When choosing a baby name for your baby boy, there are many factors to consider. You want a name he’ll like (after all, he’ll be living with it for a long time to come!). But you should also choose a name that you won’t mind saying over, and over, and over again -- because you will! From congratulating your son on his first steps to reminding him that mud is not for eating to insisting that veggies are indeed for eating, you’re going to be tossing his name about right and left after he’s born. So choose a baby name you love!

Of course, choosing the perfect name is often easier said than done. If endless hours of pursuing baby name books haven’t gotten you very far, it may be time to consider some international inspiration. Read on for top baby boy names from around the world. You just may find your new baby’s future name within this list!

Top American baby names:
Mason
Ethan
Noah
William
Liam

Top Spanish baby names:
Santiago
Matías
Sebastián
Mateo
Nicolás

Top British baby names:
Harry
Jack
Oliver
Charlie
James

Top French baby names:
Lucas
Enzo
Nathan
Mathis
Louis

Top German baby names:
Maximilian
Alexander
Paul
Leon
Lukas/Lucas

Top Polish baby names:
Jakub
Szymon
Kacper
Filip
Michal

Top Russian baby names:
Alexandr
Maxim
Ivan
Artem
Dmitriy

Top Brazilian baby names:
Gabriel
Davi
Miguel
Arthur
Matheus

Top Japanese baby names:
Hiroto
Ren
Yuuma
Souta
Sora

Once you’ve narrowed down your baby name search to a few monikers, practice saying them aloud for a few weeks. And ask your partner or a trusted friend to say the names out loud, so you can get an idea of what the name sounds like when someone else says it. You may find that certain names just don’t roll off your tongue, while others seem to be a sure fit for your baby-to-be. And remember: It’s okay if you go into labor without the perfect baby name picked. It may take just one look at your new baby’s adorable little face to help you figure out what his name should be.

Photo by Picsea on Unsplash

You and your new baby are going to spend a fair amount of time in the nursery, whether you’re reading, playing, feeding, or changing your baby’s diaper. So naturally, you’re going to want to make it a space that’s comfortable to be in. Once you buy the basics, consider investing in these additional products so that your baby’s nursery is both mom- and baby-friendly.

A rocking chair and side table: You’ll spend a lot of time cuddling with and feeding your new baby. And that’s great! These activities encourage bonding and help infants develop healthy emotional attachments. Having a sturdy rocking chair or glider in your baby’s nursery will make you more comfortable, while the gentle back-and-forth motion is soothing for your little one. Keep a small side table next to the chair for easy access to bottles, plus water and healthy snacks for you.

A fan: A breeze will help you and your new baby stay cool, literally and figuratively. That’s because the fan’s constant whirring acts like a white noise machine, which can help calm your little one when he’s fussy.

A mobile: Pick a colorful mobile. Not only will it help make your baby’s nursery look fun, but gazing at the bright hues on the mobile can actually benefit your child’s brain development.

A CD or MP3 player: Listening to soft, soothing music in your baby’s nursery can help both of you wind down before naptime and at the end of the day. And while your new baby might not think much of what’s being played now, by six months, the interesting and stimulating sounds and rhythms can help boost brainpower.

Books, books, and more books: When your new baby is just weeks or months old, you might think a shelf filled with colorful storybooks is purely decorative. But books will do more than make your baby’s nursery look great, since reading out loud to your child -- no matter what his age -- helps teach him about vocabulary, communication, and the world around him.  

Of course, the best accessories for your baby’s nursery are mom and dad! Spend as much time as your schedule allows playing with your baby in his room. Before you know it, you’ll be switching out his crib for a big-kid bed, so cherish these early memories while they last!

If you’re pregnant, you’re probably familiar with the standard list of dos and don’ts to ensure your baby’s safety: Steer clear of alcohol and sushi, maintain a healthy diet, get plenty of vitamins, and avoid certain medications. But every day, new information is coming out on how a mother’s behavior during pregnancy directly affects her new baby both in the womb and later in life. Here are some surprising facts about what you should -- and shouldn’t -- do when having a baby.

Indulge in your chocolate craving.
What you eat during pregnancy may determine the palate of your new baby. Research suggests that eating excessive junk food during pregnancy can result in children who also crave unhealthy options. Instead, choose healthy desserts and snacks like fresh fruit and low-fat yogurt.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t satisfy your brownie craving. In fact, it was discovered that women who eat five or more servings of chocolate a week during their third trimester have a 40 percent lower risk of developing dangerous high blood pressure (or preeclampsia). And it could be good for your growing baby, too: It’s been found that moms who eat a daily dose of chocolate during pregnancy have infants who are less fearful and laugh more at their six month checkups.

Try to not stress over stress.
Contrary to popular belief, a little stress will not threaten your baby’s safety in the womb. Low to moderate levels of stress during pregnancy could actually benefit your baby’s nervous system and accelerate his development. But since too much stress is unhealthy, try to find a way to minimize your anxiety, such as enlisting help from friends and family.

