Hot Baby Names for 2012

There seems to be more pregnant people around me than ever before and several of my friends and family members had babies in 2011. If you're expecting, hoping to have a baby or know someone who is, here are the predictions for the hottest baby names for 2012. 

When I was born, the name Jennifer was the number one most popular name in the country. Not sure why. I never asked, but I never wished for another name even though there were seven other Jennifers in my graduating class.

We all know the names Isabella, Bella, Jacob and Edward were the popular names over the past few years thanks to the Twilight series. Now that the wildly popular vampire franchise is wrapping up, it's all about a new series called The Hunger Games. It's a new book trilogy aimed at young adults, but we grown ups can enjoy it, too. The first movie is due out in March. Expect names like the butt-kicking heroine Katniss, or names like Gale or Peeta which are the two main boys in Katniss's life. There are also a host of secondary characters. Their names are Rue, Primrose, Effie, Haymitch and Cato.

Royal inspired names are also expected to be huge. Catherine and William for example after the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge may be some of the bigger names this year, but the royal name trend doesn't have to be exlusively British. Princess Caroline of Monaco has four children. Their names are Andrea, Pierre, Charlotte and Alexandra. Sweden's Princesses Victoria and Madeline are also good names. How about Sweden's Prince Carl Philip as an inspiration? King Juan Carlos of Spain has three kids with fantastic names. Their names are Elena, Cristina and Felipe. All names fit for a king or a queen.

The iPhone 4S has some devout followers. Siri has gone viral as a popular baby name. It's creator Steve Jobs has a good name. I have an Uncle Steve. Maybe I'm just partial.

The Olympics are coming up in July. What about a sports related name? Michael after swimmer Michael Phelps or Shawn after gymnast Shawn Johnson? Soccer is a sport that is ever growing in popularity. One of its biggest stars is named Landon Donovan. Both of those are great. Or maybe even Landon Donovan fill in the blank with your last name. Olympic trials are still going on, so there may be some new names come July.

Are you a reader? What about naming your baby after an author or your favorite character? David and Victoria Beckham named their daughter Harper after Harper Lee who wrote To Kill a Mockingbird. The Great Gatsby is getting another big screen treatment, so parents to be may get inspired by the characters in that novel: Jay Gatsby, Nick Carraway, Daisy Buchanan and Myrtle Wilson.

Old Hollywood is also a very deep pool of names. Think Marilyn after Marilyn Monroe, Natalie after Natalie Wood, Flynn after Errol Flynn, Audrey after Audrey Hepburn, Ava after Ava Gardner or Elizabeth after Elizabeth Taylor. Boys names inspired by old Hollywood that are expected to be big include: Gregory, Clark and Spencer after Mr. Peck, Mr. Gable and Mr. Tracy.

I still think Jennifer is a pretty good name.