Customer Reviews

Best Baby Name Bk in Whole -OS

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(7)

 

 

"The Best Baby Name Book...In The Whole Wide World" by Bruce and Vicki Lansky is not only a well researched and helpful resource for choosing a name for your baby, but it is an entertaining read as well. I have had this book for well over two decades now and I am holding on to it to pass along to my own kids when needed (whenever that may be..I am still waiting!) My copy was published in 1979 and had ONLY 10,000 names to choose from but I see now that this updated version now has over 13,000!

The List of names, seperated by boy and girl and listed alphabetically contains the main entry name, variations of the name, the meaning, source(Greek, Hebrew etc) and several different ways to spell it. For example my name,,,Laura (Latin) "Crown of laurel leaves" fem for Lawrence...Lara, Laure,

Laurie Lori, Loretta, etc. You can spend hours pouring through this section.

What makes this book a keeper and especially unique is all the great tidbits of information you'll get before you even get to that list. Some of it is laugh out loud funny as well. A great intro by Erma Bombeck, a list of the most popular names in the world, tips on "How To Name Your Baby", a Legal guide, Celebrities' real names(Did you know that Boris Karloff is really William Pratt?)and "fascinating Facts" are some of the informative sections included. In fascinating facts, there's a section called "Truth Stranger Than Fiction" which might have you laughing so hard, you may have the baby right then and there(maybe best to pick a name before reading this part).Names like Farmer Slusher, Nebraska Minor and Newton Hooton might give you ideas of what NOT to name your baby!

But the best part for me was a worksheet that was included with the book. It has lots of room for making choices. List all of Mom and Dad's favorites than move on tho the Final Choice worksheet, where you can also rate the names, and see how the whole name looks on paper. This section makes this quite a keepsake! When I look at back at some of the names I almost went with...well...thank goodness I didn't.....

Have fun with this great book if you're expecting or give it as a gift to someone who is. It will be greatly appreciated.

Enjoy......Laurie

other stuff:

Fairy Dreams: Magical Lullabies - soothing sounds for baby and you

Side By Side: poems to read together - classic and new children's poems to read together

Start Up with Jane Fonda: A 25-Minute Light Exercise Routine - gentle start to getting back into shape

I've always been interested in baby names. I found this book to be quite helpful, because it doesn't go overboard with the alternative spellings. I guess it's good to have options, but it gets overwhelming, and this book is well-organized when it comes to that. The print is bold and somewhat large, so it's easy to read. You should buy it if you need to find a name or if you just find names interesting.

This has to be one of the best baby name books out there.The book is divided into 2 sections:girls and boys.Has a spelling variation on most names.Has a guide to 100 most popular names for both girls and boys plus popular names from different countries.Also gives advice on naming your baby and a section on celebrities real names.This book has so much.Add this to your collection.

I was surprised to find out how few names the book included. I don't consider "Gabriel", "Gabrielle" and "Gabriella" to be three different suggestions. I bought this book based on the reviews, but was surprised to see that I didn't agree with the majority. The alphabetical section is not user friendly in listing the names. I think I'll need to buy another book or go online for other resources.

The Best Baby Name Book in the Whole Wide World is one of my favorite baby name books!

The book has some wonderful names and I like that the author included the orgins of the names, the meanings and different spellings, some actual foreign versions of the name and sometimes modern creative spellings. I like the foreign spellings but don't care too much for the invented spellings some of which look like the parents just didn't know how to spell the name.

This book also has some interesting sections such as the real names of some famous people who changed their names and the book includes a baby name worksheet where you can list your favorite boy and girl names in the order that you like them and I also like how they included seperate lists for the boy and girl names and listed them alphabetically. Some name books don't seperate the boy and girl names and I find that frustrating so I find this book to be helpful and I recommend it. It may be an old book but it sure is better then some of the newer name books out thee these days!

I have nearly 100 'baby name' books. Lansky's books are among the most shoddily researched. He also employs tactics to beef up his almighty name count such as misspelling names and adding each misspelling as a separate name in its own right and he even sometimes gives these misspellings different meanings from its correctly spelled root name. He also garners more numbers by adding male names to the female side, euphemistically femininizing their meanings to match the switch. I check the accuracy of each book I get with some easily researchable 'benchmark' names (Alexandra, Benjamin, William, etc) and even with these 'gimmies' he has around a 60% accuracy. That's not even counting the names that comprise the majority of his books, tribal-type names, such as from Africa, Native American tribes, and even those from Celtic roots. I wonder, would Webster get away with 60% accuracy? Certainly not and the same standards of accuracy and research should be applied to name books as well. The thing I find redeeming about Lansky's books is that it's full of outrageously spelled oddities, making it perfect for finding a name for your elven wizard in your next Dungeons and Dragons game.

This book makes the mistake of interpreting rather than defining some of the names. For example, Aidan means "fire," NOT "warmth of the home." Spellings are capricious as well; the most common and traditional spelling of Rhiannon is omitted in favor of several modern misspellings. No guidance is given as to pronunciation, but this is a failing of most name books. If you want to know the meaning of the name you choose for your child, keep browsing--this is not the book for you.

I think this is a book worth checking into. I know it was published in 1984, but it still has many nice names, as well as origins, meanings, and variations. I say if you're having a baby, you should definitely check this one out!

Though slightly outdated, _The Best Baby Name Book_ is still a good resource for baby names. Not only are there things to consider when naming your baby, there are stereotypes, fascinating facts about names, birthstones and flowers, a baby name worksheet and over 13,000 names to choose from. Each name is listed with it's origin, variations and nicknames clearly visible and easy to understand. I found quite a few interesting and beautiful names. Definitely one to keep around when you're making that important decision!

This was the book I chose when I was expecting my first child, the doctor said back then I was having a little girl even without an ultrasound. I fell in love with this book over and over trying to figure out the best name for my baby and what the name meant. Yes it defines the name . I named my baby girl after my doctors daughter but my daughters name was in the book along with the definition. However I used this book for all three of my daughters and gladly will buy them their own book when I found out that they are expecting. Yes! I cant wait til they say Im pregnant and your going to be a grandma. Having a child is 1 experience and pain you will never forget but choosing the name is not hard when you have a great book like this. Choosing a name is alot easier than raising them thats for sure.