Origin of the Name - Ancestry and Heritage
There are no rules that state that you can choose a name only from your own ethnic origin. Parents often find interesting names of ethnic and historical origins.  The correct name from your own heritage can provide an added source of identity for your child.  This is a very important factor in many ethnic groups. Your child's heritage is an essential part of who they are, and you may want their name to reflect that.  Religious preference may point you towards a certain category of names. Family tradition has often played an important role in naming the first-born sons after their fathers. If you like a name but it doesn't meet your family's traditional requirements, consider using it as a middle names

Honour a family member, friend or hero
Check with your parents or grandparents to collect as many family names as possible. You can use the same name, a variation of the name or match the first initial. For example, our third child's middle name is Jack after my great grandmother's name Jacqueline. 
If you do not want input on the final selection, do not announce the name until the baby is born. Then it will be too late for lobbying. Tara's family has another rule about names. If you are not pregnant, you cannot claim a name. That way, all the family names are up for grabs until there is a baby to be named. First come first served!

You can name the baby after a famous person. When the child is old enough to understand, explain who you named them after. They will love to hear the story over and over again. It's a great feeling to be connected to someone famous. A popular example is naming children after sports stars. For example, we may be seeing the name Tiger (Golfer Tiger Woods) more often for baby boys.

Instead of using family name, you can use family geographical location. For example, Julie named her baby Cal (born in California)  and her cousin born in Alexandria, LA named his daughter Alexis.

Another way to find a name is to use a version of a name that relates to a different ethnic group. For example, Juan is Spanish for John. Ian is Scottish for John, etc.

Use of a Suffix
The first, middle and last name need to be the same to use them. 
So, if you do not want to use Jr., III, etc., then use a different middle name. 

All parties need to be living. If grandpa (Sr.), dad (Jr.) and son (III) have the same full name and grandpa dies, then dad becomes Sr. and son becomes Jr.  Some people (especially celebrities) keep the suffix after the elder dies. Again, this rule is not law, only a guide.

Same First Name as the Parent
Some people with the same name as a parent have commented about the problems they have experienced. One mentioned that even though he has a different middle name from his father, many computer systems do not acknowledge middle names and still confuse the two individuals. More information to keep in mind when making that decision about picking a name!

Nicknames
We recommend that to use the full form of the name when you register the birth even if you intend to call them by a nickname. Later in life your child may prefer the formal name or a different nickname to the one you chose.  It leaves the child's options open. They can always insist on others using the formal name if they don’t like their nickname.
Think about the possible ways that the name can be shortened and the nicknames that may result.  There is often a difference between what a child is called and what it is named. Make sure you like the pet forms of a name, such as, Rick, Ricky, Dick, Dicky for Richard.  If the name lends itself to a very undesirable nickname, you may want to reconsider. Conversely, if the name lends itself to many positive nicknames, this is a definite plus.