If you do not want to use a popular or traditional name, there are many ways to come up with your own unique name. Some techniques you can use to come up with a unique or unusual name is to use an ethnic or foreign variation of a popular name (Emilia, an Italian form of Emily), using a place name (although there are some popular ones like Dallas or Dakota), using an occupation as a name (Sailor), using a last name or surname as a first name (Kennedy), or using names from nature (Summer, River, Forest, etc). You can also create your own name by adding a diminutive ending to a popular name (-ina, -ette, -ita), adding a prefix before a name (Da-, La-, Ta-, etc), spelling a common name differently, or combining or blending other names. The danger of using a unique name, especially if it is very unusual, is that while it may make your child stand out from the crowd, he may stand out too much and can lead to teasing. © 2002 - 2009 BabyNameCenter.com All rights reserved. Webmaster: babynamecenter@yahoo.com