Beyond Ava & Aiden: The Enlightened Guide to Naming Your Baby [Paperback]

Linda Rosenkrantz (Author), Pamela Redmond Satran (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2009

The all-new, better-than-ever edition of “the classic baby-name guide.” --The New York Times Magazine

Ever since they revolutionized the world of baby-naming with Beyond Jennifer & Jason--the first book to go beyond dictionary definitions to identify the image and style of particular names--Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond Satran have brought their wit and insight to literally millions of parents. Now, America’s baby-name experts pinpoint the very latest trends in this all-new, up-to-the-minute edition of “the best baby-naming book ever written” (The News Journal).

Fresh, fabulous, and irresistible, Beyond Ava & Aiden is packed with fascinating new tips and lists, including:

*Green Names (Bay, Willow, Aster)

*Hipster Names (Pearl, Ruby, Dexter)

*Names That Work (Archer, Baker, Carter)

*Vintage Chic (Daisy, Clementine, Felix)

*Metrodude Names (Jackson, Jax, Maddox)

*Baby Gods and Goddesses (Juno, Orion, Clio)

And many more inspired---and inspiring---choices.

Editorial Reviews

Review

 “Unlike garden-variety baby-name guides . . . [Beyond Jennifer & Jason] lays it on the line.” --Entertainment Weekly

“If you want some inspiration in naming your baby (or if you just want to spend some amusing moments), pick up Beyond Jennifer & Jason.” --Family Circle

About the Author

LINDA ROSENKRANTZ and PAMELA REDMOND SATRAN, who regularly appear as baby name experts in national media including People, The Wall Street Journal, US Weekly, USA Today, and The New York Times, have sold a million and a half copies of their baby name books. Linda lives in Los Angeles, California, and Pam outside New York City.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; Fifth Edition edition (June 23, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312539150
• ISBN-13: 978-0312539153
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #57,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

98 of 114 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poorly edited, contradictions throughout, July 26, 2009

By 

lab88 "lab88" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Ava & Aiden: The Enlightened Guide to Naming Your Baby (Paperback)

I loved the earlier versions of this book. I used Beyond Madision and Montana in naming my firstborn. I am now expecting again and was happy to find a new version. WAS happy. Until I read it. There are so many contradictions, it's like they randomly put names into contradictory lists, then when names fall or rise, no matter what they can say they predicted right.

I gave this book two stars instead of one only because of the inclusion of some new categories of names, such as the hipster and yupster lists.

This book needed an editor. I think that it was rushed to print based on the success of the previous editions. I recommend picking up an older edition and double-checking your name choice's current popularity on the SSN newer lists.

Big problems:

1. Names appear on conflicting lists. Some names appear on the lists for masculine names. Then some of the same names are on the unisex lists!

Cade is on powerboy and unisex. Either a name is unisex OR masculine. Not both.

Cale is on both Powerboy and Metrodude. Those are not the same things. At all. I'm sure people read one list, find a name they like, and then choose it...never realizing that their "powerboy" name might also have been picked by someone for their sweet little GIRL. Or, a parent picks a "unisex" name for their princess, then learns it's really got a "powerboy" image.

P. 132 - Katie is on the "mom names" list - the description says these are names you wouldn't want to name your little girl today because they're dated. P. 133 - Katie is on the "girlish names" list - cute and girlish names that hold on to their appeal. Oh, but they do say that some of the girlish names are also now grandma names. How is this supposed to be helpful? It's like this book was written by ten different people and then not even edited! There is an index with the names listed, was it too much trouble for an editor to go over the index for each name?

P. 127 Agatha is under "womanly names" your daughter might thank you for as she grows up. P. 47 it's listed as an uncool name, so your child better have good self esteem if she ends up stuck with this name.

2. The cool, cooler, coolest lists demonstrate how arbitrary their lists really are. Some names that appeared in previous lists have now just been flipped around. So, the old coolest is now cooler, and the old cooler is now coolest. Exactly how is this relevant? How is this reflective of trends? People read your previous book, saw the "cooler" name and used it, so now it's coolest? Doubtful.

3. The names on the unisex list are ridiculous. How many girls are named Charleston? Most of these names are either 1)good for a dog, 2) girl's names, 3) boy's names. You can pick a boy's name for your girl, and vice versa, or you can pick a true unisex name. Riley, at this point, it being used pretty evenly for girls and boys. That makes it unisex (like it or not). Charleston, etc., are boy's names (or dog's names). That makes it a boy's name that you used on your daughter. Some people want that, but you should know that before you use it. Don't trust this list.

4. Hollywood star's children's names are repeated many times, and not always disclosed as star's children's names. I would want to avoid the names, and I don't want to see them over and over anyway. There are at least three sections of star and star's children's names. With a lot of the same names. Filler.

5. They still have Candida sprinkled throughout the book. Candida was all over the last book, too. Candida is another name for yeast infection. I suspect someone named their own daughter Candida and they really wanted it to catch on. To paraphrase a funny movie - Stop making Candida try to happen. It's not going to happen.

Overall, since you have to double and triple check everything in this book, what's the point? Flip through it and get a few ideas, then go buy a book that's at least been well-edited.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BEST NAME BOOK BY A MILE!!, August 2, 2009

By 

A. Olson (Scottsdale, AZ) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond Ava & Aiden: The Enlightened Guide to Naming Your Baby (Paperback)

This book is unlike your typical name book that gives you lists of 1000's of names (most so strange or out of style that no one would use them) and instead gives you actual information and advice. Pamela and Linda have been writing these books on names for years and they are by far our countries "Baby Naming Experts". It tells you about the names popularity, what others think of it and how your child will be perceived having the name. This book was so entertaining to read too! How many baby naming books can you say that about? If you have a baby to name this is the one book you should spend your money on! I loved it!

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must-Have For Expectant Parents and Name Lovers!, July 8, 2009

By 

Jill Barnett - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond Ava & Aiden: The Enlightened Guide to Naming Your Baby (Paperback)

As a huge fan of Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz's baby-naming guides, I'm pleased to report that their newest book, "Beyond Ava and Aiden," is simply outstanding in every way!

Organized into logical, easy to read chapters and sections pertaining to style, image, sex, and tradition, "Beyond Ava and Aiden" leaves no stone unturned when it comes to offering current, honest, and well-researched naming information and advice. Unlike other baby-naming books that simply list names in alphabetical order, "Beyond Ava and Aiden" actually lets you know if your favorite name is stylish...or not.

Suggested names are grouped into delightful categories (examples: Vintage Chic, So Far In They're Out Names, Flower and Fruit Names, Hipster Names, Yupster Names, Creative Names, Girly-Girl Names, Powerboy Names, Fictional Characters, The Celts Are Coming) designed to help future parents make informed naming decisions.

As with Satran and Rosenkrantz's other baby-naming books, their naming advice and categories are presented with humor and ease, creating a pleasant and relaxing reading experience.

Whether you're a name fan or someone attempting to name a little one, "Beyond Ava and Aiden" is a must for you. There's nothing else like it!