If you’re tossing and turning in the later parts of your pregnancy, don’t be afraid to sleep in. A healthy amount of sleep -- experts suggest seven to nine hours a night -- is good for new moms. And sleeping on your left side can actually prevent swelling and encourage blood flow to you and your baby. If the position doesn’t feel comfortable, invest in a pregnancy pillow to help support your body.

Enjoy a light sweat.
As a new mom, you’re not just eating for two but exercising for two as well. In fact, an active lifestyle boosts your baby’s cardiovascular health in the womb and encourages lower, healthier weight. Aim to hit the gym or the walking trails multiple days a week.

The list of pregnancy questions can seem long, and you’re sure to have friends and even strangers chime in on what you should and shouldn’t be doing to take care of your new baby’s health and yours. But keep in mind that their well-intended advice may not always be accurate, so when in doubt, ask your doctor. And always remember: You know your body best.

When you’re expecting, you have a lot on your mind, such as making sure your baby gets enough nutrition to grow, putting together the nursery, and keeping on top of your doctor appointments, to name a few. So it’s no surprise that working out may not make it onto your to-do list. But experts say regular physical activity is a smart move for moms-to-be, both for your health and for your new baby’s. Whether you were a regular exerciser before you became pregnant or you’ve never worked out in your life, these three tips will help you shape up safely.

Exercise during pregnancy tip number 1: Ease into it.
Thirty minutes a day of moderate exercise, such as brisk walking, swimming, or cycling is what you should aim for, but if you’re new to exercise it’s best to ease into a workout routine. Start with something easy and stress-free, like walking, for as little as five minutes a day and slowly add on time (say, five more minutes each week) from there.

If you were already an avid exerciser, keep in mind that you may need to take down your workout intensity level. You should also not participate in contact sports, activities that require excessive bouncing or jumping, and sports where falling is likely, like skiing or horseback riding. 

Exercise during pregnancy tip number 2: Stay committed.
It’s best to exercise most days a week. Of course, there will be days when you are just too exhausted to fit in a workout, but keep in mind that some light exercise may actually make you feel better. Physical activity during pregnancy has been shown to boost energy levels, decrease back pain, and increase stamina and muscle strength, which can help prep your body for delivery. Plus, maintaining a healthy weight during pregnancy will help make losing the baby weight easier and faster.

Exercise during pregnancy tip number 3: Do it for your health -- and your new baby’s.
It’s true that when your belly is growing every day, you’re not exercising to slim down. But regular physical activity when you’re expecting can help keep off the excess weight that can lead to health complications while reducing your risk of gestational diabetes. But it’s also a good move for your new baby. It can boost your fetus’s growth development, help increase the odds of a healthy birth weight, and improve your child’s heart health after birth.

If you’re feeling unmotivated to move, consider splurging on a good pair of exercise shoes and a workout outfit that fits your ever-expanding belly. The cute outfit will make working out more fun, and the benefits you get from regular exercise will be well worth the cost. And remember: A walk in the park is one of the best ways for a mom-to-be to stay stress-free and happy during her pregnancy!

It’s true that an ultrasound is the only scientifically proven way to know whether you’re expecting a boy or a girl -- but that hasn’t stopped women from employing a slew of tactics to predict their new baby’s gender. While they’re not rooted in fact, these practices can be fun for moms-to-be who are too early in their pregnancy to get the official word from their doctor (and for moms who would rather wait until the birth to truly find out). Try one out today!

Number tests
It’s not modern science, but an ancient Chinese method uses a little bit of math to determine the sex of a new baby. Pre-dating modern ultrasounds by at least six centuries, the Chinese gender prediction calendar cross references a new mom’s age with the month of conception. Women have even used this chart to determine the best month to get pregnant if they’re angling for a pink or a blue nursery.

Direction tests
Try this group-friendly baby gender guessing game with friends, family, or at a baby shower: Place a ring on a thread and dangle it over your pregnant belly. Encourage everyone to watch closely. Supposedly, a ring that swings in a circular motion means you’re having a baby girl; if it swings back and forth, it’s a boy.

Appearance tests
A myriad of old wives tales to predict a baby’s gender center on the pregnant belly of a new mom. Carrying high means a boy, carrying low means a girl; you’re having a Jane if the bump resembles a basketball, and a John if it’s more watermelon-shaped.

But there are also legends around the appearance of the new mom herself: A little girl will cause you to glow, whereas a boy prompts mom to lose her beauty and charm. However, a contradicting tale claims if your new baby is a girl, the excess of estrogen will cause you to break out more than normal. (An important piece of parenting advice: Science does not support either of these concepts, so don’t spend too much time studying the mirror!)

If all else fails, the next best thing to a doctor’s confirmation may be the intuition of a new mom: A recent study shows that women who have an intuition about their baby’s gender were right more than 70 percent of the time. So trust yourself when preparing for a new baby!