- Beyond Jennifer and Jason (Linda RosenKrantz&Pamela Redmond Satran) The original baby naming Queens! This is a book that revolutionized baby naming in the late 1980's. However, it is not written in the A-Z format that I tend to prefer. Instead it is all lists. I like their later work better. Still, this is naming gold for name lovers.
- Bloomsbury Dictionary of First Names (Julia Cresswell) This collection has less than 2000 names, which today is rare for baby naming books. However, the descriptions are so detailed that if you want correct, informative and interesting information about a name this should be a go to guide. If you want rare, non-English, strange, or exotic names, look elsewhere.
- Baby Names for Dummies (Margaret Rose, PhD) This book is really geared towards people who have no experience with baby names or naming trends but need to name a baby. If you're expecting and are completely lost in the daunting process of naming a child, this book is for you. For more advanced baby names, it might not be as interesting as other name books.
- 50,001 best Baby names (Diane Strafford) To be completely honest, this is the WORST baby name book I have ever read. The lists at the start really seem to have been put together by someone who is stuck in the 70's and make no sense whatsoever. (Who knew Adam and Athena were going to be Future Televangelists? Jaden is a name that is SO over? Charles is a future Mortician? Teah is an overpowering name? Beatrix is creepy? Naming your little boy London will make him popular? Scarlett spawns nasty nicknames? Leander and Solange are an old maid and a grumpy old man? Luna is doomed to always work in middle management?)Not only are the lists strange, but each name gets about two words as a definition. For example the entry for Rabbit says (American) lively; energetic. There are however, over 50000 names listed here. So if you are an avid name fan looking for interesting, offbeat names, this could be a starting point but only if you're willing to put in your own research to find out the actual popularity, origins, varients and definitions. NOT FOR FIRST TIME BABY NAMERS!
- The Last Word on First Names (Linda Rosenkrantz&Pamela Redmond Satran) The team reuited for this 1995 name book. I don't know where it would be available today. But it's a wonderful A-Z style dictionary. A bit out of date now, but simple, straightforeward and insightful.
- Choose Your Baby's Name (Rosalind Fergusson) First published in 1987 this is another Name Book that has passed from my mother to me. More factual than opionated it remains usable today. Another A-Z style book that focusses on the original derivation of the name, gives famous historical bearers and alternate spellings and diminutives. Altogether enlightening but somewhat boring. The best part comes at the back with the Calender of Saints section, listing all Saints by their feast days. If you're a baby name fan I would look for it just for that reason.
- The Baby Name Bible (Pamela Redmond Satran&Linda Rosenkrantz) Argueably the best collaberation by the Queen's of baby naming. With over 50000 names, a whole bunch of fun name lists (If you like Charlotte, you might love..) Information on Celebrity baby names. Honest opinions about names that are great choices and names that are, well, not-so-great choices. Not only is it informative, but it's fun to read (it doesn't feel like you're reading a dictionary, even though you kind of are!) It is my all time favourite baby name book. It should be on the bookshelf of any parent-to-be and definitely of any avid name fan!
nov 25 2010 ∞
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nov 14 2011 +