Find the perfect combo with our guide to choosing great baby middle names

Let's face it: Finding one great name for your baby can be a huge challenge. (It's got to be unique! But not too weird! And classic! But not fuddy-duddy!) Finding two? Forget it. But the humble middle name, so often relegated to the mere initial status, is taking on a more high profile role these days, and it deserves your attention.

"Middle names really complete the name package," says Amanda Elizabeth Barden, author of Baby Names MadeEasy. "Full names appear on important documents like graduation certificates, and when people enter their professional lives, they often start using a middle name or initial." (Not that Barden uses hers!) A middle name will also help your child distinguish himself from someone else with the same name (and unless you're naming your kid something like Pilot Inspektor, it can happen, especially in the Internet age), and allow you to buy adorable monogrammed baby gear. You'll even prevent your kid from a lifetime of hearing the, "You don't have a middle name?!" question, Barden says.

So while you can relax a little - there are no rules when it comes to picking a middle name - follow these tips to find the perfect middle moniker for your babe.