A Dictionary of First Names

By Flavia Hodges, Patrick Hanks, Kate Hardcastle

Book Overview

This brand new edition of the fascinating and informative Dictionary of First Names covers over 6,000 names in common use in English, including newly created names and traditional names that have been newly discovered. 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 notes famous bearers (both historical and fictional). It covers alternative spellings, short forms and pet forms, and masculine and feminine forms, as well as help with pronunciation. The edition featured fully updated appendices covering names in other languages, including Scottish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, and Chinese. New to this edition are appendices of Irish and Welsh names, and tables showing the most popular names by year and region.
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.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0198610602
• ISBN13: 9780198610601
• Release Date: March 2007
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.1" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

This is the best reference book on first names.

I have often found need for this book. It gives detailed etymologies of names, of famous persons bearing the name, and cross-references different forms of the name (as nick, male/female, and other languages). A name book done up as a proper reference book. It also has sections on Hindi/Indian and Muslim/Arabic names.

Comprehensive collection of names with meanings & origins.

Head and shoulders above all other name books I have seen. Well researched and extremely thorough.