The Greatest Baby Name Book Ever

by Carol Wallace

This newly revised edition features the history and meaning of thousands of names, popular variations, and nicknames. Includes highly original names, traditional and unusual names, names with... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0380789825
• ISBN13: 9780380789825
• Release Date: March 1998
• Publisher: Avon Books
• Length: 688 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.5" x 4.3" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Number 5

Just so you know this book is number 5 on the Top of the Top Baby name book list. p.s. I wrote another review down below so read on.

A good, basic name book

It's accurate with the meanings, but not exceedingly so, but what really gives this book an edge is the trivia for each name. It's a good staple for a name book collection, filled with classics as well as underused/uncommon names.

ok reference book

First of all, I'm not having a child. I didn't buy this book to pick out baby names. As a writer, names are important, essential to the meaning of my work, so I knew I'd need to pick up a name dictionary eventually. It took me a while to figure out that I 'name dictionaries' are 'baby name books.' So I searched through the baby section at my local chain bookstore (which is nerveracking for a 25 year old single male with no children, no pregnant women, and no desire to have children) trying to pick one out. Most didn't quite give the information I was looking for. I only found two that filled my needs. This was the one I decided to go with. It's published recently (1998), covers many cultures, and has almost 700 pages of names. It's cross-referenced, gives a definition, some famous people with the name, variations on the name, origin of the name, and so on. I have found a few innacuracies, some major (Jubal, which means 'father of all' is said in this book to have an uncertain meaning possibly based on a musical instrument), some only minor. Still, it is a good reference for the general information needed. And I didn't find a better one when I was looking.

It really is the greatest

I bought this book after having read and loved 20,001 Names for Baby by the same author. Both books (they are quite similar) have many, many names, with fascinating information, including definitions and lists of nicknames and famous people who have those names, in a simple, easy-to-read alphabetical listing. (This book has a little more information, but the other book has the Girls' Section first, which is my preference.) I could sit and read this book for hours, it's so interesting. I think Wallace's baby name books are far, FAR better than any other baby name books out there. Of course, I don't have kids yet, so those of you who are trying to find actual baby names may not be as fascinated as I am with the history of names like Ethelbert and Adelaide. Still, I think prospective parents would do well to read this book and maybe find names they hadn't thought of, or more information about old favorites to help tip the balance. After all, this is one decision you will make that will influence your child for the rest of his or her life!

Lots of names, but rather inaccurate

As a writer of short stories I am always in need of character names which is why I bought this baby book. I find it has a huge amount of names -- from Ashley to Zara, Aaron to Zachary -- but some of the information is inaccurate and that bothers me. For instant, Elliott is not a very popular name as the author of this book would lead you to believe, and Blair is used much more often for girls than boys. So if you're looking for quantity you have it, but if you're looking for quality search elsewhere.