J.M. Congemi - The Best Baby Names in the World

Contents

France!

Try Florent (blossoming), Cherise (dear one), or Alaire (joyous), ooh la la!

Kenya!

On a safari hunt for the ideal baby name? Maybe Kamau (quiet warrior) or Jata (star).

Brazil!

Its Carnival time in Rio! Celebrate your precious babys uniqueness with a name like Fernando (adventurer) or Odete (patriot).

India!

Add a touch of Bombay spice with Ananda (bliss) or Sarojin (lotus-like).

Plus England, Ireland, Russia, South Africa, Mexico, Germany, Finland, Greece, Estonia... and dozens more!

THE BEST BABY NAMES IN THE WORLD

W hats in a name? Perhaps fortune? Fate? Personality? Identity? The importance of a name should not be underestimated and, indeed, demands careful consideration. Hence, choosing a suitable name for a child is never a simple taskand the decision is made more complicated in our multinational world, where borders are forever changing and advances in travel and communications are transforming the earth into a global village. When naming children, parents today often want to reach beyond the confines of the traditional names common to their communities. Add to this the complexity of multicultural marriages, in which the interests of varying heritages must be reconciled. The case of naming my half-Russian, half Italian-American sonborn in the Czech Republic, but now living in another part of Eastern Europeoffered numerous creative possibilities, as well as headaches.

My wife and I were first tempted by the idea of tossing some novelty into our sons life, perhaps naming him in honor of one of our Czech friends. However, family interests on both sides of the Atlanticour relatives were entirely unfamiliar with Czech pronunciationsled us to abandon the idea with great regret. Instead, we decided to search for an international name, one easily recognizable in both Russian and English. Sitting in our apartment in Prague, with no book of names to be found, we stayed up late into the night compiling our own lists of familiar and favorite male names in both languages. She proposed Nikita, a popular boys name in Russia, but unfortunately one undone in an American context. Popular song and film have feminized the name, and we made special efforts to avoid cursing our child with a name that might encourage name-calling by his peers. Not many American boys aspire to be a femme fatale, as in the case of Nikita of celluloid fame.

Likewise, my first choice, Luke, met with my wifes immediate disapproval and laughter. In Russian, Luke sounds like the word luc meaning onion. My son, the little onion-head. Imagine the joy on his face. Hardly a way to earn your childs eternal love. My family in America pitched in, combing through countless baby name books for suggestions. But none of the books proved able to solve our cross-cultural dilemma. Finally, less than one week before my sons birth, with no alternative, I thought enough to glance through the Bible, only to behold the Book of Daniel and the glowing description of a young prophet. At last, here was a powerful name to crown the family heir, one easily said and familiar in both languages.

How much easier the process would have been with the help of this unique reference book, with its extensive possibilities, variety, and cultural and anecdotal information. It is the closest thing to Divine Inspiration and an absolute must for every householdboth those expecting and those already blessed with children.

John Varoli,

an American writer for The New York Times

living in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

C hoosing a name for your baby is one of the most important decisions you will make for your child. The name you choose will follow your child for at least eighteen years, if not forever. You want the name to encapsulate all of the hopes you have, the dreams you harbor, and the qualities you hope your child will embody. This is especially important when you remember the fact that, for a while, your child will be that name, as personalities take awhile to develop. Family, friends, and even strangers will assume certain things, think of people they know with the same, or similar, name, every time they call your child.

Keeping this in mind, as you peruse through the thousands of names printed in this book, remember that the name you choose is the childs introduction to the world. Read the entries carefully and consider each names meaning, how it sounds with your last name, and the possible nicknames that can evolve, among the other concerns you may have.

The names chosen for inclusion in this volume are a wonderful cross-section of names from around the world. Know that in many cultures a persons name is magical and has much significance. Your choice will add to the meaning and possibly even surpass whatever conventional wisdom dictates a names meaning is. Try your best to choose a name that you wont get tired of or that will make you wonder, Why in the world did we choose THAT name? years from now.

Study this book carefully with your partner. Mark the pages with names you find interesting, and utilize the worksheets provided to see what the names look like in your writing, with your last name. The object of this book is to present you with the most thorough sampling of well known and not so well known baby names from around the world, including alternate spellings and some fun facts about the names and the people who have shared them throughout history.

Along with each names meaning and associations, here are a few things to consider while determining the perfect name for your baby.

Harmony

The names you choose should blend well with your family name. Try saying the entire name out loud, writing it down, even typing it to see what it sounds and looks like. There may be names that you have always loved and have said Id love to name my child that. But when you actually put the name together with your surname and perhaps even a middle name, you may find that you really dont like it all that much. Only by working out the name in all mediums (speaking, writing, etc.) will you really be able to tell if the name flows as well as you would hope.

Name Associations

Often when you hear a particular name, you get an instant image in your head because you associate that name with a famous person, character, television show, movie, song, or time in history. Some names carry a stronger association than others, and you dont want your child having a name with a derogatory association. Jeremiah is a strong and beautiful name, but upon hearing it will friends and family lightheartedly sing, Jeremiah was a bullfrog? Would it bother you if they did?

It would be unrealistic to name your daughter after your Cousin Lucy and not expect to hear references to Lucille Ball or Lucy from the Peanuts comic strip. Name perceptions and associations are not necessarily a bad thing, but they should be among the issues you consider when choosing your childs name.

Tradition

Perhaps youd like to keep a family name going strong. Are all the first-born male children in your family named James, and while you like the tradition you want to give the child a more unique middle name, and maybe even call him by that middle name? There are ways to keep tradition going strong, while also asserting your and your childs uniqueness. Be sensitive to your needs and the assumptions your family may have in this regard. Above all, make sure that you and your partner are in agreement and present a united front.

The Family Name Exercise

Take the time to delve into your genealogy for naming ideas. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is there a particular relative who has passed away who should be remembered?