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Beyond Jennifer & Jason, Madison & Montana : What To Name Your Baby Now
The book all new babies want their parents to read--now with the latest predictions, inspiration, and advice.
"In the decade since we've begun writing about names, the world of baby-nbaming has mushroomed from a sleepy little enterprise, with parents naming their children Jennifer and Jason and wondering whether there might be anything more exciting out there, to an adventurous and intelligent and style-conscious activity in which parents investigate everything from their family trees to names from their ancestors' native lands to atlases and even dictionaries that are ever more inventive, individual, and enlightened." --Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond Satran
No one knows baby names like these two experts--whose first book Beyond Jennifer & Jason predicted back in 1988 that then-obscure place names like Madison were "so far out they're on their way in" (They were right By 1998, Jennifer had gone from #4 in popularity to #24 and Madison had become the ninth most popular name for baby girls). This is the guide that tells you what you really need to which names are hot, which names are not, and which names are on their way up or down. Who cares if "Cameron" means "crooked nose" in ancient Scottish Gaelic? If you love the name, you want to know whether it's still as right for a boy as for a girl, and if there are going to be five other Camerons in your child's class at school.
The brand-new edition of thie groundbreaking book gives you thousands of new choices and the kind of knolwedgeable guidance you won't find anywhere else. There are all-new sections, with all-new research, on naming a girl and naming a boy today, as well as fresh insights into the power of a name to influence your child's life, and lists of the most important styles and
Gender bending--names that defy old stereotypes
Ethnic names--vastly expanded multicultural options to reflect almost any heritage
Celebrity baby names--the most comprehensive up-to-date listing of who's naming their baby what
What's hot now--plus The Sixty Traditional Names that Transcend Time
"In the decade since we've begun writing about names, the world of baby-nbaming has mushroomed from a sleepy little enterprise, with parents naming their children Jennifer and Jason and wondering whether there might be anything more exciting out there, to an adventurous and intelligent and style-conscious activity in which parents investigate everything from their family trees to names from their ancestors' native lands to atlases and even dictionaries that are ever more inventive, individual, and enlightened." --Linda Rosenkrantz and Pamela Redmond Satran
No one knows baby names like these two experts--whose first book Beyond Jennifer & Jason predicted back in 1988 that then-obscure place names like Madison were "so far out they're on their way in" (They were right By 1998, Jennifer had gone from #4 in popularity to #24 and Madison had become the ninth most popular name for baby girls). This is the guide that tells you what you really need to which names are hot, which names are not, and which names are on their way up or down. Who cares if "Cameron" means "crooked nose" in ancient Scottish Gaelic? If you love the name, you want to know whether it's still as right for a boy as for a girl, and if there are going to be five other Camerons in your child's class at school.
The brand-new edition of thie groundbreaking book gives you thousands of new choices and the kind of knolwedgeable guidance you won't find anywhere else. There are all-new sections, with all-new research, on naming a girl and naming a boy today, as well as fresh insights into the power of a name to influence your child's life, and lists of the most important styles and
Gender bending--names that defy old stereotypes
Ethnic names--vastly expanded multicultural options to reflect almost any heritage
Celebrity baby names--the most comprehensive up-to-date listing of who's naming their baby what
What's hot now--plus The Sixty Traditional Names that Transcend Time
416 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 1999
6 people are currently reading
76 people want to read
About the author
Linda Rosenkrantz
31 books7 followersLinda Rosenkrantz is an American writer, known for her innovations in the realm of “nonfiction fiction,” most prominently in her novel Talk, a New York Review Books classic.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
June 25, 2016
1994
1998
2001
The only really useful baby name book I ever saw. Now I suppose you can find more and more pertinent info on the interwebs, but before I ever reproduced this book taught me how I think about names, and how to choose them.
Library copy
1998
2001
The only really useful baby name book I ever saw. Now I suppose you can find more and more pertinent info on the interwebs, but before I ever reproduced this book taught me how I think about names, and how to choose them.
Library copy
September 26, 2013
All the names are blurring together. I may have to name her Hey You.
