The Name Book: Over 10,000 Names - Their Meanings, Origins, and Spiritual Significance Paperback – November 1, 2008

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.

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.

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.

Nice idea for new born names.

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!

After searching three other baby name books (that each boasted 20,000 names or more - one even had more than 50,000 from around the world) and finding nothing that worked for our first child, I borrowed this book from a friend and found the perfect name. The name my husband and I chose wasn't in any of the other books. The same thing happened to the friend who lent me The Name Book - she has never found her first-born's name in another baby name book.The meanings in The Name Book are lovely, and the spelling variations allow parents to personalize names to their own tastes. Even though we knew the sex of our baby before she was born, it was still nice to have the boy and girl (and unisex) names listed together - it just gives you more options and it's easier to read.I'm ordering my own copy of the book since we're expecting our second child this year. (By the way, my lending friend is done having children - but she's keeping the book just because it's so wonderful!)

This book is so special. This is not only a name meaning book but a historical reference and blessing for children ( or anyone) and their names. No other goes into as much depth. Opposed to the millennial comments of this book not having “modern” names…. look again! A name means so much, this will help you decide then give historical, biblical meaning and blessing to it.