Names  - Origins 

BAILEY: French for "bailiff," but originally Old English for "fortification." Relatives: Baily, Bayley, Bailee. Namesakes: Pearl Bailey, "Beetle Bailey," "Rumpole of the Bailey," "Bill Bailey."

BAIRD: Scottish for "minstrel." A great name. Relative: Bard. Namesakes: John Baird, Bard College.

BAKER: Occupational name. A female baker was a "baxter." Relatives: Baxter, Baxley. Namesakes: Carlos Baker, Howard Baker, Anne Baxter.

BALDWIN: German for "bold friend." Relatives: Baldwyn, Maldwyn, Win, Wyn. Namesake: Stanley Baldwin, and the Baldwin Brothers (Alec, Daniel, Steven, and Billy.)

BALLARD: From the Old English and French for "a dancing song." Namesake: Kaye Ballard, J.G. Ballard.

BANCROFT: Old English for "bean field." Much classier sounding than its mundane origins. Namesake: Anne Bancroft.

BARBARA: From the Latin for "foreign" and "strange." You won't find many Barbaras under age thirty. Relatives: Barbra, Bararella, Barbie, Barby, Barbs, Barb, Babette, Babs, Bobbie. Namesakes: Saint Barbara, Barbara Jordan, Barbra Streisand, Barbara Walters, "Barbie" doll.

BARBER: From the Latin for "beard." Relative: Barbour. Namesake: Red Barber.

BARCLAY: Old English for "birch meadow." Sounds rich even if you don't know it's a bank." Relatives: Barklay, Barkley, Barksdale, Berkeley, Berkley. Namesakes: Catherine Barkley, Barclay's Bank.

BARNABAS: Hebrew for "son of prophecy." Depends on how you feel about the nickname Barney. Relatives: Barnaby, Barney, Barnie, Barn. Namesakes: Barnaby Conrad, "Barnaby Jones," "Barney Rubble."

BARNETT: Old English for "noble man." A preppier viersion of Bernard/Barnard. Relatives: Barnet, Barret, Barrett, Barr. Namesake: Elizabeth Barret Browning.

BARON: Derived from the title. Particularly effective if your last name is "von"-something. Relative: Barron. Namesake: "The Red Baron."

BARRY: Irish for "spear thrower" and Welsh for "son of Harry." Very solid. Relatives: Barrie, Barris, Barie, Barrymore. Namesakes: Barry Gibb, Barry Goldwater, Barry Fitzgerald, John Barrymore.

BARTHOLOMEW: From the Hebrew for "furrow." A terrifc array of nicknames and variations. Relatives: Barth, Bart, Barthol, Bartel, Bartlett, Bartley, Barton, Bertol, Bartold, Bat, Bart, Tholy, Tolly. Namesakes: Bartholomew Tucker, Bart Starr, John Barth, Clara Barton, A. Bartlett Giamatti, Bartlett Pear, "Bart Simpson."

BARUCH: From the Hebrew for "blessed." Generally a surname when it's not part of a Hebrew prayer. Namesakes: Bernard Baruch, "Baruch Atah Adonai."

BASIL: From the Greek for "royal." Veddy British. Relatives: Basile, Basilo, Basilia, Basia, Vasilis, Vasily. Namesakes: Saint Basil, Basil Rathbone, "Basil Fawlty," basil plant.

BATES: A surname probably derived from Bartholomew. Nice for a boy or a girl. Namesakes: Alan Bates, "Norman Bathes," Bates College.

BATHSHEBA: From the Hebrew for "daughter of the oath." King David's wife and Solomon's mother. A daring choice. Relatives: Batsheva, Bathshua, Batya, Basia, Basya, Sheba. Namesakes: Basia Johnson, COME BACK, LITTLE SHEBA.

BAYARD: Old French for "bay horse." A great name, no matter how you pronounce it. Relatives: Baylor, Bayless, Baird. Namesakes: Bayard Dodge, Bayard Rustin.

BEACHER: Old English for "dweller by the beech tree." Unusual and interesting. Relative: Beecher. Namesake: Harriet Beecher Stowe.

BEARDSLEY: Origin unclear. Seems to be an Old English compound for "beard" and "wood or glade," but "bearded wood" doesn't make much sense. Namesake: Aubrey Beardsley.

