Could the name you give your baby boy increase his chances of going to jail? It sounds crazy, but a new study says the answer is yes! Two professors in America studied 15,000 names given to baby boys between 1987 and 1991; they found that the more unusual the boy's name, the more likely he is to commit a delinquent act.

Before you rubbish the idea, consider that if a boy is teased remorselessly throughout childhood because of his name, the more likely he is to become a bitter, angry person who could well lash out in a negative manner.

Other studies have reached similar findings. In 1993 one study found that boys with strange spellings of common first names were less likely to be upstanding and successful; and a more recent study in 2001 found that boys are judged for their moral character and masculinity by their first names. In yet another study by the University of Michigan the report concluded that having an unusual first name leads to unfavourable reactions in others, which then leads to unfavourable evaluations of the self.

So is this phenomenon just confined to boys? The effect of an unusual name on a girl is less likely to see her behind bars! However, names still affect girls' success in life.

What about the parents who give their babies unusual names? The study found that the less schooling the parents have, the more likely they are to give their children unusual names.

Of course there is nothing to suggest that an unusual name will mean that your son will definitely follow a life of crime! And there are many successful and upright characters with first names in the 'bad boys' top ten names'. But why take the risk?

This is another factor to consider when choosing a baby name. And you thought it was easy! Make sure you choose a name for your baby that he or she will wear with pride. Don't just choose a name that sounds cute and that you like, consider the effect it will have on your child's life. It really is that important.