Maybe you were one of seven 'Jennifers' in your graduating class, or maybe living with the name 'John' has caused you to foster a deep hatred of common names. No matter what the reason, you are now determined to find a truly one-of-a-kind name for your child. But... are unique names always a good idea?

Here are some questions you should ask yourself before making your final decision:

How do people react to your favorite unique baby names?

If you're not sure, get out there and start soliciting some opinions. Listening to other people's views will tell you how each name is generally perceived. You may not agree with all of the impressions you hear, but you should definitely take them into account -- especially if you hear the same things over and over again (e.g., "Felix? You mean like the cat?").

How do people spell your unique names (on the first try)?

If you don't know what sort of spellings people will concoct, pick up the phone and start dialing. For instance, the name Shakil could easily morph into Shakeel or Shaquille, and the name Niamh could become Neve or Neav. If no one seems to be able to spell a certain name, consider how often a child with that name will have to correct other people's misspellings throughout his or her life.

Would you be embarrassed to yell any of your unique names across a crowded playground?

If you're not so sure, go try it out. (Really!) It might seem a little strange, but it will help you decide whether a name that looks good on paper and sounds good in private will make you feel uncomfortable in public. (Be especially wary of word-names such as Unity, Nevada or Apple -- they don't make bad names, but they often take some extra getting used-to.)

Will the unique names you like age well?

This is like point #3, but extended into adulthood. The name Candy may sound adorable on a 5-year-old, but will it be as cute at age 50? Can you picture an old, grizzled man with the name Chance? How about Blaze? Granted, perceptions change over time, and names that seem young today will age along with the generation that first received them. Still, whether or not a unique name sounds mature enough for an adult is something to consider.

I personally love unusual names, so I hope the questions above don�t dissuade you from choosing one. Just keep in mind that very unique names can often be as burdensome as very common ones, and that kids named Jaroslav and Jazzlene may dislike the distinctiveness of their names as much as certain Johns and Jennifers dislike the ordinariness of theirs.