BEATRICE: Latin for "happy." An old-fashioned name that had been ignored in the return to old-fashioned names until Fergie and Andy picked it for the Princess of York. Relatives: Beatrix, Bea, Beah, Beattie, Beatirsa, Beatriz, Trixie. Namesakes: Beatrice Lillie, Beatrix Potter, Bea Arthur, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands.

BEAU: French for "beautiful." Ashley and Melanie's little boy in GONE WITH THE WIND. Relatives: Beaumont, Beauregard, Bo, Bonita. Namesakes: Beau Bridges, Beau Brummel, Bo Hopkins, Bo Derek.

BEDE: Old English for "prayer." Namesakes: The Venerable Bede, ADAM BEDE.

BELDON: Old English for "beautiful pasture." More usual as a surname. Relative: Belden. Namesake: "Trixie Beldon."

BELINDA: From the Spanish for "beautiful." Making a comeback. Relatives: Belynda, Belle, Linda. Namesakes: Belinda Carlisle, Belinda Lee.

BELLAMY: From the Old French for "handsome friend." For "Upstairs, Downstairs" devotees. Namesakes: Ralph Bellamy, Carol Bellamy.

BELLE: French for "beautiful." Relatives: Bella, Belva. Namesakes: "Belle Watling," Bella Abzug, Belva Plain, "Belle" in BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

BEMUS: Greek for "platform."

BENEDICT: Latin for "blessed." Used mainly by Roman Catholics' the liqueur was created by an order of Benedictine monks as an herbal medicine. Namesakes: Benedict Arnold.

BENJAMIN: Hebrew for "son of my right hand." A perennial favorite. Relatives: Benji, Benjie, Bennie, Benny, Ben. Namesakes: Benjamin Cardozo, Benjamin Britten, Benny Goodman, "Ben Cartwright," "Benji."

BENNETT: An anglicized version of Benedict and much more popular. Relatives: Benett, Benner, Benoit, Benn, Bentley. Namesakes: Bennett Cerf, Joan Benoit, Constance Bennett, Bentley automobiles.

BENSON: "Ben's son." From the Department of Redundancy Department, the actually translation is "son son." Relative: Bensen. Namesakes: Benson and Hedges cigarettes.

BERGEN: German for "mountain dweller." Relatives: Bergan, Bergin. Namesakes: Bergan Evans, Candice Bergen.

BERNADETTE: Feminine version of "Bernard." This name is guaranteed to call to mind the classic song by the Four Tops. Relatives: Bern, Bernie, Bernadette, Bernadete. Namesakes: Bernadette Peters, THE SONG OF BERNADETTE.

BERNARD: From the German for "bold as a bear." This entire group of names deserves a revival. Relatives: Barnard, Barney, Barnie, Bernd, Berndt, Bern, Berne, Bernardo, Bernhard, Bernhardt, Bernie, Bjorn. Namesakes: Bernard Kalb, Barnard Hughes, Bjorn Borg, Sarah Bernhardt, Barnard College.

BERNICE: Greek for "bringer of victory." Relatives: Berenice, Berry, Bunny.

BERTRAM: German for "bright." An appealing group of names. Relatives: Bertrem, Bertolt, Bertold, Bertil, Bertol, Berton, Bert, Bertha. Namesakes: Bertolt Brecht, Bertrand Russell, Bert Lahr.

BERYL: Hebrew for "jewel." Relative: Bijou. Namesake: Beryl Markham.

BETHANY: "Beth" is Hebrew for "house." A melodic alternative to Elizabeth if the nickname "Beth" is your goal. Relatives: Betheny, Bethesda, Bethel. Namesake: Bethany Beach (Md.)

BEVERLY: Old English for "meadow of beavers." Sometimes used for boys, but it's a struggle. Relatives: Beverley, Beverely, Bev. Namesakes: Beverly Sills, Beverly D'Angelo, Beverly Hills (Calif.)

BEVIN: "Son of Evan." Relatives: Bevan, Bevis.

BIANCA: Italian for "white" Jet-set image prmulgated by Mick Jagger's ex-wife. Relatives: Biancha, Blanche, Blancha, Blanca. Namesakes: Bianca Jagger, "Blanche DuBois."

