100,000+ Baby Names

Picking the right name for your baby is a monumental decision, and '100,000+ Baby Names' is the most complete, helpful, and up-to-date guide to make that choice with confidence. This book offers a vast sea of over 100,000 names, complete with their origins, meanings, variations, and famous namesakes, drawn from a wide array of cultures and languages. More than just a list, it's a practical toolkit that teaches you how to select a name you and your baby will love, navigate choices for siblings, and understand the subtle impressions names make. With the latest popularity trends, lists of celebrity baby names, and a systematic worksheet to narrow down your favorites, this book transforms an overwhelming task into a fun, collaborative, and joyful experience for expecting parents.

What it argues

A framework for parents to select a baby name by considering sources of personal meaning and evaluating candidates against practical criteria, leading to a confident choice that fosters positive outcomes for both the child and parents.

Key ideas it contributes

• Consideration of Meaningful Sources — The process of brainstorming and generating a list of potential baby names based on personal and relational significance, such as family history, cultural heritage, inspirational figures, and meaningful places or things.
• Systematic Evaluation of Criteria — The explicit process of narrowing down a list of potential names by rating each one against a set of twelve practical factors, including spelling, pronunciation, sound, fit with last name, gender identification, nicknames, popularity, uniqueness, impression, namesakes, initials, and meaning.
• Parental Confidence and Agreement — The psychological state where parents feel confident, objective, and aligned in their final name selection, viewing the chosen name as a good fit that is both meaningful and practical.
• Child's Positive Name Experience — The long-term outcome where the child likes their name, the name contributes positively to their self-concept, and it is well-received socially, avoiding issues like teasing, confusion, or consistent misspelling/mispronunciation.
• Long-Term Parental Satisfaction — The enduring satisfaction and lack of regret parents feel about the name they chose for their child, reinforced by the child's own positive experience with the name.