IN the same week that it became illegal to pat the bump of a pregnant woman without her permission in the US state of Pennsylvania, I was discussing all things babies with my friend who is a soon-to-be mum.

My pal is more than half way there and reports feeling "amazing" as she forgets about the horrors of morning sickness and gets to grips with the lively foetus situation.

She hasn't got to that uncomfortable stage yet where she can barely shuffle to the fridge but she'd probably struggle to climb up three flights of stairs to my flat. I struggle at the best of times.

Apart from the obvious differences to our friendship - for example: this time last year we were planning a rowdy trip to Newcastle and now we're planning her birth - our everyday chatter has changed dramatically, too.

Although bump touching without asking is something she's beginning to experience, although not from strangers thankfully, there is another 'pregnancy ownership' problem.

And it concerns the naming of the unborn child.

"Everyone is obsessed with baby names," she told me last week.

"If another person gets upset over a baby name I've said I like I'll scream."

When it comes to baby names prepare to be judged. Everyone has an opinion and they're not afraid to say it.

Apart from all the books and websites dedicated to lists of names, there is also popular culture to contend with. Katie Hopkins, the former Apprentice contestant whose job appears to be acting mean on This Morning, said on the show earlier this year that it was acceptable to judge youngsters on their names.

She dubbed Chantelle, Charmaine, Chardonnay and Tyler 'lower class' names and said she had reservations about her own children playing with anyone called that.

Who knows how she would react if she met Gucci and Versace McLatchie, real life twins who live near Glasgow, I hear, and who are clearly in a league of their own and deserve to be movie stars.

If only to hear Americans pronounce their names.

There are other name-related issues. My pregnant friend describes mentioning a name and then being told: "Urgh, I knew a Sarah once, she was my next door neighbour's auntie's friend.

"Hate the name because I always think of her."

It's the one part of pregnancy, bar the bump touching, that people are all over. No-one cares if you kit baby out in Primark babygrows, or where your cot is coming from, as long as you don't call it Hamish (too Scottish) or Amelie (do you think you're French?).

At the end of the day you're not going to please anyone so parents-to-be: go forth and name your child whatever takes your fancy.

Except Gucci and Versace. Because they're taken.