First-Time Parent and Gem Babies’ Names Bundle

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Using This Book

Registering Your Baby’s Birth

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Top 50 boys’ and girls’ names in England and Wales, 2003

Top 50 boys’ and girls’ names in Scotland, 2003

Today’s parents have an enormous pool of names to choose from, probably more than at any other time in history. Alongside the traditional stock of names from the Bible, the classical world and the old Germanic names brought over by the Anglo-Saxons and the Normans, we now have names from all over the world, both Continental versions of traditional names and names from cultures with which our grandparents had little or no contact. This has led to a change in the attitude to what a ‘real’ name is, and as a result people now feel free to create a wonderful range of new names, many unique to their child. The danger here, of course, is that the child will have a lifetime of explaining what their name is, and how it is spelt, but many of these names pass into general circulation, particularly those that are blends; that is, combinations of sounds from other names. In addition, a much wider range of spellings of any given name is used by parents, perhaps to distinguish their child from others of the same name. I have tried to include as many of these different spellings as is reasonably possible, under the standard or traditional form of the name. I have also included a wide range of short forms. This is not only to show the range available, but also so that parents can check that all possible forms of a chosen name go harmoniously with the surname. For however determined a parent might be to use one particular form of a name, someone will at some time use a pet form of the name. I have also given a lot of information about naming habits in America. In part, this is because so many new names come from America, particularly from the African-American communities, which are particularly rich coiners of new names. But it is also because of America’s dominance of the entertainment world. I hope that those curious about the unusual names they find used by actors and musicians will find the answer here.

Most of the variant names in this book have been cross-referenced to the name you can find it under. But in order to squeeze as many names as possible into this small book, if the cross reference would come near the headword, then it has been left out. Please look for the name you want under alternative spellings, and check under overlapping sounds such as ‘C’ and ‘K’, or ‘sh’ and ‘ch’.

The first edition of this book was compiled in 1967. Since then I have revised it at regular intervals to bring it up to date. Leslie Dunkling has added names from Arabic and from the Indian Sub-continent.

I hope that this book will help you find just the right name for your child.

JULIA CRESSWELL, 2004

If you have your baby in a hospital in England or Wales, there is a good chance that your local registrar’s office will have a branch there. It is worth taking advantage of this facility, rather than having to cope with a new baby and getting down to the registrar’s office later on. If nothing is said at the hospital, ask one of the nurses. Unfortunately, this facility is not available in Scotland where the regulations concerning the registration of births vary slightly from those in England and Wales.

By law, you have to register the birth of your child within 42 days of his or her birth, or within 21 days in Scotland. If you have not used a hospital office, you can go to any registrar’s office, although the procedure is slightly simpler if you use your local one, the address of which should be in the phone book. Registration centres round the mother. If the baby’s parents are married either parent can register the birth. If they are not married, they can register the birth together if they go to the registrar together, or else the father must get special forms from the registrar’s office in advance which, when filled in, will enable his details to go on the birth certificate. Otherwise, the father’s details will be left blank, although it may be possible to fill these in later – talk to the registrar about this. There is no need to take the baby with you to the registrar, but only a parent can register the birth; a friend or relative will not do.

At the registrar’s you will be asked to give the following information. The place and date of the baby’s birth (the time of birth will only be needed if you have twins or more, although in Scotland it is always required). You will also need to state his or her sex, and will be asked for the names you intend to give your child. If the father’s details are to go on the form you will need to give his full name, his date and place of birth and his occupation. The mother will be asked to give her full name, her maiden name if she has changed her surname and her place and date of birth. If she wishes, an occupation (current or previous) can be filled in. She has to give her usual address at the time of the birth and, if she is married to the father, the date of marriage will be asked for. She will also be asked for the number of other children she has had.