The Brilliant Book of Baby Names: What’s best, what’s hot and what’s not. Linda Rosenkrantz

       Bettina

       Betty

       Eliza

       Libby

       Lisa

       Liz

       Liza

       Lizbeth

       Lizzie

       Tibby

      maid’s name in movies and TV, the biblical Beulah would challenge the most audacious baby namer. Beula, Bewlah, Byulah.

      BEVERLY. English, ‘dweller near the beaver stream’. More visible in reference to a posh California community than as a girls’ name. Bev, Bevalee, Beverle, Beverlee, Beverley, Beverlie, Beverlye, Bevverly, Bevvy, Buffy.

      

BEVIN. Scottish, ‘sweet, melodious woman’. Possible alternative to Devin. Bev, Bevan, Bevann. International: Bébhinn (Irish Gaelic).

      BEYONCÉ. Modern invented name. The unique name of the hot young singer will not remain unique for long.

      BIANCA. Italian, ‘white’. Livelier Shakespearean version of Blanche; Blanca is a favourite in the Spanishspeaking community. Beanka, Beonca, Beyonca, Beyonka, Biancha, Bianka, Blancha. International: Blanche (French), Blanca (Spanish), Blanka (Czech).

      BIBI. French, ‘toy’ or ‘delight’; Persian, ‘lady of the house’; diminutive of BIBIANA. A spunky nickname name for parents with showbiz aspirations for their daughter. Bebe, Beebee.

      BIBIANA. Latin, ‘animated’. Melodic and unusual, and she will outgrow any bib jokes. Bibi, Bibianna, Biviane. International: Bibiane (French).

      BICE. Italian, diminutive of BEATRICE. Though Beatrice has the lovely Italian pronunciation bay-uh-TREE-chay, Bice has the problematic BEE-chay – a bit too close to ‘bitchy’.

      BICHETTE. French, ‘little doe’. Charming Gallic possibility but with some obvious playground problems.

      BIDDY. Diminutive of BRIDGET. In this country, it usually follows the word old. Biddie, Bidou.

      BIDU. Diminutive of BRIDGET. Uncommon choice too reminiscent of ‘bidet’.

      BIENVENIDA. Spanish, ‘welcome’. Somewhat unwieldy, but would certainly make your little girl feel wanted.

      

BIJOU. French, ‘jewel’, from Old English ‘bizou’. A name that lives up to its definition – a real jewel. Warning: not unheard of on poodles’ dog collars. Bijoux, Bizou.

      BILLIE. English, diminutive of WILHELMINA, WILMA. Tomboyish nickname name and a possible retro choice for fans of jazz great Billie Holiday. Billa, Billee, Billi, Billina, Billy, Willa.

      BINA. Hebrew, ‘understanding’; Yiddish, ‘bee’; also diminutive of SABINA and other -ina names. Tends to sound incomplete. Binah, Bine.

      BINNIE. Celtic, ‘crib, wicker basket’. Like Minnie and Winnie, eccentric enough to appeal to the iconoclastic parent. Binne, Binni, Binny.

      BIONDA. Italian, ‘blond’. As with the pop singer Blondie, more a description than a name.

      

BIRD. Nature name. Too flighty. Birdella, Birdena, Birdey, Birdie, Byrd, Byrdie.

      BIRDIE. English, ‘bird’. A middle-aged Ladies’ Club member wearing a birddecorated hat.

      BIRGIT. Scandinavian variation of BRIGHID. Pronounced with a hard g and sure to be misunderstood in more ways than that. Bergette, Berit, Birget, Birgetta, Birgite Birgitt, Birgitta, Birgitte, Britta.

      BJÖRK. Icelandic, ‘birch tree’. Destined to remain a one-person name – in this country anyway.

      

BLAINE. Irish, ‘slender, angular’. Best friend of Blair, Blake, and Brooke. Blain, Blane, Blayn, Blayne.

      

BLAIR. Scottish, ‘dweller on the plain’. One of the first upwardly mobile unisex names to hit the charts, Blair retains its air of slightly snobby sophistication. Blaire, Blare, Blayr, Blayre.

      

BLAISE. Latin, ‘one who stutters’. Blaze with a French accent. Blaise, Blasé, Blasia, Blaza, Blaze.

      

BLAKE. English, means both ‘fair-haired’ and ‘dark’. The unisex Blake has a briskly efficient image when used for a girl. Blaike, Blaque, Blayke.

      BLANCA. Spanish, ‘white’. More colourful than Blanche, but blanker than Bianca. Bellanca, Blanka, Blankah.

      BLANCHE. French, ‘white’. Originally a nickname for a blonde, Blanche was in style a century ago, then became a faded Southern belle, now might be preparing for revival. Blanchette.

      

BLAZE. English, ‘one who stutters’. This is a hot name, but more in the stripper sense. Blais, Blaise, Blaiz, Blaise, Blase.

      BLEU. French, ‘blue’. The middle name of the Travoltas’ Ella, this French colour alternative hasn’t caught on with many other parents.

      BLISS. English word name. Only for parents positive their daughter won’t ever have a tantrum. Blisse, Blyss, Blysse.

      Names for Blond Babies

       Alben

       Alva

       Aubrey

       Banning

       Blake

       Blanca/Blanche

       Bionda

       Bowie

       Boyd

       Dory