Penguin Dictionary Of First Names, The

Description: A comprehehensive guide to the history and meaning of names, this reference is not just a list of different words, but takes the reader back to the historical roots of each name with their cultural, religious and artistic heritage helpfully explained.

Features: gives the meaning or origin of each name, its variants and diminutives; highlights famous literary and cultural associations; shows how names have changed in use over time; and lists the most popular girls' and boys' names from 1700 to the present. What's in a name? Rather more than you might at first suspect, for names are steeped in history and myth and have much to tell us about our past, our beliefs - even our personality traits.