The Big Book of Baby Names by Marissa Charles

Author:Marissa Charles
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-84858-705-2
Publisher: Arcturus Publishing Limited
Published: 2011-12-20T16:00:00+00:00

B

Bailey

See Bailey in the Girls' section.

Baldwin

This Old German name was adopted by the Normans who brought it to England. It is the combination of two words 'balda', meaning 'bold', and 'wini', 'friend'. Thus, Baldwin means 'courageous friend'.

Variants: Baldawin, Baudoin, Bawden, Boden, Bodkin, Bowden

Balthazar

Balthazar is said to be the name of one of the three wise men who came to visit baby Jesus bringing him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

In Hebrew Balthazar means 'may Bel (God) protect the king'. It was popular in Britain during the Middle Ages.

Variants: Balthasar, Belshazzer

Bancroft

The Middle English meaning of this name is 'bean' and 'small field' or 'small holding'. Thus, Bancroft means 'bean field'.

Barclay

Barclay comes from Berkeley, a place in Gloucestershire. In Old English it means 'birch-tree' and 'wood' or 'clearing'. It is also the name of a powerful Scottish family.

Barnabas

This Biblical name has been used in Britain since the 13th century. In the New Testament Barnabas was an early Christian who assisted St Paul in spreading the tenets of the faith through Asia Minor. The two men also took Christianity to Cyprus.

The Aramaic meaning of this name is 'son of consolation' or 'son of exhortation'. Barnaby is a popular short form.

Variants: Barn, Barnabe, Barnaby, Barnie

Barry

In the 20th century this name became well-known and was widely used, especially in Australia. However, until the 1800s use of the name Barry was largely confined to Ireland. It is from Ireland – and Wales – that the name derives its meaning.

There are four theories of the origin of Barry. One suggests that it comes from the Gaelic name Bearrach, which means 'spear' or 'good marksman'. Another theory is that Barry comes from the Welsh for 'son of Harry'. Alternatively it could be a short form of the Irish name Finbar, which means 'fair head'. Finally, Barry may have been taken from a Welsh place name – Barry Island – 'bar' meaning 'dune' or 'mound'.

Variants: Bari, Barnard, Barnett, Barra, Barrie, Barrington, Barrymore, Baz, Bazza, Finbar

Bartholomew

In Hebrew Bartholomew simply means 'son of Talmai'. Talmai is the surname of Nathanial, one of Christ's Apostles, and it means 'abounding in furrows'.

Variants: Bart, Bartel, Bartholomieu, Bartlett, Bartley, Bate, Tolly, Tolomieu, Tolomey

Basil

Widely associated with the green herb, 'basil' it also comes from the Greek for 'royal' or 'kingly'. It also has an Irish Gaelic meaning – 'war'.

An early Christian bore the name in the 4th century. The bishop and theologian St Basil the Great was not the only member of his family to be canonised. Six of his relatives also received sainthood – his grandmother, his parents, elder sister and two younger brothers.

Variants: Bas, Basie, Basile, Baz, Bazza, Brasil, Vas, Vasil

Baxter

Originally used as a surname, Baxter comes from the Old English for 'baker'. A feminine equivalent of this name existed during the Middle Ages, but today Baxter is usually given to boys.

Beasley

This name comes from the Old English for 'field of peas'.

Variants: Peasley

Beau

The French meaning of the name Beau is 'handsome', making it the male equivalent of the girl's name Belle, which means 'beautiful'. A young woman's suitor is also traditionally known as her 'beau'.

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