PTA. She will also be blogging for Avon Patch. If you're a parent and want to share your experiences raising children in Avon, you, too, can .