Baby Names Made Easy: the Complete Reverse-dictionary of Baby Names

July 30, 2022 Post a Comment

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· 66 ratings · 11 reviews

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May 08, 2012 Lesli rated it it was amazing

This is one of my favorite baby name books I checked out from the library. She arranges them by topic, ie nature, religion, etc. Which was great because meaning of names is a big thing for me. My son's means, "God is my salvation" and my daughter's name reverences religion and the month she was born. It was great because it had a glossary to look up names, which was useful, because the were arranged by topic then alphabetical order. This is one of my favorite baby name books I checked out from the library. She arranges them by topic, ie nature, religion, etc. Which was great because meaning of names is a big thing for me. My son's means, "God is my salvation" and my daughter's name reverences religion and the month she was born. It was great because it had a glossary to look up names, which was useful, because the were arranged by topic then alphabetical order. ...more

Dec 07, 2011 Jamie rated it it was amazing

This is the best baby names book that I've ever seen! So much more original and interesting than the standard methods of organizing names. It goes by meaning (my preferred way of finding a name) rather than alphabetical order. It's great! This is the best baby names book that I've ever seen! So much more original and interesting than the standard methods of organizing names. It goes by meaning (my preferred way of finding a name) rather than alphabetical order. It's great! ...more

This is an amazing and colorful book of names galore.
I just love looking up the meanings of words and
unique names.

This book was really well organized with name suggestions listed by type of meaning (animals, royalty, nature, astronomy, etc). Our baby still doesn't have a name but I enjoyed reading this anyway. This book was really well organized with name suggestions listed by type of meaning (animals, royalty, nature, astronomy, etc). Our baby still doesn't have a name but I enjoyed reading this anyway. ...more

Oct 20, 2013 Zoey rated it really liked it

I was specifically looking for a name book organized by meaning, and this fit the bill. It has a clean layout and is easy to navigate. As with many name books, the author's affinity for her subject is charming, and this collection seems to have been a labor of love. I appreciate the way that multiple spellings and origins are given. Also, the author takes care to ensure that names with more than one meaning appear in multiple sections. Armed with my own short list of possible first names, I used I was specifically looking for a name book organized by meaning, and this fit the bill. It has a clean layout and is easy to navigate. As with many name books, the author's affinity for her subject is charming, and this collection seems to have been a labor of love. I appreciate the way that multiple spellings and origins are given. Also, the author takes care to ensure that names with more than one meaning appear in multiple sections. Armed with my own short list of possible first names, I used this book to hunt for meaningful middle names.
The one critique I have is that (probably for the sake of brevity and clarity) the author neglects to include connotations of certain names that might actually overshadow their literal meanings. For instance, Bathsheba is defined as "seventh daughter; daughter of the oath," but there is no mention of the Biblical Bathsheba who is linked to King David. Similarly, the name "Ganesa" is defined as Hindi for "fortunate," but while I imagine that this is due to the word being derived from the name of the Hindu god, Ganesha, this salient detail is not mentioned. Many of the names listed in a section called "No Meaning" would actually carry powerful significance in my mind due to the famous places and people (London, Poseidon, Perseus, Socrates) that initially bore these names! As a result, this book is quite helpful if you're looking for a name with a specific meaning, but I would certainly look elsewhere as well in order to get a full sense of the name's history and origin. If literal meaning matters to you, these relevant details may as well! ...more

Apr 20, 2014 Sarah rated it liked it

"Reverse dictionary" means that the names in this book are grouped by meaning (eg, friendship, peace, happiness, military, faith, and so on). I hadn't been thinking about names that way at all, but I've discovered that a lot of people do, and even feel that the meaning of a name can influence the baby's personality and direction in life. So, that was pretty fascinating to me, and this would be a great resource for that style of name-picking. Names include the culture of origin and a very short ( "Reverse dictionary" means that the names in this book are grouped by meaning (eg, friendship, peace, happiness, military, faith, and so on). I hadn't been thinking about names that way at all, but I've discovered that a lot of people do, and even feel that the meaning of a name can influence the baby's personality and direction in life. So, that was pretty fascinating to me, and this would be a great resource for that style of name-picking. Names include the culture of origin and a very short (few word) definition. ...more

Jul 05, 2010 Jenny rated it liked it

So Dan doesn't like my choice in names so far so I actually read a baby name book. (OK so I really just read the girls names and glanced occasionally at the boy names.) The format of grouping the names by meaning/subject was fun and the alphabetical index was nice. But I don't really pick my babies' names by meaning so that didn't matter to much. I made a list of possibilities but we'll see what happens. So Dan doesn't like my choice in names so far so I actually read a baby name book. (OK so I really just read the girls names and glanced occasionally at the boy names.) The format of grouping the names by meaning/subject was fun and the alphabetical index was nice. But I don't really pick my babies' names by meaning so that didn't matter to much. I made a list of possibilities but we'll see what happens. ...more

Since meaning is more important to us than, say, first letter when we're naming a kid, I really liked that this had the reverse look-up layout. And yes, I read every word. Naming a kid is a big responsibility, and also a fun hobby. :) Since meaning is more important to us than, say, first letter when we're naming a kid, I really liked that this had the reverse look-up layout. And yes, I read every word. Naming a kid is a big responsibility, and also a fun hobby. :) ...more

Mar 10, 2013 Heather rated it liked it

This book is a little redundant, but if you want one organized by meaning rather than alphabetical, this is great! Fairly easy to skim if you are looking for a name from a particular language or culture.

Jul 14, 2013 Philip rated it it was ok

This baby names book was fine, but not quite good enough to hold my attention, and I didn't like the book's organization. This baby names book was fine, but not quite good enough to hold my attention, and I didn't like the book's organization. ...more