Your name can reveal ethnic and religious backgrounds as well as personal qualities. Many genealogical and parenthood websites can guide you to finding the meaning of your name. For instance, a search on the name Sarah will show that it means princess or lady. Alternatively, you can start at your local library for name books. In your search, you may come across interesting traditions, such as how the Southwest Hopis used an ear of corn as part of a baby-naming ceremony.

Websites

At Zelo.com or behindthename.com just type in your name to find out what it means. At babycenter.com, you can search for names you might want to use for your new baby as well as your name meaning. If your name is more exotic, try babyhold.com. Babyzone.com will explain naming traditions.

Books

The library is full of name books. The New American Dictionary of Baby Names by Leslie Dunkling contains not only meanings but also origins and social significance of each name. The Name Book: Over 10,000 Names by Dorothy Astoria offers inspiration of being able to live up to a name. The Book of Names by Sarah Peterson Hage is a listing of all biblical names with scripture attached. A Concise Dictionary of First Names by Hanks & Hodges focuses on meanings and cultural roots of your name. The Little Giant Encyclopedia of Names by Nathaniel Altman examines meanings and lists the most popular names since 1930. African Muslim Names: Images and Identities by Sharifa M. Zawawi discusses the importance of African-Muslim names and how they are chosen for the values they extol. 15,000+ Baby Names by Bruce Lansky gives you easy to understand meanings of names. The Complete Book of Hebrew Names by Samdar Shir Sidi provides the background of Hebrew names along with their popularity. Proud Heritage: 11,001 Names for Your African American Baby by Elza DinWiddie-Boyd is considered the first of its kind explaining African-American names. Celtic Names for Children by Loreto Todd discusses over 2,000 Celtic names with meanings, spellings and pronunciations. All Those Wonderful Names by J.N. Hook explores origins, meanings and stories about your name.

Source:

Zelo

Behind the Name

Baby Center

Resource:

Search 30,000 Baby Name Meanings

Kabalarians Name Meanings

Baby Names Book Feast