Gender and Baby Names: Does knowing help you choose?

Most parents today have the choice of whether to learn their baby’s gender long before birth, even without invasive tests.

Other reasons for finding out the gender aside, we’re wondering whether it helps or hurts in choosing a name.

What’s your experience?  Did you, would you, find out your baby’s gender before birth?

Did it make it easier to find the right name….or maybe harder?  Did you announce both the gender and the name before your baby was born, or keep the name announcement separate?  

Why or why not?  And how has that decision worked out for you?