October 20, 2014
Even though I'm not about to have a baby, this book was recommended to me simply for being an interesting study of baby names. I went in thinking it was going to be all about perceptions (ie Elizabeth's are thought of as high class, while Bessies aren't), but it was a bit more convoluted than that, even. Rather than list names and their traditional meanings like a standard baby name book, this looks at different angles like style, family names, tradition, etc. It's basically 400 pages of names in list form, which can be pretty boring and repetitive. However, it's pretty exhaustive if you ARE looking for a name or to avoid a name. It gives a little history into what names have historically made the top 10 or 100 in America, but what interested me most was the inclusion of the common naming conventions of the first colonists and the history of African American naming conventions. Of the huge lists that make up most of the book, I enjoyed most the section that goes through common names in European countries and Israel. Welsh and Irish are so incredibly different from English, it's just fascinating.
What I didn't like about this book was the repetition and the judgement about naming children one way or the other, and especially how apparently siblings need to have harmonious names. I call bull on that one. At any rate, all baby name books should be taken with a grain of salt, and this one is no exception. For what it was worth, I enjoyed taking a peek into the world of modern parenthood and the anxiety it's possible to have well before you even conceive. Yay!
What I didn't like about this book was the repetition and the judgement about naming children one way or the other, and especially how apparently siblings need to have harmonious names. I call bull on that one. At any rate, all baby name books should be taken with a grain of salt, and this one is no exception. For what it was worth, I enjoyed taking a peek into the world of modern parenthood and the anxiety it's possible to have well before you even conceive. Yay!
February 2, 2016
I’ve never had to name a child yet I’m fascinated by the origin, meaning, and history of names. I found the original ‘Beyond Jennifer and Jason’ at a used book store a few years ago and enjoyed it immensely. I love this newer version too. Did you know that Alice and Evelyn were originally boys names? Did you know that Betta is one of the nicknames for Elizabeth? Did you know that a boy born midvoyage on the Mayflower was named Oceanus? This book is full of fun name facts. Names are also divided in into categories like Royal Names, Place Names, Postvirtue Names, Profession Names, Regional Names, Classics, Creative Names etc so you can see what kind of name appeals to you. A fun and quick read for me and one for prospective parents to look at more closely.
February 8, 2022
I really didn't click with this book. As I read, I felt an air of pretentiousness in how the book dictated how one should and shouldn't name a child. What was especially egregious was the fact this book stated over and over again how if you give your son a gender neutral name such as Cameron or Morgan, you'd better think thrice because he may share names with a girl in his class. They also didn't bother making a place names (a la London, Milan, and Paris) category for boys due to their reasoning of "it'll end up being used mainly by girls anyway."
Because of course feminine = weakness and bullying potential
To contradict their lamentation that girls are "stealing" all the names they could give their hypothetical sons, they listed strong male names you should give your daughter, such as James, because masculine = strong and desirable.
And woe betide giving your child a name that doesn't immediately scream boy or girl. You should always make your child's gender clear because they will hate you otherwise and doubt their sexuality. It felt like this book considered gender neutral names as names masquerading as solely girl names you should never give your sons or the tired and boring choice.
I feel like we as a society have progressed past the arbitrary gender rules of the past. Do not be blinded by the myth that a feminine name equals soft and fluffy or that a macho name equals stuntman awesomeness. Naming traditions are always evolving and changing. What is seen as radical today may be embraced in the future. Someone has to be the one to question why we name children the way we do. Someone has to take that bold first step towards the next trend.
If you are naming a child, please use the name that feels right. Don't let books like this convince you that you are wrong to want to name your son River or your daughter Morgan. Don't let them take your favorite name and criticize it to death because it's not their style. Because ultimately you know what feels like a good fit.
Because of course feminine = weakness and bullying potential
To contradict their lamentation that girls are "stealing" all the names they could give their hypothetical sons, they listed strong male names you should give your daughter, such as James, because masculine = strong and desirable.
And woe betide giving your child a name that doesn't immediately scream boy or girl. You should always make your child's gender clear because they will hate you otherwise and doubt their sexuality. It felt like this book considered gender neutral names as names masquerading as solely girl names you should never give your sons or the tired and boring choice.
I feel like we as a society have progressed past the arbitrary gender rules of the past. Do not be blinded by the myth that a feminine name equals soft and fluffy or that a macho name equals stuntman awesomeness. Naming traditions are always evolving and changing. What is seen as radical today may be embraced in the future. Someone has to be the one to question why we name children the way we do. Someone has to take that bold first step towards the next trend.
