Pros: This book is about as good as it gets for name accuracy.

Cons: uses a very traditional naming pool, so many modern and foreign names are not included.

Pros: A good resource for surnames. Since many first names are derived from surnames these days, it's more useful than ever!

cons: can't think of any except that it's a bit expensive and only comes in hardcover as fas as I know.

Pros: From the authors of Beyond Jennifer and Jason, the book that revolutionized baby name books, this is another fun cultural look at names.

Cons: it's written from the upper-middle to upper class urban point of view and may not apply to all.

Cons: wicked expensive. Also has sections for surnames & British place names-- this may not be your thing. It's huge and weighs a ton. Also, uses a very traditional naming pool, so many modern names are not included.

Pros: tells the origins of the most common names in the USA. The author is a pop culture expert as well, so he tracks down the origins of many modern names.

cons: Not a ton of outlandish names, if that's what you're looking for

Cons: the origins and meanings of names, though better than most books, are off occasionally.

Cons: very traditional naming pool, doesn't have many modern or foreign names

Cons: etymology information TOTALLY SUCKS. Don't trust a word of it!

pros: As baby name books go, this one's pretty good.

cons: not always totally accurate, doesn't have a lot of modern names.

Cons: Etymologies of names are REALLY BAD! Has many weird, outlandish spellings. 

Pros: What makes this book awesome is that each name in the book was submitted by someone who actually has that name. It chronicles the history and names of some famous African-American figures.

Cons: the meanings aren't always accurate.

Cons: it's written from the upper-middle to upper class urban point of view and may not apply to all.

Cons: the style is a bit scholarly and dry. It's a text for the hardcore name nerd; it's not for browsing for names at all.

Pros: A good resource for Armenian names. It's written in both Armenian and English. All names are written in both languages in both sections.

Cons: ?

Pros: This book is very user-friendly for people like me, who know nothing about Sanskrit names or Hinduism. It seems very thorough.

Cons: Can't think of any

cons: it's completely in French, so you have to know French in order to read it!

Pros: it's very good source for the Hebrew and Yiddish names. It's interesting to look at the "translations" and equivalents as well.

Cons: The meanings in this book aren't always accurate for the non-Hebrew names (and some of the Hebrew ones as well)

Cons: meanings are not completely accurate.

Pros: Has a lot of names, spelled in both English and Armenian. Has information about famous Armenians bearing the names.

Cons: No pronunciations.

Pros: Comprehensive, contains lots of facts about names & their history in Poland.

Cons: Doesn't have pronunciations, which isn't so good if you don't speak Polish!

Pros: a really interesting read-- details the rise of names and naming trends throughout England, Scotland, Wales & the USA.

Cons: names aren't always 100% accurate

Cons: As in every book, not all of the information is accurate.

Cons: Not the book for you if you are solely looking to name a baby-- it's more for the Name Nerd.

Cons: Hasn't been updated, so anyone born since 1996 won't be in here!

Pros: Hilarious! Gives the author's personal opinions on what's wrong with pretty much every single name out there.

Cons: For entertainment purposes only!

Pros: Gives lists of names of characters in sci-fi movies and tv shows as well as short descriptions of the characters with those names.

Cons: not completely comprehensive if you're nit-picky, doesn't contain etymology information, if that's what you're looking for.