40,001 Best Baby Names

Rating:
Summary: The Author Must Be Joking
Review: Because I can't imagine anyone seriously recommending that people use these names, or honestly expecting us to believe that these names mean what the author claims.
I knew I had made a mistake in purchasing this book when I saw the list of "Alternative Spellings for Girl Names you Can't Pronounce". Are we seriously expected to name our daughters "Afrodytee"? If you don't know how to pronounce "Aphrodite" then perhaps that is not the name for you. Perhaps we should not give our children names that will forever announce to the rest of the world that her parents are culturally and intellectually illiterate. "Salowmee" instead of "Salome", "Dafnee" instead of "Daphne", the list is endless, and endlessly insulting to potential parents with at least a 6th grade education.

As is the rest of the book. "Jaylo"? It's apparently an American name, a combination of Jennifer and Lopez (duh) and the best part is, the author has decided it means "Charismatic." Uh-huh. I thought it meant, "I'll name my child after a singer/actress's nickname." Guess I was wrong.

And "Jaylo" is only one of the fabulous names the author wants us to consider inflicting on an innocent child. (...)I honestly cannot believe that this author did not just sit down one day with a bottle of vodka and put this book together. The huge number of names that appear on both lists (good to know that "Velvet" is a unisex name), the seven or eight versions of the same name that appear with different spellings, or variations on the theme that appear as different names (someone else already mentioned the page worth of "Billie Christine Billichristine Billikristine Billikris Billie Kris etc. etc.") and the made-up or regular object words as names with invented meanings (I'll name my baby "Couch." It means "lover of life". Because I said so.) make this a book I cannot recommend to anyone.
Please, buy a proper baby name book. This is a waste of money for anyone with the slightest conscience about what we name our children.


Rating:
Summary: Ridiculous Book
Review: I bought this book to help in naming my third child, as I had given my other baby-naming books away. I was impressed with the number of names the book claimed to provide, but became quickly unimpressed. The author provides large lists of alternate spellings for a number of names and then counts them towards the 40,001 total, making for a grossly over-inflated name count. And many of the names are plainly ridiculous, with obviously invented meanings. For example, the author claims "Lexus" is a girl's name, with American derivation, meaning "rich." And how about "Fang," "Merceydes," "Meatah" and "Jaylo" as part of her suggestions? I have spent too much time having my intelligence insulted in the course of reading this book; don't let it happen to you!

Rating:
Summary: An Insightful and Comprehensive Collection
Review: I found the 40,001 Best Baby Names book to be one of the most comprehensive books of its kind - taking a once unassuming subject to an entirely different level. It's the book for those left looking for more after breezing through traditional baby naming books, insightfully revealing names of nobility as well as those reflecting our multi-cultural society. It's cleaver and full of wit as it says out loud what many people think. I particularly liked the telling dialogue from a collection of adults in the book, explaining how their names have impacted and shaped their lives.

Rating:
Summary: Mothership of all Baby Naming Books
Review: I found this to be the premier book of baby name books. It was not only refreshing but helpful. The real life stories were insightful and made it easier to take the task seriously. Out of all the baby naming books I've read, this one was the most interesting and creative. Considering that our names typically remain with us for a lifetime, I was grateful to find a book that took a different approach to this daunting task. It helped me recognize the importance of my role in my child's life.

Rating:
Summary: yuck!
Review: i gave this book two stars because, yes, it has a bazillion names in it but whether or not they're the "best" is up for discussion. some memorable names include schmoopie, chubby, dijonnaise, and flirt.

my family and i got a kick out of it but we'll be using another books for name ideas!

Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Review: I have purchased several copies of 40,001 BEST BABY NAMES to give to expectant parents. I very much like the presentation of the book. The history of each name encourages new parents to consider the seriousness of naming their new, little one. There are certainly sufficient names included in the lists to offer some ideas for all parents-to-be. Also, the secion "How names shape our lives" adds a great, personal touch to the book.

Rating:
Summary: Wonderful
Review: I have read this book and i think it's wonderful! I think that there are many useful names that would inspire any new parent to use one, or two! I would definitely recommend this book to my friends who are expecting! Even to parents who don't have a child on the way, this book is great for them because it gives them very good ideas "on into the future". If you are sitting here reading this review pondering on what to name your "new addition to the family", this book is for you.

Rating:
Summary: User friendly
Review: I liked the layout of this book. It was easy to read. The different sections of baby names such as "Good Names for Mechanics" helped add humor to the daunting task of trying to come up with a baby name. Compared to other baby name books, it was the easiest for both my husband and I to use. We were able to narrow our choices to three names, and then finally one. I would suggest this book to my friends who are expecting.

Rating:
Summary: I loved this book!
Review: It had everything a parent could want--and more. Some baby-name
books don't have meanings for many names, but in this case, names that traditionally have no meanings, the author put connotations, which made the book more interesting than most. The 75 lists are great fun, and anyone with a sense of humor will totally enjoy reading this. (By the way, the nasty review I read on Amazon about the book is way off base; that person must have been PMSing and needed a handy target! People are too weird for me!!! Who would freak out like that over a baby-name book?)

Rating:
Summary: DO NOT EVEN WASTE A DOLLAR ON THIS BOOK
Review: It's easy to come up with 40,001 names when you include pets names, nicknames and other creations that are complete fabrication. For example: fudge, schmoopi, hollywood, obedience, welcome, and ... Cleopatrick! The name of the author is Diane. Here some suggestions for your own name you could include in your next edition: Dyhanee, Dyahn, Di-An, Di-anne, Dihahne, dihan, Dian, Diannee, Diannehh, Dianette...