Crafting a character is one of the key elements in writing a novel. Most authors usually have a personality in mind for a character long before they begin piecing the story together. Once that personality is in place a writer faces the daunting task of naming their character. Sometimes a run-of-the-mill name will do the trick, but more often than not you need a name that will encompass not only the character's identifying traits but the time period they live in.

Baby Naming ceremonies are a fantastic way to celebrate the arrival of a new baby with friends and family. They can be informal and joyous events in a back garden or home. If you want more information, and ways of creating baby naming ceremonies, their history and traditions around the world, as well as current ideas and practices, you will find inspiration here. The old ways are changing and, therefore, a more relaxed society means you can invent your own day. Here you will find ideas and useful thoughts on the best way to welcome a new arrival.

This book is a list of names. This list came from a website that lists the 100 most popular girls' and boys' names by year; we've listed the names for 2012. There are many baby-name books on the market, but none like this one. This book spells out the names, vertically down the page, and has a Bible verse attached to each letter of each name. While the verses were chosen at random, still, parents are going to recognize some clues of their new child's psychological, physical, or personality traits contained in the verses used for their baby's name. This is not intended by the author. But it is how the human brain and mind works. Why a list of names in an already over-crowded market of baby name books? Because this book reminds us all of the importance of caring for the next generation of our species, starting with the basics - parents, a home, and their name. Included in this book are spiritual clues to the new human being's future, contained within the parent's choice of their baby's name. The naming of a new child is usually a heart-warming event. Parents give months of thought to their child's future identity - do they hang a funny-sounding, but long-lasting family name on their baby, or do they make something up, hoping the name catches on and lasts for generations? Do they combine their names into a new name, or do they wait until the baby is born and 'tells' them what they want to be called? Another popular method of finding a baby's name is to name the child after someone famous. "Famous" can mean movie/rock stars, well-known people like President John Kennedy, or even characters from the Bible, as are noted in Donna's book, "The Bible Codes and Your Baby's Name." The hope of parents who name their children after famous people, or people famous from history, is that, perhaps having the same name, will somehow endow that Child with all the attributes of the famous person; hoping perhaps they'll acquire their own fame. Whatever parents decide, naming a new baby is a loving act that bonds the new family member to his or her loved ones. I hope you find your child's name contained within the lists of names on these pages, and that the experience brings you and your child closer together.

Jabulani Means Rejoice is a dictionary comprised of hundreds of African names in local South African languages, meticulously assembled and expounded upon for the curious reader. Names are listed in alphabetical order with gender indications, as well as information regarding their ethnographic origins and meanings. Yet, Jabulani Means Rejoice is so much more than simply a list of names and their meanings. The author skilfully interweaves cultural context and history, including issues surrounding naming rituals, domestic disputes and the curse of the evil eye. The book starts with an essay on naming practices. As a reference work, Jabulani Means Rejoice stands as an invaluable contribution to the growing interest in African cultural history. With its names ranging from the traditional to the unconventional, it will appeal to linguists, family historians and anyone with an interest in names. Useful for parents-to-be; those who are interested in language and culture in South Africa. The book makes a great gift and is a must for all school, public and university libraries. Tourists will also treasure this book.