Birthing, Babies, and Raising Children

​Baby Names

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.
​–William Shakespeare

Shakespeare wrote those famous lines hundreds of years ago to argue that names are not important. Many parents, however, would speak to the contrary. Naming a child is something people agonize over. There are distinct trends Americans follow when it comes to naming children, from names of celebrities to biblical names. See more about baby names and the history of naming in “The Name Game.”

Top 10 Names for 2010

SOURCE: Social Security Administration

What is the Moon telling you?

Although no one can tell for certain when a baby will be born, it is believed that births are more likely to occur 7 days before through 7 days after a full Moon. Check our Moon Phase Calendar and learn more about using the Moon to predict your child's birth date.

See what else our Moon lore article on birthing has to say.

Hey, baby, what's your sign?

Each Zodiac sign is said to influence different personality characteristics.

Use our Zodiac Profiles to discover your child's (and even your own) sign and what it means.

​Birthstones & Birth Month Flowers

It is thought that wearing your birthstone brings good luck and good health. See birthstones and their meanings.

Flowers also carry symbolic meaning. Find birth flowers for each month.

​How to Have and Raise a Baby

Learn how to have a baby with some tongue-in-cheek advice from the Almanac!

See how weaning a baby was done in the not-so-long-ago past and what was expected of children—my, how times have changed!