Baby Names For Dummies

The fun and easy way to name the new bundle of joy Brimming with over 5,000 names, from traditional to unique, this is the perfect reference for parents-to-be looking for naming guidance. It features a an impressive assemblage of options for both boys and girls-from Biblical, medieval, and Shakespearean names to musical and international names-along with a list of today's most popular names and the favorite names of previous decades. Each entry contains variant spellings as well as the name's meaning, history, and derivations. Plus, fun sidebars offer examples of celebrities who chose unique names for their little ones and perfect suggestions for future political leaders, artists, and movie stars.

Introduction 1 Part I: Getting Ready to Name Your Baby! 5 Chapter 1: What’s in a Name? 7 Chapter 2: Considering the Factors in Picking Out a Name 11 Chapter 3: Putting the Name Together 23 Part II: Finding Names from Religion and Literature 45 Chapter 4: Searching Scripture: Names from Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 47 Chapter 5: Living the Legends: Names from Myth and Saga 69 Chapter 6: Writing Your Child’s Story: Literary Names from Shakespeare and Others 85 Part III: Naming through the Ages 103 Chapter 7: Building Empires: Classical Names 105 Chapter 8: Getting Medieval: The Rise of the “Old Standards” 119 Chapter 9: Naming Revolutions: From the Reformation to the Victorians 143 Chapter 10: Coming Up to Date: Names of the 20th Century 171 Chapter 11: Designing the Future: Created and Constructed Names 191 Part IV: Describing the World: Names of Quality, Character, and Location 211 Chapter 12: Re-using Rubies, Roses, and Robins: Names from the Natural World 213 Chapter 13: Advertising Attributes 225 Chapter 14: Moving In: When Place Names and Natural Features Become First Names 241 Chapter 15: Exploring the World of Names 259 Part V: Seeking the Stars: Names from Popular Culture 269 Chapter 16: Sitcoms, Soaps, and Serials: Names from TV Land 271 Chapter 17: Tuning In to Musical Names 283 Chapter 18: Going Hollywood: Names from Cinema and the Arts 297 Chapter 19: Playing the Field: Names from the Sports World 317 Part VI: The Part of Tens 327 Chapter 20: Ten Practices to Avoid 329 Chapter 21: Ten Types of Resources to Consider 333 General Index 337 Baby Names Index 344