Researching Baby Names

I've spent a lot of time this week researching baby names. I think names are very important and I like to choose them carefully. For the child we have, my wife was quite set on her first name, and everything about it seemed great to me too, so that was easy, but I think I spent about 40 hours or so researching and working on picking her middle name. Too much time? Probably more than I should have spent for a middle name; but at least I won't have to regret not spending enough time on it.

The majority of my online research has been through use of babynamesworld.parentsconnect.com, but I've used other baby sites too. I love the ability to search by name meanings, yet I wish I had a site with even more advanced search options (I have certain search options in mind). For an example, I wish I could search for names that have four or more origins, each with their own meanings. I've only found relatively few of those. I also wish I knew where I stored the research information I did in the past. I was almost certain I stored it on the computer, or in an email, but I've searched them both and can't find it anywhere. I'm thinking I must have a printed paper copy somewhere, but I don't know where. Anyways, I'm sort of getting off topic.

What am I looking for in names? Many things. Names with meanings that the child will likely identify with in a way that will help them be a better person and do more good in the world; and won't likely intimidate them or cause them to identify themselves as not being what their name means. (For example, I'm weary of choosing a name that means bold, because if the child ends up shy, she might identify herself as not bold like her name means, thus actually reinforcing her shyness.) Other things I'm looking for or paying attention to in names include names that:
- sound beautiful (at least for girl names)
- don't sound or appear too much like anything negative
- people can spell when they hear it, and vice versa
- create initials that seem good, or at least that aren't bad
- are unlikely to be “replaced” by a nickname
- are unlikely to be made fun of
- people who already have the name seem to like their name
- are unique, or at least are not “overpopular” (like Jessica is “overpopular”)
- are easy to say
- are not too long
- don't have other negative associations
- my wife likes
- other things that I'm not thinking of at the moment