Names hold power. “Proper names are poetry in the raw” wrote W.H. Auden. “Like all poetry they are untranslatable.”
Amy Ephron and her daughters Maia Wapnick and Anna Ephron Harari understand the sentiment well—on several levels. About fifteen years ago, when celebrities began to give their children creative and unique monikers, the trio began to wonder about other words, like Almond, that had been overlooked as contenders.
(From left) Maia Wapnick, Amy Ephron, Anna Ephron Harari
“We would sit around the dinner table and toss around name ideas, like Banister or Castanet,” says Wapnick. “I didn’t realize Amy thought we were writing a book this whole time. I thought we were bonding.”
It turns out they were doing both. As the idea to write an out-of-the box book about baby names gained traction they discovered how the landscape had changed. “People were starting to yearn for and use unique and unusual names,” says Ephron. “And some of the names we invented in the game started to show up in Maia and Anna's kids' classrooms.”
According to research, fewer than 10% of babies share the top ten most common names. “Culture as a whole is shifting towards individualism and parenting is becoming more and more child-focused,” says Wapnick. “Parents are looking for names for their kids that are reflective, unusual and unique.”
Their intrigue for names inspired The Amazing Baby Name Book: A (Possibly) Helpful and Slightly Amusing Guide from A-Z. Released this past fall from Princeton Architectural Press, this cleverly delightful and funny book offers context into a plethora of well-curated assemblage of names. There’s insight about ones you know (“Carolina: Can play the James Taylor song at the wedding”) and ones you might not know (“Dizen: It means “to dress up.” or “Minty: a spicier version of Minnie.”)
The trio longed to venture beyond the typical baby name book and offer interesting context, tidbits and infuse a lot of humor along with their own opinions. “We so wanted to make it seem as if you were discussing name choices with a friend and to be inspirational, a jumping off point,” says Ephron, a bestselling novelist and journalist.
In fact, both Ephron Harari and Wapnick’s other jobs involves names. “Anna is writing a bit about naming trends now and part of Maia’s job description is she helps companies name products,” adds Ephron. “So they are more expert than I am.”
The three authors, who are all mothers tasked with naming their own children, understand the daunting challenge of landing on a good selection. They also hoped to give parents a tool to celebrate the more joyful and fun elements. “Expecting and early parenthood can be isolating and exhausting and I hope The Amazing Baby Name Book brings a sense of levity and fun,” says Wapnick. “I wish I had this book when naming my children, because I think it encourages you to think outside the box and connect with names that are meaningful to your own story,” adds Ephron Harari.
Fun is the operative word here. “Sometimes bad ideas give way to good ideas. So we wanted to have the freedom to throw around a lot of silliness, like Kalamazoo, which someone might love, or it might lead them to Kali with a fun nickname,” says Ephron Harari. “And I think people are surprised that they can sit down and get lost in the micro-stories that we present with the names.”
To add to the fun they are also partial to sharing origins and tidbits from the vast research they uncovered. “We love a good backstory and are fascinated by etymology,” says Wapnick. “And then certain words accumulate associations that have nothing to do with their dictionary meanings, so we tried to reconcile that too.” Plus, illustrations by Jennifer Bricking add yet another layer of charm and personality. “She did all the covers for my children’s novels, like The Castle in the Mist and The Other Side of the Wall,” says Ephron.
Also included are fun lists like “Nicknames that have become first names: (Ace, Buck, Pip)” or “When Initials Alone Can Be A Name: (A.J., J.R, W.H.).” The Amazing Baby Name Book also contains several worksheet for possible names, like “Names Other People Suggested” and “Rejected Names.” Adds Wapnick, "We think it would be a great tool for someone creating an alter ego, or a spy.”
When asked about a name they each have grown to love since writing The Amazing Baby Name Book, each author thoughtfully answered. Wapnick picked Eno. “It's a creative ode to a creative person,” she says. Ephron Harari has a particular passion for the name bevel. “It's a Fosse-esque Rockettes dance move ,” she says. “And it's edgy and cute and really different from any name I've ever heard before.”
Meanwhile, Ephron adores Chartreuse. As she explains, the color was originally developed by French monks as an elixir for long-life. 130 different herbs, plants and flowers created its unique hue. “Disclaimer: we are not recommending this ," says Ephron. “And it was so tasty it morphed into an alcoholic beverage.” Ephron assures they are not recommending the libation either. “The word also means “life-affirming” like an enabler in a positive sense,” she says. “ Who could not love that?”
The Amazing Baby Name Book offers a unique and amusing look into the world of baby names.
