We are used to seeing the list of the favourite names given by parents to their new born babies. Then lists of favourite pet names appeared. Now it’s the turn of the car!

It seems that our pet car names closely follow the favourite baby names, with the most popular names revealed as Ruby, Charlie, Jack, Oliver, and hmmm Baldrick . Well, maybe there aren’t that many babies lumbered with the name Baldrick.

Other popular car names include Noah and Harry (more baby names), and also Talulah, Elekra, and Snoop.

Around a quarter of motorists who have names for their cars think that doing so makes them better drivers as they are more careful to protect their ‘friend’. But as many also confess to talking to their cars, maybe the roads are a dangerous place

Babies are so cute it is tempting to give them cute sounding names. But remember that tiny little boy will one day grow up to be a strapping six footer so make sure the name you give him will suit him then, not just while he is gurgling in his cot.

For several years it has been the fashion for new parents to copy the celebrities and give their kids unusual names: either a different spelling of a traditional name or a made up name; just to be different. What are the pros and cons of choosing an unusual name?

– People with unusual names stand out from the crowd.

– They will not be confused with others who have the same name. At school your child won’t have to use an initial to tell him apart from others with the same name.

However… studies have shown that people react negatively to people with unusual names. Dr Albert Mehrabian, author of The Name Game and The Baby Report Card studied how names affect people over a period of 10 years. He found that unusual names are rated dramatically lower in all categories: cheerfulness, success, and morality. He says: ‘I know a lot of people don’t like to hear it, because they think they are being creative. They think they are making their kids individual, but is it desirable? He says he has counselled many adults who were ridiculed because of their names. Many years ago Johnny Cash had a hit record called ‘A boy named Sue’. Great record, bad idea. Will your kids thank you in later life if you give them a names they are not proud of? I used to work with a man whose middle name was Mary. His parents were catholic and they wanted to give him a saint’s name. Apparently this is quite common in Ireland, but he moved to England and was so embarrassed by his name.

Your child IS an individual. you don’t have to give him a weird name just to prove it.