10 Best Baby Name Books UK 2023

This book really gives an idea of the different ways you can become inspired when naming a child, and that's why it's our top choice. The lists are divided into contemporary categories like social media stars, royals, Hollywood actors, and reality TV stars —making it as fun a read as it is helpful. 

The lists aren't alphabetical, which is a refreshing change, as it gets you thinking about names you like within the areas of art, music, and culture you personally consume. 9,000 names and more are included here, so we've no doubt you'll discover just the right appellation for your new arrival.

If you want to cut straight to the chase and flick through an alphabet of great baby names, this is the book for you. From its charming cover illustration to its to-the-point definitions, this baby name book refuses to beat about the bush. 

There's a great section pondering the age-old question; 'What's in a name?' and the answer is, of course, quite a lot. The second option on our list by David Pickering, this dictionary-style guide is user-friendly and popular with reviewers who loved the mix of classic with quirky suggestions.

If you want to look a little further afield for baby names than your great-grandmother's monogrammed pyjamas, try this illuminating guide packed with suggestions from across the globe.

This book goes into detail about the usage of each name in different languages as well as the meaning and imagery the moniker inspires. It has a thoughtful section on choosing the right name, and with 6,000 to mull over, you'll be spoiled for choice. 

We think you'll enjoy this baby name book if you're keen to feast your eyes on as many names as possible before choosing. It contains advice on choosing a name, as well as cleverly devised lists, from newly popular names of celebrities and fictional characters to gender-neutral options.

This guide has 600 different lists, so it is really about giving you a full picture of the kind of names out there and getting you really inspired. This book doesn't just hand you nice names but gives you ideas and inspiration to perhaps come up with something entirely personal to you, using its lists as a starting point.

For a more unusual baby name, you can't get much better than this intriguing collection of names inspired by myths and magic. Including useful tidbits relating to the history of names and their place in magic, art, naturalism, or mythology, this book is great fun to read and explore.

Divided into sections named after the various elements (the sun, spirit, flowers, herbs, and trees, etc) this book also has a section on how to make your decision. Full of suggestions like Phoenix and Firefly, it's also noted by reviewers as also being a great resource for choosing character names if you're writing fiction.

Penguin can always be relied on to create smashing quality dictionaries and thesauruses, with this guide to first names adding to that strong reputation. David Pickering guides you through a properly comprehensive selection of names, their origins, and interesting variants. 

Though this book is not divided into sections and themes, it is described by online reviewers as 'the only baby name book you need'. It certainly does burst with suggestions, without becoming overwhelming. 

Pick this baby name book if you're looking for a guide to staying up-to-the-minute with your choices. There are more than 8,000 names inside, divided simply into options for boys and girls. 

Containing lots of fun facts about names from all over the planet, it also includes interesting information on how names have cartwheeled into and out of popularity. Expect classics like Charlie and Olivia, alongside more unusual choices like Rye and Zuzu! 

Choose this baby name book if you want a whimsical look at some admirable figures from the world of science, politics, and art, whose name you may feel inspired to bestow upon your new addition. It's as much an education for you as it is a way to select a baby name!

Picking the name of an ambitious change-maker or cultural leader is definitely a great way to give your bairn a strong start in the world. While it has fewer options than many books on our list, this one doesn't take itself too seriously and is actually packed with promising ideas. 

This book guides you through names with a spiritual significance, many of which are biblical or from other key world religions. It's popular with reviewers across eCommerce sites and has an extremely clear structure so you can really get to grips with what each name means. 

Spiritual names are obviously important to those who practise one faith or another, but these names may also hold an appeal for secular parents as they are fairly timeless and shouldn't come and go like other trendy choices.  

This is really more of an ironic gift to your favourite expecting parents than a serious guide to choosing a great name. It's pretty mocking of the names included, so only give it to parents-to-be who are willing to laugh at themselves and may still choose a name, even if it's been made fun of a little here!

There are 322 names in this book, many of which are actually pretty unique if you ignore the author's cutting take-downs! There's no 'how to choose' section or anything similar and it's more of a fun and lighthearted tome, as opposed to serious support with this important decision.