BINGHAM: From the German for "kettle-shaped hollow." Blassy, with any luck people will assume the child is related to the prominent Kentucky family. Relatives: Bing, Binghamton, Binghampton. Namesakes: Bing Crosby, Binghamton (N.Y.)

BIRCH: From the Old English for "white." A beautiful tree. Namesake: Birch Bayh, John Birch Society.

BLAINE: Gaelic for "thin or lean" and Old English for "source of a river." A change of paice from Blake and Blair. Relative: Blain.

BLAIR: Gaelic for "from the plain." One of the earliest and still one of the most popular androgenous names. Relativive: Blaire. Namesakes: Blair Brown, Blaire Hall..

BLAKE: Old English for "fair-haired." You can't go wrong with this one. Relatives: Blachard, Blanco. Namesakes: Blake Edwards, William Blake.

BLASE: Latin for "one who stammers." A name from the soap operas. Relatives: Blaise, Blaze, Bliss. Namesake: Blaise Pascal.

BLOSSOM: Old English for "lovely." It is rather lovely, if a little reminscent of the sixties. Namesake: Blossom Dearie, "Peaseblossom."

BLYTHE: Old English for "joyous." Hail to thee. Relative: Blithe. Namesakes: Blythe Danner, BLITHE SPIRIT.

BONNIE: Scottish variation of French for "good." Relatives: Bonny, Boni, Boniface, Bonita. Namesakes: Bonnie Bedeilia, Bonnie Raitt.

BOOKER: Old English for "beech tree." Parchment was made from beech trees; hence the derivation of the word "book." Namesake: Booker T. Washington.

BOONE: Latin for "good." Has a "good old boy" quality. Namesake: T. Boone Pickens, Daniel Boone.

BOOTH: Old English for "hut." Relative: Boothe. Namesakes: Powers Boothe, Booth Tarkington, John Wilkes Booth.

BORDEN: From the Old English for "near the boar's den" and Old French for "cottage." Slightly tarnished by the image of those contented cows, but still nice. Relative: Bordan.

BORIS: Russian for "fight." Relatives: Bors, Borys. Namesakes: Boris Karloff, Boris Pasternak.

BOSWELL: Old French for "forested town." Definitely upper crust, perhaps a little too much so. Relatives: Bosworth, Bos. Namesakes: Boz Scaggs, James Boswell, Brian Bosworth.

BOWEN: "Son of Owen." Relative: Bowie. Namesakes: Bowie Kuhn, Jim Bowie, David Bowie.

BOYCE: From the Frech for "woodland."

BOYD: Irish for "blond" or "yellow." Namesakes: Boyd Matson, Boyd Tarleton, William Boyd.

BRADLEY: Old English for "broad meadow." A surname that has become quite common as a first name. The entire "Brad" ("broad') group is nice. Relatives: Braden, Brad, Bradford, Brady. Namesakes: Bill Bradley, Omar Bradley, "The Brady Bunch."

BRAMWELL: English place name for "bramble well." Relative: Branwell. Namesake: Patrick Branwell Bronte (brother of Charlotte.)

BRANCH: From the Latin for "extension." The most basic of all tree names. Namesakes: Branch Rickey, bourbon and branch water.

BRANDON: Old English for "fiery hill." Relatives: Branden, Brand, Bran, Brenden, Brendan, Brant, Brent, Brennen, Brennan, Branford. Namesakes: Brandon Tartikoff, Brendan Gill, Branford Marsalis.

BRENDA: Feminine of "Brandon/Brenden." Its variant forms are more widely used today. Relatives: Brenna, Brynna, Brynn. Namesakes: Brenda Vaccaro, "Brenda Starr."

BRENT: A variation of Brandon. Namesake: Brent Musburger.

BRETT: "A native of Brittany." Traditionally a boy's name, but Hemingway picked it for his female character in THE SUN ALSO RISES. Relatives: Bret, Bretton. Namesakes: "Lady Brett Ashley," Bret Easton Ellis.

BREWSTER: Old English for "brewer." Has a MAYFLOWER connotation and also makes for a great college nickname. Relative: Brew Namesakes: "Brewster McCloud," William Brewster.

