Customer Reviews

A Dictionary of First Names (Oxford Paperback Reference)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I have often found need for this book. It gives detailed etymologies of names, of famous persons bearing the name, and cross-references different forms of the name (as nick, male/female, and other languages). A name book done up as a proper reference book. It also has sections on Hindi/Indian and Muslim/Arabic names.

Head and shoulders above all other name books I have seen. Well researched and extremely thorough.

This book is one of the best references about personal names on the market. It is very scholarly in nature, yet very readable. The first two authors (Hanks and Hodges) are both linguists. The meanings and histories they give are reliable and accurate. There are many websites and books about baby names, but many of these are unreliable and emphasise quantity over quality. If you are looking for a book that will give you accurate information about the meanings and histories of names, this books is a good place to start. It's also a good book to read for the person who is interested in names.

This was usefull in trying to pick out a name for our baby (on the way), but i wasn't that impressed with the quantity or the information provided on each name. Would have liked more focus either way (or both).

Every entry is identical. Tells you nothing of interest. The one thing you want to know, what the name means, is hard to find, if it's mentioned at all. Very disappointing.