Coming soon · Reference Work
The 2013 Baby Names Almanac
An annual almanac-style guide that decodes current baby-naming trends, popularity rankings, and pop-culture influences while offering more than 20,000 names with meanings and origins for expectant parents.
This is a reference work — we're absorbing it into the Reference library (structured entries), not a narrative profile.
What it’s about
The 2013 Baby Names Almanac treats baby naming the way The Old Farmer's Almanac treats the seasons: as a living, shifting landscape shaped by forces swirling in the cultural atmosphere. Drawing on Social Security Administration data, the book maps which names are climbing and falling, how celebrities, TV shows, films, music, and sports drive naming fads, and where popular names cluster geographically across the fifty states. It demystifies spelling variations, gender-neutral choices, and the surprising statistics behind 'popular' names, then forecasts the names likely to surge tomorrow. Capped by an enormous dictionary of over 20,000 names with origins and meanings, it is part trend report, part prediction engine, and part reference work for any parent who wants a name that fits both their child and their moment in time.
The through-line
- Who it’s for
- An expectant parent who wants to choose a name that does justice to their hopes for their child—something meaningful, appealing, and right for the times.
- The problem
- There are tens of thousands of possible names and confusing, ever-shifting popularity data to sort through. The parent feels stressed and pressured, worried they'll pick a name that's too common, dates badly, or invites bad nicknames.
- The plan
- Start with the current top names and understand what 'popular' really means statistically.
- Track which names are heating up and cooling down, and why, using trend and pop-culture analysis.
- Account for spelling variations, gender-neutral usage, and regional differences when judging a name.
- Use trend forecasts to anticipate what will be hot or cold tomorrow.
- Browse the dictionary of 20,000+ names to find meanings and origins that fit your family.
- The payoff
- The parent selects a name they love that fits their child and their cultural moment. · They understand a name's real popularity, spelling options, and gender associations before deciding. · Naming becomes an informed, lower-stress, and enjoyable experience.
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.