Coming soon · Book Profile
The Baby Name Wizard
A data-driven field guide that helps expectant parents navigate the stressful, modern world of baby naming by decoding name styles and trends to find a choice they will love for a lifetime.
A profile of this book is on the way.
What it’s about
The Baby Name Wizard is not another overwhelming dictionary of 100,000 names, but a curated buyer's guide to help you find the perfect name for your baby. Author Laura Wattenberg uses data analysis of historical trends, phonetic patterns, and cultural connections—from Shakespeare to reality TV—to decode the 'secret sauce' that gives each name its unique flavor and style. This book moves beyond simple popularity rankings to help you understand your own personal taste, whether you're drawn to Vintage Charm, Modern Meanings, or Macho Swagger. By teaching you to 'narrow up by finding delight' instead of nitpicking flaws, The Baby Name Wizard transforms a stressful process into a fun, joyful journey of discovery, ensuring you'll find a name you and your child will love without any remorse.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- An expectant parent (or couple) who wants to find the perfect name for their baby.
- The problem
- Finding a single, perfect name from an overwhelming universe of options, styles, and opinions. Feeling anxious, stressed, and uncertain about making a permanent decision, fearing they will choose a name that is too common, too weird, or that they will later regret.
- The plan
- Start by looking up names you like in the 'Name Snapshots' to understand their style profiles and discover similar options.
- Explore the 'Name Styles' section to browse curated lists of names that match your taste.
- Narrow down your choices by focusing on what delights you about each name, not by finding faults.
- The payoff
- Finding a name you truly love with confidence and excitement, free from angst and second-guessing. · The naming process becomes a fun, meaningful, and creative part of preparing for your new child. · Having a special story to tell your child about why their unique name was chosen with love.
See our guide
Related profiles we’ve built
Additional reading
- To Kill a Mockingbird · Harper Lee
The source of the book's title name, Atticus, which is presented as the epitome of a meaningful, character-driven name choice.
- The Faerie Queene · Edmund Spenser
Highlighted as a surprisingly rich source of beautiful names (like Amoret, Briana, Una) that were invented by the author but have a classic feel.
- The works of William Shakespeare · William Shakespeare
The author frequently praises Shakespeare as a 'supremely gifted name-giver,' and his plays are a source for dozens of names in the book, from Ariel to Lennox.
- Little Women · Louisa May Alcott
Cited as a classic example of a book that inspires parents, with Jo March being one of the 'most cherished characters in fiction'.
- Pride and Prejudice · Jane Austen
Mentioned as a book the author reread while writing, and it serves as a key source for classic names like Lizzie, Darcy, and Georgiana.
- A Is for Adam: Biblical Baby Names · Lorilee Craker
The author's previous book, used as a point of comparison to distinguish this book's focus on general literature from a biblical focus.
- Divine Baby Names · Eric Groves, Sr.
Written by the same author, this book focuses on Greek and Roman names, offering a deeper dive into a theme covered in Chapters 11 and 12 of this book.
- New Arrivals · Jane Wynne Willson and Robert Ashby
Published by the British Humanist Association, this book is recommended for readers who want to explore the philosophy and practice of Humanist naming ceremonies in greater depth.
- Your Complete Guide to Naming Ceremonies · Anne Barber
This book is suggested for those specifically interested in registrar-led civil ceremonies, offering a more detailed guide to that particular format.
- Priestess of Avalon, Priestess of the Goddess · Kathy Jones
Recommended for readers interested in the spiritual but non-traditional 'Goddess naming ceremony' mentioned in the book as an alternative path.