Your Old BBN Books?

General Name Discussion
1

Hey, Nameberryites! Can you help me find old baby name books?

I’m talking about name books that were published BEFORE 1950. [name]Even[/name] better if you know of any published before 1900.

If you have any of these books in your possession and would like to add a few comments about them, please do, as well.

Here are my oldest name books (with pre-1950 copyright date listed first):

  1. What to Name the [name]Baby[/name]. [name]Evelyn[/name] [name]Wells[/name].
  2. These Are the Names. [name]Alfred[/name] J. Kolatch.

I’m about to acquire:

  1. The [name]Oxford[/name] Dictionary of English [name]Christian[/name] Names. E.G. Withycombe. (I already have the 1977 third edition.)

These old name books are available as free downloads from Google Books:

  1. Praenomina; or, The Etymology of the Principal [name]Christian[/name] Names of Great [name]Britain[/name] and [name]Ireland[/name]. [name]Richard[/name] [name]Stephen[/name] Charnock.
  2. [name]History[/name] of [name]Christian[/name] Names. [name]Charlotte[/name] M. Yonge.

Okay, who can add to this list? Only books published 1950 and earlier, please! Thanks!

This list should also help others, who are fond of classic and “forgotten” names, find old name books.

– [name]Nephele[/name]

2

American Given Names by [name]George[/name] R. [name]Stewart[/name] (1979)

I know you said before 1950, but this is an awesome book that gives name data from American history (e.g. the Mayflower passenger list, [name]Harvard[/name] student lists, etc…). It’s not so much a baby name book, as a serious look on the etymology and historical use of the name.

3

Thanks, [name]Fay[/name]. Does the book include entries for these two American names? Orselia and [name]Permelia[/name]?

– [name]Nephele[/name]

4

It doesn’t, sorry. It’s more about depth than breadth, unfortunately.

5

My MOST PRIZED possession is [name]Christian[/name] Names by [name]Charlotte[/name] M Yonge, first published in 1868. My copy is a second printing, but still Victorian and very precious!

A Charm of Names by [name]Ivor[/name] [name]Brown[/name] is very interesting, and has a different slant on a few selected names.

[name]Jack[/name] and [name]Jill[/name] by [name]Ernest[/name] Weekely was published in 1948 and takes a more traditional route.

First Names First by [name]Leslie[/name] Dunkling was the first book I ever read which heralded [name]Pam[/name] and [name]Linda[/name]'s idea about names having “images” and is a really, really interesting book. I corresponded with this author for a while! He has written other books, but I think this one is his best.

Most of these are available quite cheaply on Amazon, except, alas, [name]Charlotte[/name] M Yonge’s.

xx

I have missed all you guys on Nameberry. xx

6

We’ve missed you! I was just wondering about you the other day :slight_smile: I hope you and your family are well.