The New Book of Magical Names [Paperback]

Phoenix McFarland (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 8, 2003

There is tremendous energy within names. Powerful symbols of identity, inspiration, and intention, names are magical tools of self-transformation. The original version of this classic guide, included in the prestigious New York Times "Reader's Guide to the Best 10,000 Books in Print," helped thousands find the perfect name for everything from their child to their coven to their cat. Now, it has been revised and expanded, and is bigger and better than ever.

The New Book of Magical Names presents a dictionary of more than 7,000 names (including pronunciations) taken from modern and ancient sources, including nature, mythology, history, fantasy literature, folklore, and faraway lands. Discover how religious and political movements, long-forgotten customs and social mores have influenced names throughout time. This fascinating guide features:

• The only dictionary of non-Christian names in print
• Names indexed both alphabetically and by the qualities they invoke      (beauty, wealth, power, and more)
• Quizzes to help you figure out your magical name
• Rituals to unleash the power within your name

Whether you are looking for a baby shower gift, initiating a new era in your own life, wanting to find a pen name, a magical name, or even a name for your house, The New Book of Magical Names is your indispensable resource.

This is a Print-on-Demand title. Please allow an additional 2-3 days for delivery.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

There is tremendous energy within names. Powerful symbols of identity, inspiration, and intention, names are magical tools of self-transformation. The original version of this classic guide, included in the prestigious New York Times "Reader's Guide to the Best 10,000 Books in Print," helped thousands find the perfect name for everything from their child to their coven to their cat. Now, it has been revised and expanded, and is bigger and better than ever.

The New Book of Magical Names presents a dictionary of more than 7,000 names (including pronunciations) taken from modern and ancient sources, including nature, mythology, history, fantasy literature, folklore, and faraway lands. Discover how religious and political movements, long-forgotten customs and social mores have influenced names throughout time. This fascinating guide features:

• The only dictionary of non-Christian names in print
• Names indexed both alphabetically and by the qualities they invoke      (beauty, wealth, power, and more)
• Quizzes to help you figure out your magical name
• Rituals to unleash the power within your name

Whether you are looking for a baby shower gift, initiating a new era in your own life, wanting to find a pen name, a magical name, or even a name for your house, The New Book of Magical Names is your indispensable resource.

About the Author

Phoenix McFarland (British Colombia, Canada) describes herself as "an irreverent Wiccan Priestess."  Ms. McFarland has had many articles and poems published in Pagan publications, including the column "Rainforest Echoes" in Hole in the Stone Wiccan Journal.  She also leads workshops at Pagan festivals.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications; 2nd edition (July 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738703958
• ISBN-13: 978-0738703954
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #532,710 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good, very useful, handy little book, January 3, 2004

By 

Mistaken Missive "MM_5" (Richardson, TX USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The New Book of Magical Names (Paperback)

I bought the first version of this book and just had to pick up this one as well. My only complaint is that a lot of the original "Book of Magical Names" is re-hashed in the "New Book of Magical Names" (which is why it only got 4 stars) When I buy book 2, I expect nothing but new stuff! If you have not purchased the first book, then only buy the second because you really don't need both.

The details, quality and extensive info contained on magical and meaningful names is marvelous! I recomend this not only to pagans but to anyone who needs names. You will not find names like these on those "baby name" sites. You also won't find the insight and information contained there either. This book is essential for almost anyone's library and I personally find it incredibly useful. I love this book!

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Name Book That Goes Beyond Typical Traditional, February 22, 2005

By 

Kristina - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Book of Magical Names (Paperback)

This is the best book on names that are magic related that I have everread. I use this for creating stories and and for spiritual reasons.It is the only book I have found that is truly dedicated to names not related to theChristian or Classical traditions, but rather to Druid, magical, or Pagan names. It includes a whole bunch of origins that I had forgotten.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A valuable resource in any library, January 25, 2004

By 

Psyche (spiralnature.com) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The New Book of Magical Names (Paperback)

"Magical names harken back to rituals deep in our past when we first named ourselves, when we first looked at ourselves and knew that we were sacred." (pg. xv)

McFarland opens with a brief descrption of the history of nomenclature and its social context from the ancient Celts of 1000 CE with names like "Aelfraed", derived from aelf meaning elf, and raed council (the modern equivalent "Alfred" lends a new perspective to Batman's butler and confidant), to the more bizarre and occasionally amusing Puritan reign where such names as "Kill Sin Pimple" appear in court documents, to the current day, and even offering predictions for future naming trends.

Regarding the relatively recent trend inventing names, McFarland notes that "on one hand we are creating a generation of meaningless names (which does say something about the culture in which we live); on the other hand, others are simply spinning out new generations of older name clones (which also says something about that culture). So by the very nature of our superficiality or resistance to change, historical nomenclature is socially significant as ever." (pg. 23).

There is a large practical section devoted to naming rituals, spells, exercises, meditations, and for divining and empowering one's chosen name, whether naming oneself, a child, or a coven or group. Also discusses folklore surrounding naming customs, rites of passage, initiatory, for each degree, etc.

McFarland lends a wide variety of sources available for choosing a name: common archetypes, names from birds, the sky, space/time, light/dark, names that are traditionally last names used as first names, natural and elemental names, and name sources, places, garden, floral and fauna, as well as a huge section dedicated to selecting names from fiction: from The Lord of the Rings to The Mists of Avalon and everything in between. Though many names are left with little or no explanation beyond their historical time period or who the characters are. However, there are no "harsh" names, no mention of Kali, or Pluto, Chaos or Discordia, everything is left quite light-hearted. While it's nice to keep things positive it's not very balanced.

Offering much more than a simple compendium of names, this book will be a valuable resource in any library.