Congratulations if you're expecting a new baby or if you're considering adoption. Choosing a baby name is not an easy task. Unless you already have names that you already have a strong preference for, you may be at a loss. Here are a few suggestions to help you find the perfect name for your little one:

1. Go to the closest bookstore and browse through some baby name books. Or if you don't want to leave your house, get to www.amazon.com and do a search for baby name books and order them to have them mailed directly to you. But if you're like me and hate waiting for your books, then head to the bookstore.

2. There are also plenty of online resources, many of them free, to help you in your quest. Check out www.getbabynameideas.com or www.search4babynames.com.

3. Think of your relatives and someone that you cherish. Perhaps it's your grandmother or aunt who made a large impact in your life. You can use their names as the first or middle name or use close variations of them. For example, if you have a grandmother named Isabel, you could use Isabella.

4. Another resource for choosing baby names is going through some parenting magazines or children's books. You will usually come across some names that will spark off new ideas. Make sure that you have a notebook and pen handy to take some notes.

Do you know what the most popular baby names are for boys and girls in 2006?

According to this article, the top names for baby boys in 2006 are (in descending order): Aiden, Jacob, Ethan, Ryan, Matthew, Jack, Noah, Nicholas, Joshua, and Logan. For baby girls, they are Emma, Madison, Ava, Emily, Isabella, Kaitlyn, Sophia, Olivia, Abigail, and Hailey.

As you see, it is not too difficult to come up with baby name ideas but please remember that your child will have that name for life (assuming that they don't legally change it!), so choose a good name and they'll thank you for it later.