What you will find here
Origin and meaning, statistics and trends, names around the world, choosing a child's name, the law of names, and the character portraits tradition attaches to each name: this section treats the first name as something at once intimate, statistical and legal.
Two registers sit side by side here, clearly separated. On one side, what is documented: etymology, popularity curves, the rules for giving and changing a name, the discrimination measured in hiring. On the other, what is a game: the character portraits by name, inherited from almanacs, entertaining to read and with no predictive value — the page that presents them says so in its opening lines.
The question most often asked
"Can I give this name?" The answer depends entirely on the country. Some states allow almost total freedom, others impose a list, others again let the registrar refer the matter to a court where a name appears contrary to the child's interests. The country pages give the applicable rule, the procedure for changing a name and the time it takes.
Frequently asked questions
Can a name really shape a personality?
Not directly. What research finds is an effect of other people's expectations — a name carries signals about era, region and social background, and those signals influence how a child is treated, which is a very different mechanism from the name itself shaping character. The section on names and personality sets out what the evidence supports and what it does not.
Are there legal limits on naming a child?
Everywhere, but they differ sharply: some countries keep an approved list, others allow anything unless it is judged contrary to the child's interests, and a few restrict the alphabet that may be used. The rule that applies is that of the country registering the birth, which matters for a couple living abroad.
Where do the statistics come from?
From civil registration: most countries publish annual counts of names given at birth, sometimes going back a century. They are the only reliable source on how fashions move — and they consistently show that a name feels dated about thirty years after its peak, then becomes usable again roughly a century later.