If you are naming a child, please use the name that feels right. Don't let books like this convince you that you are wrong to want to name your son River or your daughter Morgan. Don't let them take your favorite name and criticize it to death because it's not their style. Because ultimately you know what feels like a good fit.
October 1, 2007
This is one of the best, most helpful baby name books I've ever read. while it doesn't include meanings for the names, what it does instead is break up names into various categories. For example, most popular names in the US on a certain year. so if you want to give your kid a trendy/ popular name, you can pick one from that list. if you want to protect your child from being one of 50 of the same name in their classes, then don't pick any of those names. there's breakdown by most popular in other countries, names that are so out they're in, celebrity baby names, popular names of different eras, etc. and interspersed between all the lists are articles varying in length, discussing different aspects of the issues of choosing a name for your child. It's nice to have a well-thought out and organized source for baby names, not just another alphabetical list of names with origins and meanings. The authors have some other books out, that are more category-specific (Irish, British, and Jewish names, among others), and I am eager to read them, based on this book. Definitely a good investment for any prospective parents, and useful for those writing stories as well, as well as being just plain fun and interesting.
January 18, 2009
I LOVE baby name books, and I think that the "Beyond Jennifer and Jason" books are the best. What makes them different is the format. This isn't a dictionary of baby names, it's a series of lists: top baby names in other countries, ethnic names, no-nonsense names, etc. There are helpful lists of unusual substitutions for ultra-popular names, too, and there's an index in the back so that you can see which lists your favorite names fall on.
I had the original edition in junior high and I read it so much that I could really put my finger on what was the same and what was different in this newest edition. I really enjoyed the new sections about the history of American and African-American naming traditions, and also the paragraphs about the origins and meanings of 60 classic names. I wish there had been more added to the "Family" section; it was almost identical to the 1988 edition.
Of course I don't agree with every name on every list, nor every opinionated tidbit in the commentary. I think this is a useful reference, though, and it also contains some interesting (and light) perspectives on the sociology of names.
I had the original edition in junior high and I read it so much that I could really put my finger on what was the same and what was different in this newest edition. I really enjoyed the new sections about the history of American and African-American naming traditions, and also the paragraphs about the origins and meanings of 60 classic names. I wish there had been more added to the "Family" section; it was almost identical to the 1988 edition.
Of course I don't agree with every name on every list, nor every opinionated tidbit in the commentary. I think this is a useful reference, though, and it also contains some interesting (and light) perspectives on the sociology of names.
September 30, 2008
As far as baby names books go, this one is by far the best one I've read. Mostly because it actually gives you something to read besides just an alphebetical list of baby names and what they mean. These authors take a look at current naming styles, tell you what trends have been going on, tell you which names are starting to become over used, etc. The pull name ideas from lots of different places, and give you other places to look to find even more names. The give you lots of different ways to find the names your looking for. Plus it was pretty interesting to learn where names came from, the different naming trends throughout history and why American baby names are what they are. So if you are searching for a great baby name, I would recommend this book.
August 27, 2008
I first read this in my teens, in its inaugural edition, when it was known simply as Beyond Jennifer and Jason. (Actually, I first read an excerpt from it in Glamour magaszine when it was a "forthcoming book", and bought it as soon as it was first printed.) It was then, and in its current edition still is the definitive name book, as far as I'm concerned. The authors not only provide entertaining reading, but give prospective parents food for thought as they consider names for their child-to-be. Their suggestions and critiques informed my decisions when I named my own daughter. HIGHLY recommended, whether or not you are naming a child!
January 2, 2009
Didn't read every single word of this book but I turned over every page and came up with a pretty good list of names. Meg and I have a lot of eliminating to do but at least we have a start now. My sister-in-law also let us borrow her copy of Cool Names For Babies, and so maybe we'll come up with a few more "cool" possibilities with that book. Then we need to give the old family tree a good shake. We want to find a name that's just right for our soon-to-be-born son. We don't want to end up something overly common or boring, but we don't want to go too trendy or weird either. Of course, we want something unique and special. We're on the hunt for the perfect name!
