The Name Book: Over 10,000 Names - Their Meanings, Origins, and Spiritual Significance

My mom had the original edition of this book years ago. She would use it to make name certificates for new babies at church, include it with encouraging words to friends, etc. I bought a copy when I was expecting my first baby and it is still something I go back and refer to when getting name meanings for friends. I bought a second Kindle version so I would always have it on hand. (It's also great if you are into Biblical dream interpretation, sometimes a person in your dream is a symbol for something and knowing the meaning of the name is helpful.) Each name is listed with the most prevalent spelling first followed by variations of the name. The cultural or language origin is listed as well as the literal meaning of the name. The next part is where this book stands out from the other name books. The spiritual connotation of the name is then listed along with a verse that the author felt illustrated that characteristic. For example, the name Blaine is a Gaelic name with the variations Blain, Blane, and Blayne listed. The literal meaning is Lean. The author has interpreted the spiritual connotation as "Trusting," one who trusts in God regardless of the circumstances. Isaiah 42:16 NRSV is given as a key verse. "I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground . . . I will not forsake them." The original book had an appendix in the back with a listing of men and women's names only. I don't see this in the second edition which I have on Kindle. It does have a listing of Biblical names. In both editions, there is a page listing birthstones and flowers by month, and places to write down your favorite names. The original version of this book had predominantly European and Latin with some Native American names. Comparing my old print version with this latest edition on my Kindle, it appears to have more Asian, Middle Eastern, and African name meanings than the first. Also in this edition that wasn't in the other is an outline for a family tree where you can write down names for four generations on each of the Mother and Father's side. Which is kind of cool. The one thing that is a little difficult is when someone has a name that has a weird spelling or variation of a name. The names are listed alphabetically by the most common spelling, so you have to think which one it would be listed under. Regarding some other comments: You can't look up names by meanings. That is true, but with the Kindle version you can always do a search and find them. The names aren't separated by boy and girl names: Maybe because all three of my girls have names that were originally masculine that are now considered "gender neutral," I don't see it as that big of a deal. I bought three books on names before my first child was born. One was the mega-book of the time. This is the only one out of the three that not only do I still have, but that I still use.

This book was incredibly resourceful and truly a blessing during a special time in our lives. It helped us choose the perfect name for our miracle daughter—one with deep meaning and purpose. The spiritual significance and origins of each name gave us peace and clarity in our decision. I’m so grateful for this book and highly recommend it to any parent looking for a name that carries weight, identity, and purpose.

When we found out we were pregnant and couldn’t agree on a name together this was helpful and handy to read through. I appreciated that it was alphabetical and that there was a variety of different names.

I have tried many baby name books but they all were so similar. This book does not divide by gender and I didn't think I would like that. However it turned out to be A GREAT time saver when flipping through different names! The verses and spiritual meaning are a great addition to simply the names origin and meaning it gives the name so much more depth and purpose to the reader. I don't have children yet but just reading this book and comparing what it says about the people I know names is so accurate to their personality and behaviors it's crazy! Seeing this has helped me greatly in pursuing them because I know now what God sees in them! The selling point for me was the fact that it had my name in it and spelled the way I do! I have never seen that before!

This book is great for deciding names. However, I would point out a few things: 1 - ODD ODD NAMES. There are so many names in here that, I don't know who would select them?! There are odd names, in which maybe I'm just very sheltered and unfamiliar, but I wonder where they came up with them? 2 - ODD EXCLUSIONS. There have been a few names that I don't think are too odd, that no form or shape is to be found. For example, while this Book includes the name Spring, it doesn't have the name Autumn?! I've never met anyone named Spring, and have met a lot of people named Autumn. 3 - ORIGIN / SPIRITUAL MEANINGS are DEBATABLE - The author states at the beginning that the spiritual meaning / connotation of each name is distant and indirect. I dare say. There are some names out there that I see no connection whatsoever to their meaning, nor could I even back it up?! Furthermore, some of the original meanings of names I wonder if they are true or where the author gets her information? I have found with minimal research on the computer that no such origin may exist. -- Don't let these 3 critiques stop you though. It's still a good book to look through if you're trying to look for baby names. If and when you find a name in this book, don't be too quick to assume that it's giving you the right information on the name origin and meaning though.

This name book is top notch. We used it at our church for a ladies retreat about God knowing our name. We looked up our names in the book and wrote it out. Love how this book has a Biblical view on names. Definitely recommended for expectant parents or for use in ministry!

I was leant this book when I was pregnant with my first son and love that this not only has names and meanings but then has a bible verse linked to the meaning - not just with bible names. As I was looking through this for my third child it was the bible verse that meant the most and her name is a story we share with people we meet... without any of us knowing it is a testimony how God knows us before we were born as we are missionaries and named her back home but when we came overseas discovered we had named her a local name! A great book, I also bought a copy for my pastor as it is really encouraging for people to hear what their name means even as adults and to see what is spoken over them.

Loads of names. Fun looking through and finding new and unusual names

Super Namensbuch mit der Bedeutung und Herkunft der Namen. Ich habe alle Namen für meinen Sohn hieraus gewählt. Kann ich nur empfehlen für Eltern, die internationale Namen schätzen . Sehr gutes Buch

We are in love with this book, so much more in depth than other books we have purchased. Great tool, our church uses it to make a plaque for each child born in our church and it's great as we really put a lot of stock in to the meaning of the name for us to use it for our children. Also great when doing up a gift/birthday card for someone to put their verse and name meaning inside.

Names are so much more than a surface identification. This book digs a lot deeper than that, while being brief and to the point, thus making meaning an enjoyable and graspable concept for each name. There is a Judeo-Christian orientation, and biblical allusions and contexts are provided for each name with multiple phonetic resonances provided, which are flexible, so if you're looking for a particular name, the book engages creative faculties by giving a pointer to the grammatical root of the name, without being overtly scientific or systematic in approach. A good, inspiring energy.

Great Variety of names! Came in very handy.