AMERICAN GIVEN NAMES

As in the well-received American Place-Names (1970), the core here is a dictionary of names, their probable origins and sometime meanings. Some entries are longish--Charles nears four pages--while others receive a few token lines. Using old lists (such as 18th-century Harvard graduation classes), Stewart indicates which names enjoyed brief or lasting popularity, when middle names first appeared, and how certain favorites link up to historical events: after Washington's presidency, George was a frequent choice. Far more complete than the $1.00 drustore books on naming your baby, this is a mildly entertaining register, from Aaron (probably Egyptian) to Zuriel (Hebrew, ""God-is-a-rock"").