July 3, 2017
I started reading these books about 15 or so years ago when I was expecting my first child, and they are by far the best baby name books ever written. The way the authors categorize names into lists: "On the way out...". "Always in..". "Never In Again" "movie star names" etc. are hilarious, so true, and very creative. What is more, they are right on the mark. If you've ever heard a name, such as Melissa, and immediately without even thinking, thought a word such as "bossy," then these books are for you. These books have stuck with me and will forever influence the way i view names and the naming of babies. A very interesting read just for the fun of it.
September 27, 2010
I've been reading every baby naming book I can find lately, and I found this one to be abnormally useful and insightful. It doesn't just give endless lists of names and definitions, but it includes lots of information about how people perceive names, how people of different backgrounds and education levels name their children, and information that really gave me a good idea of how people would react to the names I'm considering slapping onto my children. It's a little outdated, which is unfortunate, but still useful. It didn't add anything to the list though, so it's not THAT useful.
February 13, 2008
This is the only baby name book I own. Most of them I check out from the library. I got this one while pregnant with my first and while the categories are nice, I ended up in the Index looking at all the names at once. I got sick of reading through each page of how popular this name was or how many celebrities named their child this one. It does have a variety of names that alot of other books are now starting to include. Pregnant with my second, this is the first book I flipped through.
January 9, 2008
Okay, I've never had a kid or been close to it, but I've always been interested in names. This was pretty fun and quite fascinating at times. It gave namers things to think about when pairing names or to consider when selecting a cultural name. I liked it enough to keep it around... if nothing else I can use it to choose names for characters in my books!
January 5, 2010
Same author as Beyond Charles and Diana: An Anglophile's Guide to Baby Naming, so it is the same type format. More extensive and obviously has more U.S. based names, including the typical celebrity name lists.
March 17, 2010
Rather than being set up simply alphabetically the book has sections on 'Place Names', 'Word Names', 'Reality TV Names', and close to 100 other sections. There is interesting information between each section, like boy names that have become girl names. The only down side of dividing the book in this way is that there were instances where names were repeated multiple times, in multiple sections.
May 2, 2010
This was a unique baby name book in that it grouped names by "type" rather than alphabetical. For example, there was a list of comfy names such as Gracie and Ellie. It was interesting to see what group of names I was attracted to, but it still did not help me come up with any new names. I am still on the search...
December 27, 2013
This is, essentially, a collection of lists of names. The really useful thing about it, though, is that they are grouped according to a variety of possible genres, and it is easy to see spelling variations, popularity, and meanings of names, as well as other possible options. There is also a very amusing section with a list of celebrity baby names.
September 25, 2007
I actually bought this book because I was interested in historical naming trends, not because I was actually having a baby. I thought it was fascinating. I found it to be an interesting commentary on society in general.
June 14, 2008
Seriously, the best baby name book ever. Pure entertainment. The authors have broken down names into innovative categories and added tons of insightful commentary. My husband and I both loved this book.
August 8, 2012
This book has some useful advice on choosing names and a plethora of lists of names by trendy, biblical, fashionable, boys names becoming popular for girls, origin and more. However, after finishing the book my husband and I are not any closer to choosing a name....
March 29, 2016
One of the most extensive books I read on baby names - it has almost too many lists to get through. I'd read a little very night. So, while it was the longest, most tedious baby name book - it also had the widest variety of baby name books I've read so far.
June 18, 2008
Great, as far as baby-naming books go. It was more of a discussion of names and naming trends than just a list of names and their meanings. I read it through it like a regular book.
July 8, 2009
a really funny & irreverent--yet useful--look at the many, many names that are just waiting for babies.
is little h's name in this book?!...stay tuned (hopefully not for much longer)
is little h's name in this book?!...stay tuned (hopefully not for much longer)
May 30, 2009
I totally enjoyed the discussion of naming in a cultural context. Includes some good warnings/ reality checks.
July 22, 2009
Browsing this book was quite humorous since all the unique names they recommend are top twenty baby names today. My copy was written in the late 90's, but still interesting. T
July 3, 2010
This is the classic baby naming book... originally I bought it when I was writing a lot of short stories, but turns out I really like the origin of names. I've read it a couple of times!
May 3, 2012
For a baby name book, this is pretty entertaining. Has lots of fun lists and categories, rather than just listing them all in alphabetical order.
October 18, 2018
We already had a name picked out but still a super interesting read (and fun to see where our name and others we considered popped up!)
March 10, 2024
Very practical. Handy for naming your characters in your novel or story.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews