On the hunt for a baby name? Don’t miss this opportunity to consult a baby name book or two. Of course you can find amazing baby naming resources online. Here at Baby Name Quest we have tons of lists, charts, and articles – seemingly everything you need to choose a baby name. But there’s something special about thumbing through a baby name book and making a list of potential names, or tossing ideas out to your partner. It’s a rite of passage for parents-to-be. And they are a lot of fun to read!
To get you started, here are six baby name books that we think are pretty great.
1. The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby
by Laura Wattenberg
If you’re a fan of pop culture and historical references, The Baby Name Wizard: A Magical Method for Finding the Perfect Name for Your Baby by Laura Wattenberg is for you. Now in its third edition, The Baby Name Wizard is packed with thousands of names. They run the gamut from classic and common to trendy and on the cusp.
Each alphabetical listing features notes on the name’s use and associations throughout American culture. It also includes insights on where the name has been and where it is likely going, popularity-wise. Given its user-friendly format and candid tone, The Baby Name Wizard can easily make a few engrossing hours of your life disappear. And you’ll very likely find your baby name.
2. Inspired Baby Names from Around the World: 6,000 International Names and the Meaning behind Them
by Neala Shane
At 700 pages, Inspired Baby Names from Around the World: 6,000 International Names and the Meaning behind Them by Neala Shane is overflowing with names from all countries and cultures. Thankfully, names are grouped by gender and listed alphabetically for easy navigation. Each listing is short, but includes pronunciation, meaning, and region where the name is most commonly used.
What makes this dictionary-style baby name book stand out is the inclusion of a blessing or spiritual affirmation with every name. In the introduction, author Shane says she’s carefully paired the names and blessings, to reflect the name’s origin and culture(s). Whether religious, literary, or cultural, the blessing is meant to “deepen the meaning and intent of the name.”
Spend some time with this hefty book, preferably on the couch, with your feet up. With so many rich and varied options, you’ll surely find some baby name inspiration.
3. Hello, My Name is Pabst: Baby Names for Nonconformist, Indie, Geeky, DIY, Hipster, and Alterna-Parents of Every Kind
by Miek Bruno and Kerry Sparks
Hello, My Name is Pabst: Baby Names for Nonconformist, Indie, Geeky, DIY, Hipster, and Alterna-Parents of Every Kind by Miek Bruno and Kerry Sparks insists you let go of the notion that it must be a name you’ve already seen before. And despite being six years old, this baby name book is full of unusual choices you’ve probably never considered for a name, let alone heard used. Know any babies named Flux or Beta? We don’t either!
Shunning the conventional alphabetical listing, this book groups suggestions under chapters like Names that will Look Good Painted on a Food Truck and Names to Survive the Zombie Apocalypse. Written in a light-hearted tone and full of “alternative” lifestyle references, it’s a very fun book to skim through if you’re seeking some truly one-of-a-kind name inspiration.
4. Rock and Roll Baby Names
by Margaret Eby
Want your newborn to come into the world with a ready-made signature song? Rock and Roll Baby Names by Margaret Eby is your baby name book. It features more than 2,000 names that take inspiration from all types of music.
The meticulously researched book is organized into chapters by genre and sometimes era (“Pop Icons†follows “1950s: Rock and Rock Pioneers”). This can make the hunt easy for parents set on a name from particular musical style or time frame. But start in the index if you’re unsure what you’re looking for. When you see a name you like, flip to the page where it’s featured to discover its “rock and roll meaning.” Each listing also documents the name’s use throughout the musical landscape, and any famous musicians associated with it.
Packed with lyrics and tidbits of musical history, Rock and Roll Baby Names is a music and trivia fan’s delight. If you’re hoping to raise a tiny rocker, start here.
5. The Complete Book of Baby Names
by Lesley Bolton
The top-selling The Complete Book of Baby Names by Lesley Bolton contains more than 600 pages of baby names, themed lists, historical context, and plenty of advice on the art of choosing a name. Should you be interested in the history of baby naming, fascinated by the origin of middle names, or wanting guidance on attributes of the perfect name, spend some time with the intro. The rest of us will flip through to the hundreds of names organized into fun lists like U.S. Authors, Names that Were Invented, and Stunt Performers.
Other lists include names organized by first letter, the most popular names in each U.S. state, the top names in various developed countries, and celebrity baby names. Keep flipping and you’ll finally find yourself in a straight-talk dictionary, divided into two by gender and comprised of hundreds of names listed alphabetically and from all cultures and countries.
6. Baby Names Made Easy: The Complete Reverse-Dictionary of Baby Names
by Amanda Elizabeth Barden
If a name’s meaning is of top importance to you, check out Baby Names Made Easy: The Complete Reverse-Dictionary of Baby Names by Amanda Elizabeth Barden. Hundreds of pages of names are organized into about 50 categories of meanings, ranging from the tangible (types of trees and flowers, food and drink, occupations) to the metaphysical (kindness and goodness, happiness and joy).
The names featured come from a diverse array of Western, Middle Eastern, African, and Asian cultures. These aren’t the tried and true (and often overused) names you’ll hear on the playground. Tip: Don’t rule out this one if you aren’t into the meanings of names. Instead, start in the index to skim through the book’s 20,000-plus choices.
