BOOK REVIEW: Bringing Back Beatrice! 1,108 Baby Names with Meaning, Character and a Little Bit of Attitude by Jennifer Griffin

Bring Back Beatrice! 1,108 Baby Names with Meaning, Character and a Little Bit of Attitude. Written by Jennifer Griffin

I am writing this review while in the midst of choosing names for my baby to be. It’s our first so the process of choosing a name is quite a new one. I enjoyed many aspects of “Bring Back Beatrice!” including its size. My first thought when I picked up the book was “wow, this book will fit in my purse!” (it is about 4x6x1 inches).

I find looking at lists of names quite overwhelming so this book was a refreshing change. Yes, there are many, many names in the book (1,108 to be exact) but each name is accompanied by some history where its origins and meanings are explained. There are famous people linked to the name (who you may gravitate towards or reject the name for) and lists of variations and alternatives. The paragraph following each name makes it so there are only 4 to 6 names on each double page, much easier to manage, I found.

Another interesting feature is that throughout the book there are inserts which the author calls “An Assortment of Name Inspirations.” These are shorts lists of names titled, for example, “From the Herb Garden,” “Arthurian Legends,” “Literary Luminaries” or “I’d love it if he sounded…” These lists provide another way to explore and inspire names for your baby.

The introduction to this book is a quick read but a good one to browse through when choosing names. The authors of the book advocate for the more traditional and less trendy names. I remember being in a classroom with 4 Michaels and 3 Jennifers and today, being a teacher, I still see this continue although the names change from year to year. The book encourages you to “look before you leap” and to take many different things into consideration before deciding on the name your child will have for the rest of their life.

Overall, whether this book is for yourself or a gift for a friend who is expecting, I would recommend “Bring Back Beatrice!” and plan on passing this book on when I finish naming my baby.

Review written by Janet C.

Products for review are provided free of cost to Multi-Testing Mommy by the manufacturer or a representing PR agency. Opinions expressed belong to the reviewer and are NOT influenced in any way.

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