July 2002

Congratulations to Behind the Name

"What does that name mean?" Answer your name-related questions with Behind the Name, a site that serves as an encyclopedia of the etymology and history of first names. To get an introduction to the practice of naming, read a number of short essays, including the The Sources of First Names. You can perform keyword searches for a name, or browse by ethnic or thematic groups, which include categories such as Biblical and Literature. Other reference collections include Namesakes, Most Popular Names and Name Days. The site's FAQ answers questions such as "When is it appropriate to use "Jr." versus "II"?