Copyright 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2019 by Bruce Lansky The material in The Impressions Names Make is based on data from
by Bruce Lansky and Barry Sinrod. Copyright 1998 by Meadowbrook Press. The Most Popular Names lists were derived from data from the Social Security Administration. The Popular Names around the World lists were derived from records kept by various government agencies around the globe. Some of the material in Fascinating Facts about Names comes from The Names People Play by Frank Remington.
Dick Neffs contributions to Fascinating Facts about Names first appeared in the January 8, 1968, and April 1, 1968, issues of Advertising Age. Copyright 1968 by Crain Communications, Inc. Used with permission. Hachette Book Group supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the authors intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact permissions@hbgusa.com.
Thank you for your support of the authors rights. Da Capo Press Hachette Book Group 1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104 www.dacapopress.com @DaCapoPress Current Revised Edition: July 2019 Published by Da Capo Lifelong Books, an imprint of Perseus Books, LLC, a subsidiary of Hachette Book Group, Inc. The Da Capo Lifelong name and logo are trademarks of the Hachette Book Group. The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher. Library of Congress cataloging information is on file. ISBNs: 978-0-306-84524-6 (paperback), 978-0-306-92298-5 (e-book) E3-20190523-JV-NF-ORI
Picking that just right name for your baby is an important decision.
Weve created this new edition of 100,000+ Baby Names to give you all the information youll need to make a great choice. Its the most complete, helpful, and up-to-date name book you can find. And its fun to read! Complete Youll find more than 100,000 namescomplete with origins, meanings, variations, fascinating facts, and famous namesakes. There are names from a variety of national and ethnic groups and languages of origin, including English (19,000 names), Latin (11,000 names), Greek (11,000 names), American (11,000 names), Hebrew (9,000 names), Hispanic (9,000 names), French (8,000 names), Irish (7,000 names), and German (6,000 names)along with thousands of Scottish, Welsh, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Scandinavian, Polish, Native American, Hawaiian, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, Australian/Aboriginal, African, and Hindi names. Plus newly popular names and variations not listed in other books and websites. Helpful Learn how to pick a name you and your baby will love.
Get help picking names for siblings or multiples. Learn about the impressions that names make (beyond their literal meaning). Find gender-neutral names you can use for your son and/or daughter. Browse invented names (created by parents) that have caught on. Check our list of 12 factors to consider when choosing a name. Use our worksheet to gather appealing names and make a final choice.
Up-to-Date Check out the latest popularity trendswhats hot and whats not. See the names that are rapidly rising and falling on the latest lists of top 100 and top 1,000 boys and girls names. Know that every year we add more newly popular names and variations to the book. Learn which gender-neutral names are used more for boys, more for girls, or about 50/50 for boys and girls. Read the latest outrageous or cool names picked by celebrities for their babies. Browse updated lists of fictional characters names from popular books, movies, and TV shows; names of all-star athletes and hot recording artists; names of popular authors, journalists, and scientists.
Fun to Read Find out which names people think are nerdy, sexy, wimpy, funny, weird, and smart. Browse our humorous list of fascinating facts about names. Marvel at the strange or wonderful names that are rising and plummeting in popularity. Discover the birth names of Tina Fey, Lady Gaga, Jay-Z, and other celebrities! Happy naming!
The first edition of The Best Baby Name Book in the Whole Wide World , which I wrote back in 1978, had about 10,000 names on 120 pages. So, you could read the introductory material about 15 Things to Consider When You Name Your Baby and browse all the main listings (and even pause to read the origins, meanings, and variations for names that appealed to you) in a few hours. 100,000+ Baby Names has more than 100,000 names on 576 pages. 100,000+ Baby Names has more than 100,000 names on 576 pages.
I dont know how long it would take you and your partner to browse all the main listings and pause to read more about your favorites, but it could be a daunting task. If youre up to the challenge, go for it. Youll certainly find your favorite names and discover some new names as well. But if the idea of wading through a sea of 100,000 names sounds overwhelming, Id like to propose another method. The method I suggest involves generating lists of names you and your partner love and then narrowing down the lists based on how well the names might work for your baby. Its a fun, easy way to come up with a name that has special meaning but is practical as well.
Lets get started.
Step 1: Make a List of Names with Special Meaning
Make a list of names to consider by writing down your answers to the following questions. (You each will make your own list.) These questions are based on the lists starting . Browse those lists to help you answer the questions and to brainstorm other questions specific to your background, preferences, and experiences.
Popular Names ()
What are your favorite names from the most recent Top 100 lists? What are your favorite names from the lists of most popular names over the past 100 years? If any of your relatives names appear in the popularity lists from previous generations, what are your favorites?