Baby Names Now : From Classic to Cool--The Very Last Word on First Names

Rating:
Summary: The best of the best!
Review: I love the author's other new book, Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana, but I love this one too. You really need them both -- Baby Names Now is a dictionary style name book but it goes waaaaaaay beyond those boring dictionaries and includes hundreds of names you won't find anywhere else. And all the popular culture references are really important if you care about choosing an interesting stylish name for your child you won't hear on every street corner (or TV show). Baby Names Now is terrific!

Rating:
Summary: The "Friends" baby-naming book
Review: I read in TV Guide that this book was supposed to appear on "Friends" to help Ross and Rachel name their baby -- makes sense because it's got that hip and down-to-earth sensibility! This book and the author's other one, Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana, are all I needed to pick the perfect name for my baby. I love these name writers -- if you're naming a baby, you've gotta get their books!!

Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: I think this book is one of the best baby naming tools available. Instead of just listing meanings, it lists perceptions of different names. This is really helpful if you're trying to avoid anything too trendy, or get honest opinions on whether your chosen names is really as "out there" as other people think. I used this with Beyond Madison and Montana, but I think it stands alone on its on merits. Well worth the money if you want a different perspective.

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: I thought that this book was a wonderful change from the bunches of books that just list names with their origin and meaning. Those are good books to skim for an idea, but this one brought so much more to the table. I really liked the information on whether names were getting too trendy and overused, and I loved that so many entries had alternatives listed. I highly recommend it for someone who is interested in really exploring names, and not just looking at a long list of every name ever used.

Rating:
Summary: trendy, without much substance
Review: I was dissappointed with this book. After reading the reviews I don't really know what I was expecting, but what I got was almost entirely the authors' opinions. There are few entries with containing meanings and true origins, although they all have commentary on 'coolness'. If you just need an additional name resource then it's o.k., although there really aren't that many new names in it. But if you're looking for something with reference to a name's meaning and origins beyond a popular TV character or stars baby, then this books NOT for you.

Rating:
Summary: Good For Sheep Only
Review: I was hoping for a book that would illuminate some choices for baby names, while pointing out any unfortunate associations I had not thought of. Only to receive a book that was short on credible information, and long on personal judgement.

I was truly disappointed in the seemingly arbitrary way in which the authors claimed some names to be outdated. While I understand that Cherry could be a torment to a young girl, lumping Cheri and Cheryl in with these was absolutely silly. Having grown up in the eighties with that name, I was never once called a name referring the former. Asking two friends - a Cheri, (ten years younger than myself) and a Cheryl, (four years older) if they had ever been teased in that way, they both laughed and said no. Many times the author's reasons for dissuading parents from choosing a name seem to be based only on the author's personal preferences and peccadilloes.

I found that many of the names the authors' gave their seal of approval to, were names that were probably most trendy at the moment they were writing. They blithely recommend, good god... California? Not realizing that place names, (like Brooklyn, etc.) are already being ridiculed as tired and silly in magazines. No doubt in a year or two, they'll be recommending Apple and other fruit names, once they too are no longer trendy.

The most unfortunately thing is that the author's emphasis on trendy or common names, may warn parents off of some unique and delightful older names. In the end I could have saved myself the price of the book and done the name research on the internet.


Rating:
Summary: I LOVE THIS BOOK!
Review: I'm a three-time mom who's now looking for a name for baby number four and this book is the BEST! I've been through all the baby-naming books and I know, from living with my other children's names, that these authors really tell you the truth about how a name is received in the real world. It's the only name book out there (besides the authors' other new book, Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana, which I also love) that gives you lots of new ideas for names and how to use them -- as well as warning you away from names that might be getting overused! If you want a name book that gives you lots of solid information you will appreciate more and more over time as you live with the name you choose for your child, this one is for you.

Rating:
Summary: I loved it!
Review: If you are looking for a book that gives meanings behind the names don't buy this book. It only gives the author's opinion on the name or a list of famous people who share the name. I also find that is does not have a good selection of names. For example, it lists the name Torquil(which I have never heard of) but does not have the name Travis, and the book even mentions the name Travis in an opinion on another name. I find it opinionated and poorly written.

Rating:
Summary: I hate this book!
Review: If you are looking for a book that gives meanings behind the names don't buy this book. It only gives the author's opinion on the name or a list of famous people who share the name. I also find that is does not have a good selection of names. For example, it lists the name Torquil(which I have never heard of) but does not have the name Travis, and the book even mentions the name Travis in an opinion on another name. I find it opinionated and poorly written.

Rating:
Summary: This One's My Favorite
Review: If you're looking for a dictionary of baby names, there are about a zillion other books out there to choose from. But if you've already looked at the typical baby name lists and were left feeling uninspired, check out "Baby Names Now". The authors offer real world wisdom and advice about each name. Each entry is clever and funny. Their descriptions are often completely subjective, but that's what makes this book so much fun. It really gets you thinking about what you do or don't like and why. I recommend it to all expecting mothers and fathers!