Beyond Sarah and Sam: An Enlightened Guide to Jewish Baby Naming (Paperback)

by Linda Rosenkrantz (Author), Pamela Redmond Satran (Author)
Key Phrases: biblical names, The Family Moskat, The Image, Gimpel the Fool (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
From the authors of Beyond Jennifer & Jason, "the best baby-naming book ever written" (The News Journal), here is a book to help you find a name for your baby that reflects your Jewish heritage and suits your personal style:

Beyond Sarah & Sam: An Enlightened Guide to Jewish Baby Naming

You want to name your baby after your grandfather Moishe, but it seems as if all the "good" M names-those that appeal to both the Jewish person and the modern parent in you-have been overused. Or you want to give your child a biblical name, but every time you open the Old Testament the only names you see are the usual Sarahs and Adams or the beyond-the-pale Jezebels and Jobabs.

Here, at last, is a comprehensive guide to names that can work for a Jewish baby in America today-from the traditional to the trendy, from the well-worn to the unheard-of, and everything in between. With the insight and panache that have made them the reigning experts on baby names, the authors explore:

Bubba and Zayde Names-Jewish names of yesteryear that are ripe for a comeback, and those in "Lauderdale Limbo" whose fate is undetermined
The Good Book of Names-how to go beyond Sarah and Samuel and Rachel and David, and why not to name your son Cain!
Haifa-Nated Names-Hebrew names that may be popular in modern Israel but are sure to make your little one stand out in America

Plus an explanation of the complex Jewish naming traditions, a list of Jewish celebrities and their real names, and much, much more...

The authors' first baby name book revolutionized the field.


About the Author
Linda Rosenkrantz is the author of the novel Talk and co-author of Gone Hollywood and SoHo. The former editor of Auction magazine, she now writes a nationally syndicated column on collectibles. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.

Pamela Redmond Satran, former fashion features editor of Glamour, writes a syndicated column aimed at working parents. Her freelance articles have appeared in numerous publications, including Self, Elle, Working Mother, and The Washington Post. She lives with her husband, daughter, and son in London.

Their first collaborative work, Beyond Jennifer & Jason, was so popular that it spawned a series of specialized naming books, which also includes Beyond Charles & Sean: An Enlightened Guide to Irish Baby Naming.

Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin (January 15, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312069049
• ISBN-13: 978-0312069049
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 1.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,556,437 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Asenath - NOT!, August 11, 2004

By	Miriam Erez "Um-Yahav" (Israel) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As an Israeli and a "name freak", I found the authors' editorializing approach nearly offensive. Who are they to decree whether a name is a "girls' name" or a "boys' name", or "in" or "uncool"? These "facts" change about yearly.

In addition, their knowledge of Hebrew is spotty at best, which can be dangerous. For instance, they tell you that Asenath is a Biblical name, but do they tell readers that in Hebrew it's pronounced "oh-SNOT"? I found other similar but no less annoying misinformation as well. I recommend going Beyond Rosenkrantz and Satran...to other sources.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars waste of $, May 10, 2001

By A Customer

My husband and I did not find this book helpful at all. The list it has..ugh...would you really name your child HARPO??? My husband is Israeli and I am American and we were looking fr a baby naming book that would help...this was not it...the names listed are names you yourself know and do not need a book..ie David, Jonathon, Avi.....

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars What a waste!, May 21, 2001

By A Customer

There was almost nothing usefull. The collection of names is very small and the names were either completely off, or something I already know. At the same time, I am aware of many Jewish names which were not included. The book does not explain the meaning of the names either! The only more or less interesting few pages were on Jewish naming tradition. About 25% of 114 pages are filled with quotes - what a waste of paper. If I wrote a book like that, I would be ashamed to release it!