*Puma*

Evocative songstress Erykah Badu and Outkast cutie André 3000 gave their summer baby the name Puma--a majestic moniker that’s half flower-child, half feral.

Normally, noun names like these are just asking for trouble. Recent celebrity newborns Apple and Coco, for instance, will get the brunt of it as they age (especially when it's time to eat). But Puma--named for the large, wild, tawny-colored cat--has a much more (or less?) tasteful handle. Her name evokes grace, power, and beauty… not foodstuffs. (And, thankfully, Erykah didn't go with either 'Cougar' or 'Mountain Lion'--two of the animal's other, not-quite-as-poetic names.)

Indeed, Badu has a knack for names. Just look at her firstborn, a son named Seven. He has a number-name so cool and original that it gets a thumbs up from the entire cast of Seinfeld.

The only big drawback to Puma is that most people will think 'sneaker' before they think 'big cat,' giving the name unintended materialistic overtones. Then again, this could be spun into a positive. As an adult, Puma could be featured in kitschy retro-gear commercials: she could wear a Smurfette t-shirt, jelly bracelets, a denim mini-skirt with a skinny belt, legwarmers and (of course) 80's-era athletic shoes.

The verdict? Puma is a hardy, hippie-esque name that would be just about perfect… if it weren't for that icky trace of consumerism.

Rating: 4 (out of 5) stars