Baby Name Central

The quest to find a name that's unique yet personal can be accomplished by looking beyond baby books and family trees. In fact, blending two, three or more names together into one is an option many have used to come up with a one-of-a-kind name.

Play around with combinations of the first or middle names of the baby's parents, grandparents, or your favorite names to find inspiration in creating a unique name that represents both your baby and your unique style.

For example, "Anitra" can be a combination of parents-to-be Anita and Travis. "Riza" can honor grandparents' named Rob, Liz and Ana, while "Benita" incorporates your best friends Benjamin and Rita who set you and your partner up on your first date.

Here are some other ways to invent a name that's as special as your baby.

Grammatical aspects of creating a name
Put a fun twist on the name game by giving your child a first, middle and last name that all have the same number of syllables, rhyme, or start with the same first letter. A name like Samara Sienna Santoro or Ramsey Ryland Richards will not only make monogramming easy, it makes coming up with a name for your baby a fun challenge.

And, don't forget how you spell a name can add the unique touch you're looking for. Contemplate all phonetic possibilities for a name that you're considering such as Zachary, Zackery, and Xacherie or Kate, Kayte, Khate, and Kaite.

Keep in mind that many letters that make similar sounds offer creative freedom as you're creating a name. Have fun experimenting with all the phonetic sounds and spelling of some of your favorite name ideas, such as subbing the 'i' for a 'y' in Bryan

For one more unique play on letters, look backwards at everyday words. Heaven can be Neveah, Sara become Aras and Lyn, Nyl (pronounced Neal).

Meaningful moments
Draw on meaningful memories or locations from your life to find a name for your child. Landon might represent the stair landing where your husband proposed. Camden can represent your honeymoon in Camden, Maine while Lexa Laine is reminiscent of your childhood home on Alexandra Lane. Selecting Chevy honors conceiving your babe while also christening the purchase of your new Chevrolet.

Religious, ethnic and spiritual connotations
Research the ethnic or religious origins, meanings and translations of some of your favorite words or names to blend, creating a personalized alternative. The Chinese word for Jade is translated into the female name Jinyu. Kayna is the name of a Cornish saint while in Hawaiian, Kai is the ocean.

Whether you turn to your great, great grandmother's surname, the entrŽe you shared on your first date, or the park you played at as a kid, inventing an original name for your baby ensures you give your new bundle of joy a moniker that's as unique and special as he or she is. And no matter how you settle on the moniker, experts and seasoned parents alike say it's best to not stress out over inventing the perfect name. Take a breath, look in unusual places for possibilities, and most of all, have fun!