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

to be the book you stay up late into the night reading. The subject of laugh-filled dinners and under-the-covers heart-to-hearts. There’s so much that’s frightening and out of your control about becoming a parent, you should enjoy this one aspect that has so much potential for pleasure.

      10. Let us be your guides. Parents often ask us, ‘How do I know whether a name I like is going to get too popular? How can I find a name that’s distinctive without being too strange?’ Such difficult questions are at the heart of most parents’ search for the perfect name, and that’s exactly where we come in. You don’t have to somehow figure out or guess these things for yourself: Through our decades of research and experience, we know which names are coming into style and which are heading out, which old favourites are worth dusting off and which should stay in mothballs, what’s cool and what’s just freaky. That’s exactly the kind of information you’ll find throughout this book, leading you to a name you’ll love even more through the years than you do today, the name your wonderful child deserves.

       How to Use This Book

       Symbols

      The symbols in the book are designed to make it easy and quick for you to identify certain names.

      

The stars identify the names that are our recommended Best Bets – names we find to be particularly appealing in a wide range of styles.

      

A unisex symbol means the name can be used for both boys and girls, so that you may find a choice in the boys’ section that works for a daughter or vice versa.

       Derivations and Meanings

      There is much conflict and misinformation over the background and meaning of names, but what you’ll find here is the most authoritative material available. We simplified derivations, saying Scottish and English and French, for instance, rather than getting into such fine points as Middle English and Old French. We do identify African and Native American tribal derivations, when accessible. For consistency, names that are related to other names are all called ‘variations’, while shortened forms are labelled ‘diminutives’.

       Spellings

      The main entry is usually the classic spelling of the name, with variations, short forms and international versions listed beneath. When there is a spelling variation that is commonly found – for example, the popular KAITLYN for the original CAITLIN – that has an individual entry as well.

       Lists

      Rather than segregating our lists, we’ve woven them throughout the book. If you’re looking for a name that sounds creative or one that means ‘strong’, if you want an inventive nickname for Elizabeth or a substitute for Dylan, you’ll find them all in one place. A guide to the lists is in the Contents. Within each letter, there is a selective listing of recent choices of celebrity parents under the heading Stellar Starbabies.

      Armed with all this information and advice, we’re sure you will arrive at the best possible baby-naming decision for your baby, finding the one perfect name that you and your child will love forever.

       A girls

      AALIYAH. Variation of ALIYA, Arabic, ‘highborn’. The most complicated and popular spelling of this once-obscure name. Aahliyah, Aailiyah, Aailyah, Aalaiya, Aaleah, Aalia, Aalieyha, Aaliya, Aaliyaha, Aaliyha, Aalliah, Aalyah, Aalyiah, Alia, Aliah, Alliyah.

      ABBIE, ABBY. Diminutive of ABIGAIL. Gently old-fashioned nickname name that owes its popularity to Abigail, but it has been slipping down the Top 100 in recent years. Aabbee, Abbe, Abbea, Abbee, Abbeigh, Abbey, Abbi, Abbye, Abee, Abeey, Abey, Abi, Abia, Abie, Aby.

      

ABBOTT. Aramaic, Hebrew, ‘father’. Traditionally male surname that may find new life for girls thanks to its similarity to the popular Abby and Abigail. Abbot. International: Abboid (Gaelic), Abad (Spanish), Abt (German).

      ABELIA. Hebrew, ‘sigh, breath’. This feminine form of Abel makes a distinctive alternative to the widely used Abigail. International: Abélia, Abelle, Abella (French).

      

ABERDEEN. Scottish place name. A much more modern choice than unfashionable Irish een-ending names like Noreen and Doreen.

      ABIA. Arabic, ‘great’. Simple plus unusual is a winning combination. Abbia, Abbiah, Abiah, Abya, Abyah.

      ABIELA. Hebrew, ‘God is my father’. More than the sum of Abby and Ella. Abielah, Aviela.

      ABIGAIL. Hebrew, ‘my father is joyful’. Old Testament name – Abigail was the wife of David – that became a term for a maid in the early nineteenth century and subsequently fell from favour. Now, it’s back in a big way, liked for its proper vintage charm. Abagael, Abagail, Abagale, Abagil, Abaigeal, Abbagail, Abbe, Abbey, Abbi, Abbie, Abbiegail, Abbiegayle, Abbigael, Abbigail, Abbigal, Abbigale, Abbigayl, Abbigayle, Abby, Abbye, Abbygael, Abbygail, Abbygale, Abegail, Abegale, Abgail, Abgale, Abgayle, Abichayil, Abihail, Abigael, Abigal, Abigaile, Abigaill, Abigal, Abigale, Abigayil, Abigayl, Abigayle, Abigel, Abigial, Abigil, Abigayle, Abugail, Abygail, Avichayil, Avigail, Avihail, Gael, Gail, Gaila, Gal, Gale, Gayel, Gayle.

      

ABIJAH. Hebrew, ‘God is my father’. Abigail with rhythm. Abeedja, Abeeja, Abeesha, Abija, Abisha, Abishah.

      ABILENE. English from Hebrew, ‘grass’; also American place name. Here is a spiced-up spunky version of the popular Abbie nickname. Abalene, Abalina, Abilena, Abiline.

      

ABITAL. Hebrew, ‘my father is dew’. Although it’s popular for boys as well as girls in Israel, we don’t see it happening here. Abeetal, Avital.

      ABRA. Feminine variation of ABRAHAM. Soft, sensitive feminine form of Abraham – but there is the risk that it could too often be followed by ‘cadabra’. Abame, Abarrane, Abbrienna, Abbryana, Abrahana, Abréa, Abrea, Abreana, Abreanna, Abreanne, Abree, Abreeana, Abreia, Abreona, Abreonia, Abri, Abria, Abriah, Abriann, Abrianna, Abriannah, Abrianne, Abriéa, Abrieana, Abrielle, Abrien, Abrienna, Abrienne, Abrietta, Abrion, Abrionée, Abrionne, Abriunna, Abryann, Abryanna, Abryona, Abrya. International: Abriana (Italian).

      ABRIAL. French, ‘open, secure, protected’. Stronger, more distinctive than April or Avril.

       Aabriella, Abrail, Abreal, Abreale, Abriale, Abriel, Abriell, Abrielle, Abrilla, Abrille, Abryell.

      ACACIA. Greek nature name. Attractive, rarely-used Greek nature name