Q&A: Should the dad's exes' names interfere with my baby name choices?

Now, if your husband was dead-set on naming your daughter after a former flame, then I'd say you have a real heartbreaker, or at least deal-breaker on your hands, but that's not the case, is it?

There are two separate issues here: The first is the upsetting chore of dealing with your husband's romantic past, and the second is the happy task of finding a name for your future daughter.

Instead of obsessing over the names you can't use, why not focus on coming up with names that delight you, inspire you, and thrill you—without the baggage. Discover names that you and your husband can fall in love with together. What were the first flowers he brought you? Where did you honeymoon? Word names and surnames offer plenty of alternatives.

Place names, too, can be both meaningful and functional. Britons David and Victoria Beckham named their first son, Brooklyn, after the place where he was conceived. Director Ron Howard and his wife, Cheryl, also incorporated the places of conception into their daughters' middle names. Bryce Dallas was conceived in Dallas, and twins Jocelyn Carlyle and Paige Carlyle were both conceived at the Carlyle Hotel in New York. Son Reed Cross apparently was named after a street in London because as Howard observed, "Volvo isn't a very good middle name."

Also, international variations and creative spellings can render a known name unrecognizable and brand new. No matter how much of a Casanova your hubby may have been, it's highly unlikely he was matched with a Valentine, Paisley, or Pashun. (Just to be safe, you can ask your husband to discreetly rule out any name doppelgangers or unfortunate namesakes from the list.) Even former bad-girl names like Delilah, Lola, and Magdalena are enjoying a revival now.

Remember, there will soon be another leading lady in your husband's life and in yours: your daughter! Her arrival should trump and eclipse all former lady loves—and secure your position as one hot mama and loving wife.