Hilary Spence - 7000 Baby Names. Classic and Modern

foulsham The Oriel, Thames Valley Court, 183-187 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire SL1 4AA, England
ISBN: 978-0-572-03528-0
Copyright 2009 W. Foulsham & Co. Ltd
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When you are choosing a name for your new baby you want to be able to assess all the options so that your final selection is the one you feel is right for your child.

It's not an easy decision as there are a lot of options to consider and you dont want to make a mistake. Very few people actually change their name later in life, so you are looking for something that your child will carry with them for the rest of their life and will come to define them as a unique individual. With the help of this book, though, that whole process can become less daunting and instead become an enjoyable and exciting search for just the right name. Clearly organised in two main sections for girls and boys, this book offers a huge selection of names - with their meanings, origins and variations. Go through highlighting options to make your search easier, then draw up a short list for that final and all-important choice.

• Be adventurous, by all means, but do remember that a child might not enjoy too weird a name while he or she is growing up - if it is likely to cause teasing, it is not the best idea.
• Be careful to think about any negative associations of a name - Adolph and Cain, for example.
• Remember that the name will be used with your surname so make sure they work well together.
  • Be adventurous, by all means, but do remember that a child might not enjoy too weird a name while he or she is growing up - if it is likely to cause teasing, it is not the best idea.
  • Be careful to think about any negative associations of a name - Adolph and Cain, for example.
  • Remember that the name will be used with your surname so make sure they work well together.

    Ida Down or Honey Comb could be misleading.

  • Names beginning with the same letter as your surname can work, and can sound rather odd, so check that the combination has the effect you want.
  • Rhyming names and surnames are not usually successful.
  • Complement a long surname with a shorter first name, or vice versa: Tom Wilkinson rather than Templeton Wilkinson, for example.
  • Similarly, team a common surname with a more unusual first name so that your child does not encounter too many people with the same name. Jacinta Smith will have fewer problems on that score than Ann Smith.
  • Look at the initials of the chosen names together and remember that many documents have to be initialled, and that initials are often used as web site addresses and at other times. Barbara Ursula Markham would not be the best combination.
  • If you have more than one child, you may not want their names to begin with the same letter, especially if they are the same sex. If a personal letter arrives for Mr M. Walker and there are three men of that name in the house, it could be confusing. If you do choose first names starting with the same letter, make sure the second names are different.
  • Contractions of the first name which make an inappropriate combination with your surname are best avoided.

    Christopher Mass might not be the best choice.

  • You do not have to give your child more than one name, but a second name can help avoid confusion, especially if you have a fairly common first or second name.
  • Traditionally, you should register the full name, even if you plan to use the contraction, although this practice is now declining and Charlie, for example, is higher up the popularity list than Charles.
  • Make sure you are happy with the familiar forms and contractions of the name, even if you intend to use the full name yourself.
  • Nicknames are often associated with the child's name, so spare a thought for any obvious ones.
  • The more popular the name you select, the greater the number of other children who will share the name.
  • The more unusual the name you select, the more potential there is for mispronunciation or misspelling.
  • Some names can be given both to girls and boys and you might prefer a name which is gender-specific.
  • Spellings of most names vary considerably. Choose a spelling you are happy with and one which is least likely to be confusing to others.
  • Names from countries or cultures other than your own are increasingly common and offer some excellent choices. Make sure the pronunciation does not cause problems in your native language.
  • Most people make selections in advance for both a boy and a girl. Unless you are 100 per cent sure, don't be caught out by having only names for one or the other.
  Girls A
  Aasta (Teutonic) 'Love' Abbey see Abigail Abbie see Abigaila Abeer (Arabic) 'Fragrance' Aberah see Avera Abia (Arabic) 'Great' Abigail (Hebrew) 'A father's joy' ( Abagael, Abbe, Abbey, Abbie, Abby, Abigael, Gael, Gail, Gale, Gayla, Gayle, Gayleen, Gaylene) Abijah (Hebrew) 'God is my father' ( Abisha) Abnaki (Native American) 'Land of the morning' Abra (Hebrew) 'Mother of multitudes' Abrona (Latin) 'Goddess of beginning journeys' Acacia (Greek) 'Innocent'. The symbol of immortality Acantha (Greek) 'Thorny' Accalia (Latin) Foster mother of Romulus and Remus, founders of Rome Achala (Sanskrit) 'Constant' Acima (Hebrew) 'The Lord's judgement' Acola (teutonic) 'Cool' Actia (Greek) 'Ray of sunlight' Ada (Teutonic) 'Prosperous and joyful'. A popular name in Victorian times ( Adda, Addia, Aida)
  Adabelle (Latin) 'Joyous, happy and beautiful' ( Adabel, Adabela, Adabella) Adah (Hebrew) 'The crown's adornment'.

  One who gives lustre to the most eminent position Adalia (Teutonic) An early Saxon tribal name, the origin of which is not known Adaline see Adelaide Adamina (Latin) 'From the red earth', 'mortal'. Also feminine of Adam ( Addie, Addy, Mina) Adar (Hebrew) 'Fire'. A name sometimes given to Jewish daughters born in the sixth month of the Jewish year, which is known by the same name Adara (Greek) 'Beauty' Addula (Teutonic) 'Noble cheer' Adelaide (Teutonic) 'Noble and kind'. A gracious lady of noble birth. A name popular in 19th-century Britain as a compliment to the Queen Consort ( Adaline, Addi, Adela, Adelaida, Adele, Adelia, Adelina, Adelind, Adeline, Adelle, Dela, Della, Edelina, Edeline) Adelicia (Teutonic) 'Noble happiness' Adelinda (French) 'Noble and sweet' Adeline see Adelaide Adelle see Adelaide Adelphia (Greek) 'Sisterly'. The eternal friend and sister to mankind ( Adelfia, Adelpha) Adena (Greek) 'Accepted' Aderyn (Welsh) 'Bird' Adiba (Arabic) 'Cultured' Adicia (Greek) 'Unjust' Adiel (Hebrew) 'Ornament of the Lord' Adila (Arabic) 'Equal, like' Adilah (Arabic) 'Honest' Adima (Teutonic) 'Noble, famous' Adina (Hebrew) 'Voluptuous'.

  One of mature charm s ee also Dena Adione (Latin) Goddess of travellers Adnette (French from Old German) 'Noble' Adolpha (Teutonic) 'The noble she-wolf'. Feminine of Adolf. The noble matriarch who will sacrifice everything, including life, for her young ( Adolfa, Adolfina, Adolphina) Adoncia (Spanish) 'Sweet' Adonia (Greek) 'Beautiful goddess of the resurrection' Adora (Latin) 'Adored and beloved gift' ( Adore) Adorabella (Combination Adora/Bella) 'Beautiful gift' Adore see Adora Adorna (Latin) 'Adorned with jewels' Adraima (Arabic/Hebrew) 'Fruitful' Adrienne (Latin) 'Dark lady from the sea'. Feminine of Adrian. A dark, mysterious lady ( Adria, Adriana, Adriane, Adrianna, Adrianne, Hadria) Aeldra see Aldora Aeldrida see Eldrida Aelfreda see Alfreda Aelwen (Welsh) 'Beautiful brow' Aenea (Hebrew) 'Worthy of praise' Aerona (Welsh) 'Like a berry' Aeronwen (Welsh) 'Fair berry' Afra (Teutonic) 'Peaceful leader' (Hebrew) 'Dust' see also Aphra Africa (Celtic) 'Pleasant'.
  

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