Product Description

What’s in a name? Rather more than you might at first suspect, for names are steeped in history and myth and have much to tell us about our past, our beliefs – even our personality traits. Now fully updated for its second edition, with 150 new entries, The Penguin Dictionary of First Names takes a close look at over 5,000 examples, ranging from the familiar to the comparatively obscure, drawn from all parts of the English-speaking world. Detailed and informative, it is essential reading for expectant parents and for anyone who is intrigued by the story attached to each name.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #9688 in Books
• Published on: 2004-08-05
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

About the Author
David Pickering is a freelance writer and editor. He is the author of a number of reference works including the Cassell Dictionary of Abbreviations and the Cassell Dictionary of Proverbs. He lives in Buckingham.

Customer Reviews

Thorough, informative & inspiring
This is easily the best name book which I own (and I own several). It is arranged in alphabetical order (as one might expect from a dictionary, I suppose) but for all names rather than with the usual Girl/Boy division. The gender of the name is indicated in brackets with either m or f. Each name has a paragraph of information about its derivation, meaning and historic use. This is far more thorough than many others on the market and allows you to make a very informed choice about your son or daughter's future name. I have used this book to make many suggestions to my sister about my future niece/nephew and she is very impressed. Even if you aren't expecting a child, this is an extremely interesting book to leaf through and well worth the modest price tag.

Penguin Dictionary of First Names
The Penguin Dictionary of First Names is easily the most comprehensive compendium of names I have ever come across. It is peppered with historical background and little anecdotes making it a most enjoyable read even if you are not planning on having babies but have always been extremely curious as to the story behind the name .

Fantastic - best name book I've seen
This book is great. It has so many names from so many different origins and even the variants of those. Within 10 minutes of picking it up I had found 2 great possible names for my new addition wheras I'd found none in the countless books I had studied so far. Well worth the £8.99 RRP.