Coming soon · Book Profile
The Everything Baby Names Book
A comprehensive guide offering 50,000 baby names with their origins and meanings, along with practical advice to help expectant parents navigate the naming process and find the perfect name for their child.
A profile of this book is on the way.
What it’s about
Choosing a name for your baby should be a joyful process, but with countless options and factors to consider, it can quickly become overwhelming. 'The Everything Baby Names Book' transforms this daunting task into an exciting adventure by providing a massive dictionary of 50,000 names, complete with their origins and meanings. Beyond the extensive lists, the book offers invaluable guidance on everything from navigating baby-naming trends and understanding the sociological impact of a name to practical tips on spelling, nicknames, and honoring family heritage. Whether you're seeking a classic, contemporary, or unique name, this comprehensive resource equips you with the tools and insights to thoughtfully explore your options and confidently choose a name that you—and your child—will love for a lifetime.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- The reader is an expectant parent who is thrilled about their new baby but feels overwhelmed and stressed by the monumental task of choosing the perfect name. They want to find a name that is meaningful, sounds beautiful, suits their child, and will be a source of pride, not problems, for a lifetime.
- The problem
- Expectant parents face a bewildering array of over 50,000 names and a long list of conflicting considerations, from popularity and spelling to family traditions and potential for teasing, making it difficult to narrow down the options and make a final choice. This decision makes them feel anxious, indecisive, and pressured. They fear choosing the 'wrong' name—one that their child will dislike, that will lead to ridicule, or that they will later regret.
- The plan
- Identify your personal priorities and criteria for a name.
- Use the comprehensive name dictionary and themed sidebars to explore options and create a list of favorites.
- Evaluate your top choices against practical considerations like sound, spelling, initials, and nicknames.
- Discuss and narrow down your list with your partner to make a final, confident decision.
- The payoff
- You'll feel confident and joyful about your choice, knowing you've selected a meaningful, well-considered name. · The naming process becomes a fun and collaborative adventure instead of a source of stress. · Your child will have a name they can be proud of, one that serves them well throughout their life.
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.