A Dictionary of First Names (Oxford Paperback Reference)

by Flavia Hodges (Author), Flavia Hodges (Author), Patrick Hanks (Author)

• Used

  Paperback
  2003

  $3.51

  Do you love or hate your name? Do you know what it really means? How do you choose the right name for someone? We all have a first name, but how many of us really know its origin and history? This comprehensive dictionary provides a fascinating collection of linguistic, historical, and associated information about some 7,000 names, making it ideal reference for linguists and family historians, as well as an important source of information for parents choosing a name for a child.

• Used

  Paperback
  2006

  $4.61

  The fascinating and informative Dictionary of First Names covers over 6,000 names in common use in English, including the very newest names as well as traditional names. From Alice to Zanna and Adam to Zola this book will answer all your questions: it will tell you the age, origin, and meaning of the name, as well as how it has fared in terms of popularity, and who the famous fictional or historical bearers for the name have been. It covers alternative spellings, short forms and pet forms, and masculine and feminine forms, as well as help with pronunciation. The book includes extensive appendices covering names from languages including Scottish, Irish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, and Chinese names. Tables of the most popular names by year and by region are also included. This is the most comprehensive paperback first names dictionary available. From the traditional to the rare and unconventional, this book will tell you everything you need to know about names.

• Used

  Hardcover
  1991

  $3.51

  This dictionary explains the origin and meaning of some 4500 European and American names, while two appendices cover the most commonly recurring Indian and Arabic names. Entries give the ethnic and linguistic root of a name, cross-referring them to those closely related, and list associated cognates, masculine and feminine forms, variants, diminutives, derivatives and pet forms. Summarizing much historical and etymological information, this authoritative reference work will be beneficial to family historians, genealogists, linguists and the interested general reader.