Product Description

The fascinating and informative Dictionary of First Names covers over 6,000 names in common use in English, including the very newest names as well as traditional names. From Alice to Zanna and Adam to Zola this book will answer all your questions: it will tell you the age, origin, and meaning of the name, as well as how it has fared in terms of popularity, and who the famous fictional or historical bearers for the name have been. It covers alternative spellings, short forms and pet forms, and masculine and feminine forms, as well as help with pronunciation. The book includes extensive appendices covering names from languages including Scottish, Irish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, and Chinese names. Tables of the most popular names by year and by region are also included. This is the most comprehensive paperback first names dictionary available. From the traditional to the rare and unconventional, this book will tell you everything you need to know about names.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #86666 in Books
• Published on: 2006-07-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 480 pages

Glasgow Herald
"full of anecdotal material as well as historical facts"

Glasgow Herald
"full of anecdotal material as well as historical facts"

Jackie Wullschlager, Financial Times
"I have returned to this dictionary again and again for sheer pleasure."

Customer Reviews

Oxford Dictionary of First Names
I own about 20 books of names in four languages, not because I am having a baby, but because I am writing a novel. This is the first book of names that I enjoyed reading. The commentaries are fascinating and facilitate coining unique character names. I was especially impressed by the inclusion of Basque names. The book includes a small selection of Arab and Indian names, but lacks names from Japan, China and the rest of East Asia.

Okay but could be better
I also bought this because of rave reviews but turned out disappointed. Not good for naming babies but just for the history of old fancy names you only read in books. If you want to just look up the history of an old name, okay then use this book. But if like most people buying name books you want to name a baby born in this century look for another book.

Not very useful, old fashioned and limited
I bought this book after reading all the good reviews and comments and ignoring the one negative review. Well, I wish I hadn't. It seems that the good reviews must have been written by friends of the authors, because there is no other way to find this either useful or interesting.

Most of the names are ancient and so old fashioned as to be useless to anyone trying to name a child -- so if that is your aim, forget this book.

It could be useful to writers and historians, but then it does not agree in some instances regarding orgins of names and meanings with other texts. It will depend on whether you have faith that this book is correct and several others are not.

Oh well. Live and learn.