Lesley Bolton - The Complete Book of Baby Names: The Most Names (100,001+), Most Unique Names, Most Idea-Generating Lists (600+) and the Most Help to Find the Perfect Name

Copyright 2006, 2009 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover and internal design 2006, 2009 by Sourcebooks, Inc. Cover Design by Dawn Pope Cover photo ivanchenko/istockphoto.com Sourcebooks and the colophon are registered trademarks of Sourcebooks, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systemsexcept in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviewswithout permission in writing from its publisher, Sourcebooks, Inc. This publication is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered.

It is sold with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional service. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.From a Declaration of Principles Jointly Adopted by a Committee of the American Bar Association and a Committee of Publishers and Associations All brand names and product names used in this book are trademarks, registered trademarks, or trade names of their respective holders. Sourcebooks, Inc., is not associated with any product or vendor in this book. Published by Sourcebooks, Inc. P.O. Box 4410, Naperville, Illinois 60567-4410 (630) 961-3900 Fax: (630) 961-2168 www.sourcebooks.com Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Bolton, Lesley.

Complete book of baby names / Lesley Bolton. p. cm. 1. Names, PersonalDictionaries. 2.

Names, PersonalUnited StatesDictionaries. I. Title. CS2377.B653 2006 929.4403dc22 2006014064 Printed and bound in the United States of America. DR 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

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One of the first questions you will be asked by those who learn of your pregnancy is Have you picked out a name?second only to Are you having a boy or girl? While this may be endearing at first, and somewhat annoying later, it only goes to show that there is an importance placed on names. As if preparing for the arrival of a baby isnt stressful enough, you are now under the added pressure of giving your child a name that he or she will have to live with for the rest of his or her lifeor at least until he or she is old enough to legally change it.

Add to that the never-ending suggestions from well-meaning family and friendsand possibly a few arguments with your partnerand baby-naming can become quite the daunting task! But it doesnt have to be. Believe it or not, you can actually have fun with the baby-naming process. Yes, names influence first impressions. Yes, names sometimes spawn not-so-flattering nicknames that can follow a person all the way through retirement. Yes, names affect childrens self-esteem. Yes, names are often obligatory ties to family.

And yes, there are thousands to choose from. But what you must keep in mind is that this decision is yours. Not societys. Not your familys. Not your friends. And certainly not strangers.

If you choose a name you take great pride in, your child will be proud of his or her name as well. One of the biggest stressors surrounding the baby-naming process is the input you are guaranteed to receive from family members. Everyone from parents to aunts to good friends of the family will have an opinion that theyre not afraid to share. And while you might want to honor your family by using one of their names (either as a first name, middle name, or both), there are a few factors you should think about before doing so, which will be outlined in this book. And you thought naming the baby would be the easy part! If you want the advice of othersterrific. You are certainly going to get it.

If, however, you dont want the added pressure of having to defend a name you choose or finding polite excuses not to name your daughter after Great Aunt Gertie, then keep your thoughts to yourself. Since more and more couples want to know the babys sex beforehand these days, the element of surprise has been taken away from family and friends. Instead, many couples choose to keep their babys name a secret, which is a good way to work the surprise back into the event. Another plus is that it allows you to avoid negative feedback from others. Once Grandma gazes upon those newbie eyes for the first time, she wont even remember she disapproved of the name you chose, let alone why. However, even if you do choose to keep the name a secret, open your mind to suggestions from others.

Someone just might throw that perfect name your way. Some of the most important decisions you make for your child take place before birth, including choosing a name. While it might seem intimidating at first, once you begin to think of it as a creative process, youll be able to let your imagination go and have fun. Of course, choosing a name requires some forethoughtand therefore workon your part. Even if youve had a name picked out since you were six years old, it is still a good idea to look around. Your child might not be all too appreciative of the fact that ten baby dolls (and possibly several pets) before her carried the same name.

Besides, tastes change. Just as the thought of eating broccoli turned your stomach when you were a child and now its your favorite vegetable, that name you had chosen so long ago may now leave a bad taste in your mouth. Parents find several different ways to begin the baby-naming process. To some, it is important to incorporate a family name, so this becomes their starting point. To others, religion is a major factor in choosing a name. Some prefer to seek out a meaning or virtue, while others simply want a name that sounds good.

What it all boils down to is what is important to you. So, before you begin scouring these pages, making endless lists, and seeking the advice of others, be sure to determine what it is that you want from a name. The following chapters offer advice, tips, and suggestions to help you maneuver the baby-naming maze, and hopefully have a little fun along the way. Choosing a name is an important and serious task, but it doesnt have to be a sour and dreaded experience. Make up games to accompany the decision-making process, such as trying out a new name each week. If you already have some favorites in mind, theres no reason why you have to go about your daily tasks referring to your unborn child as It, Baby, or Fetus.

Try out those you are considering and see if any stick. (Of course, if you have decided to keep the name a secret, be careful not to try out the names in public; reserve this as an at-home game only.) Follow a few simple guidelines, keep your mind open, save your humorous and cutesy titles for your pets, and your baby will have a name he or she is proud to hear, say, and write. Above all, remember that the decision is yours. The origin of baby-naming is not known. However, oral history (before even written history) records the use of names to identify individuals, so we can guess that it dates back quite a while. Many parents are moving beyond the sound of a name to find out its meaning and background.

Delving into the history of a name is a good way to embrace it on an intimate level. Plus, as your child grows older, you can relate the stories and history behind the name, letting your son or daughter know how special of a gift you have bestowed upon him or her. Some parents are interested in researching specific ethnicities or cultures, tracing their own families back to the roots and choosing names that had meaning for their ancestors. This is a great way to tie in the tradition of the family and give your child a meaningful name. Names themselves have historically been most influenced by religion and/ or myth and legend. For instance, the rise in Christianity brought about the rise in popularity of biblical names, and as Christianity spread throughout the world, so too did those names.

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