In 1970 I thought my son's name MORGAN was quite different yet more main stream than Moon Unit or Dweezil. Now children are being burdened by their parents with unpronounceable and risible names which bear no resemblance to any ethnicity or cultural heritage and seem to be conjured up in the fog of painkillers given at childbirth.

Carol Libert, Manassas, USA

This is no new phenomenon I'm sure. I went to school with an Aubrey, Paul Dickenhead and an Otto Cunliffe who's nickname was surpirisngly easy for a virile bunch of English schoolboys to think of. Surely there were parents in the seventies that probably laughed themselves to sleep thinking of names they could inflict on their innocent children. No wonder deed polls were invented.

Adam, richmond, england

Here in Colombia we have a host of Kevins, some female Kennys and Dennises, a handful of Stalins, loads of Ladys (born around 1981) and even a mythical 'Usnavy' (pronounced Oosnarvy) said to have been inspired by the presence of a warship on the poor wretch's birthday.

James, Monteria, Colombia

good thinking sophie. i'll second sophie's suggestion

richard, leeds,

I have a friend with the similar surname "Eyre", who is planning to dub any offspring "Ryan" or "Derry".

Laura, Cambridge, Cambs

The childs name should be something he or she would be proud of carrying though life and I think it really does not matter if someones name does refer to genetelia or excrement in Korean or Japanese etc. Surely there is more to a name or a person than that ?

J , Manchester, England

they say that an ordinary name melts you in the mob.That's why i chose for my son an unusual name for that part of world.People never forgot his name or his face.But a problem rises too.He became a well known child ,i'm affraid too popular for his taste and now it is my fault.So ,my advice would be-do not try be original with children's name

bendis, oltenita, romania

Something to reflect the father - how about Hot?...

John Bard, Los angeles , US

As long as you live in your father's country you may as well keep the local tradition. For example naming you firstborn son with the name of the paternal grandfather, the second with the name of the maternal grandfather. If it is a girl name her after the grandmother. Simple rules. They keep old names in fashion and everybody knows what they mean. That is if you live in your father's country and of you expect your child to live there too. Chances are this will not happed, and that the kid's name may mean something bad or be unpronounceable in Japanese. But why care about a potentially upsetting name (in a distant place and a distant future) if you can make the grandparents happy! And if you like old names, like for example Roman. I do.

Alexandra Badea, Durham, NC

How about Bracing?

Susan, Barry, S Wales

Hey 'up.There's nowt wrong wit Cleethorpes ! In fact it would make a reet bonny name for a lass.

Mike , T' Cleethorpes, Yorkshire

Great column as always. It is a real challenge to avoid pitfalls when naming the progeny. But you are doing well so far - Roman has a great sound and will travel well so why not?

Just don't make his middle name 'Legion' whatever you do.

Will Sterling , Colchester, UK

Have you considered Million?

sophie, Shanghai,