"What's in a name? Thoreau thought 'all the poetry in the world.' How does a parent live up to that? Here, parents find more than lists: each entry illuminates a name's distinctive spiritual, historical, and cultural background--its poetry. Names, the initial way we meet someone, from the traditional or religious to the 'made up' and even controversial, are fully explained. Each entry includes not only alternative spellings, derivation, and meaning but also an affirmation chosen to align with a name's background. These are culled from sources as diverse as the Bible, Koran, and Buddhist sutras; multicultural proverbs and Shakespeare; and thinkers from Alice Walker and Basho to Rumi and Muhammad Ali. Whether they want to honor ancestors, recognize the essence of their child, or convey their parental hopes, this book helps parents greet and bless their baby with heartfelt meaning"--Provided by publisher.