BRIAN: Celtic for "strong." Almost everyone likes this name. Relatives: Brianne, Bryan, Bryant, Brianna, Briant, Briand. Namesakes: Brian Wilson, Bryant Gumbel, Bryan Brown.

BRICE: Celtic for "swift." Try it for a girl. Relatives: Bryce, Brick. Namesake: Fanny Brice.

BRIDGET: Irish for "resolute." A perennial favorite in Ireland. Relatives: Brigetta, Brigitte, Brighid, Brigid, Britta, Brita, Britte, Brit, Biddy, Brie, Bree, Birgit, Birgitta, Brigada, Brigida, Brigita, Birgit, Birdie, Bryde. Namesakes: Brigitte Bardot, Birgit Nelson.

BRIGHAM: From the Old English for "one who lives near a bridge" and Old French for "soldier." Handsome, even if you're not a Mormon. Namesake: Brigham Young.

BRISTOL: A variant form of Brice and a city in England. Relative: Brystol. Namesake: "The Bristol Stomp," Bristol-Myers.

BRITTANY: An anglicized version of Bretagne, a section of France famous for its spectacular coastline. Extremely popular in California, which menas it will drift inexorably eastward. Relatives: Brita, Britta, Brittny. Namesake: Morgan Brittany.

BROCK: Old English for "badger." Very solid sound. Relatives: Braxton, Brocton. Namesakes: Brock Peters, Brock Brower, Bill Brock.

BRODERICK: "Son of Roderick." Relatives: Rick, Brod, Roderick. Namesakes: Broderick Crawford, Matthew Broderick.

BROMLEY: Old English for "brush-covered meadow." Sounds like an ancestral castle. Relatives: Bromwell, Bromwood. Namesake: Mount Bromley.

BRONSON: Old English for "son of Brown." Relatives: Bronwyn, Bronwen. Namesakes: Bronson Pinchot, Amos Bronson Alcott, Charles Bronson.

BROOK: Old English for "stream." Everyone's favorite Princeton graduate, Brooke Shields, has made this name even more popular. Works for boys and girls with the "e" or the "s" ending. Relatives: Brooke, Brooks, Brookes. Namesakes: Brooke Astor, Brooks Atkinson, Brooks Brothers.

BROWN: Middle English for the color. A color name that is usually a surname. Relatives: Broun, Bruno, Bruin, Bruins. Namesakes: Brown Meggs, Heywood Hale Broun, Brown University.

BRUCE: From the Frech for "thicket." Newly respectable. Namesakes: Bruce Springsteen, Bruce Willis, Robert Bruce.

BRYN: Welsh for "hill." Namesake: Bryn Mawr College.

BUCKLEY: Old English for "meadow of deer." Won't do for a Democrat. An old-money name. Relatives: Buckminster, Buck, Bucky, Buckner. Namesakes: Buckminster Fuller, William F. Buckley, Bill Buckner.

BUD: Old English for "herald." Generally used as a nickname. Relatives: Buddy, Buddie, Budd. Namesakes: Buddy Ebsen, Budd Schulberg, Zola Budd.

BURDETTE: From the Middle English for "small bird." Namesake: Lew Burdette.

BURGESS: Old English for "free citizen." Rarely used; you could start a trend. Relatives: Burg, Bergess, Bergen. Namesakes: Burgess Meredith, Anthony Burgess.

BURKE: From the German for "castle." A rugged choice. Relatives: Bourke, Burk, Birk, Birke. Namesakes: Edmund Burke, Robert Bork.

BURLE: Middle English for "knotted wood." Relatives: Burl, Burleigh, Burley. Namesake: Burl Ives.

BURNE: Old English for "brook." Interesting choice. Relatives: Burns, Byrne, Burley. Namesakes: Robert Burns, Brendan Byrne, Jason Bourne.

BURT: Old English for "fortress." Relatives: Burton, Bert, Berton. Namesakes: Burton White, Burt Reynolds, Richard Burton, "Bert and Ernie."

BYRON: From the French for "from the cottage." A name with haunting literary assocations. Relatives: Byram, Byran. Namesakes: Lord Byron, Byron James.