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About Names: Meaning and Origin of Given Names
Meanings and origins of the 2000 most popular US given names and their European variants, grouped according to common origin.
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An open encyclopedia of names.
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AskOxford: Concise Dictionary of First Names
A searchable dictionary of over 6,000 given names from Oxford Dictionaries, with detailed description of origins, and short and pet forms.
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The etymology and history of first names.
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This article discusses considerations that must be given to first, middle, and last names when researching.
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An article on how pronunciations and phonetics can impact how names get entered in records.
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From Your Ancestor's Mouth to Your Computer Screen
Your ancestor's last name, first name, and other information, passed through many mouths, heads, hands, and fingers before appearing on your computer screen. This article discusses how all those passings could be causing you problems.
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Origins and meanings of thousands of European-language based surnames.
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This article discusses naming patterns with first and middle names, including patterns often used and why it is important to remember that not every family necessarily followed these conventions.
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Sally/Sarah: What's the difference?
This article discusses the importance of distinguishing between names and nicknames so that distinct individuals are not merged.
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This article discusses concerns with given names when searching genealogical records.
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This article discusses concerns with last names when searching genealogical records.
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Includes a list of reasons for name changes and links to stories about how names were changed.
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A useful list of first, a.k.a. given names, and their version as spelled in many different languages. This is a very comprehensive 114 page fully searchable pdf containing thousands of first names. Languages included are English, Czech, French, German, Hungarian, Lithuanian, Polish, Russian, Yiddish, and more.
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To aid you in researching when all you know is the first name of a person. Focuses on unusual first names and women's first names when maiden names are unknown.
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Genealogy.com - Twigs & Trees with Rhonda: Naming Patterns May Hold a Clue
Article by Rhonda R. McClure.
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[The original link is broken. This link points to an archived copy on the Wayback Machine]
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Listing of the ten most popular male and female given names from 1900 to 1977 in order of popularity. Derived from Michigan state driver's licenses.
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Comprehensive list of links to all sorts of references to names.
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Linking Us to the Past — Name By Name
It is not difficult to understand why some of the surnames that appear in 1790 census have passed out of existence because people tend to avoid and change peculiar ones, especially those that can be ridiculed, writes Myra Vanderpool Gormley. Myriad given names, which appeared frequently in the 17th and 18th centuries, and even in the early part of the 19th century, have become obsolete. Our names, particularly given names, have always followed popular trends.
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Namespedia - Names Meaning and Origins
A free names encyclopedia where visitors can search or contribute.
