Check out the Baby Name Meanings and the Names Dictionary Sections! Pregnancy Stages Check out our info on Pregnancy Stages with symptoms and changes experienced Day by Week by Month during your pregnancy. Inspiration from William Shakespeare! If you are looking for a name with a fictional association then the vast selection of names in the works of William Shakespeare will provide you with a great choice. Celebrities have recently turned to Shakespearean names for inspiration when choosing a name for their baby. The Beckhams (David Beckham, the famous English footballer and Victoria Beckham, pop singer and ex-Spice Girl) have named their youngest son Romeo. The names chosen by Shakespeare can now be described as 'cool'! What's in a name - the famous question posed by William Shakespeare This is probably the most famous question ever asked about a name. The quote comes from Romeo and Juliet the play by William Shakespeare. The Shakespearean words are as follows - and they are relevant to the subject of choosing for your baby! "What's in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name Would smell as sweet" It would be lovely if this were true, but of course it isn't. Juliet knows this even as she is saying it, she is fully aware of the automatic conflict between anyone called Montague or Capulet. The point that is being made is that a name is incredibly important and people will always be judged by their name. Shakespeare was also aware of this fact and the plots of his plays constantly feature plots involving mistaken identities and prejudice. Shakespearean Baby Boy Names Shakespearean Baby Girl Names Name Associations The name Romeo itself has now become a term which is used to generally describe a young man with romance on his mind - similar to the term Casanova which derives from the great Italian lover! What would your first impression be if you met a man called Casanova? The pitfalls of choosing Shakespearean Names Remember that you are taking full responsibility for creating an important factor in your baby's identity. Selecting a name from the category of 'Shakespearean names' runs the risk of forever being associated with a Shakespearean character for life. The Shakespearean name that you choose must also be suitable throughout all of life phases ( "A Name isn't just for a birthday - it's for life!"). Consider the phases and our life cycle starting with baby - toddler - school child - teenager - young adults - parents - middle age - retirement and old age. Will the Shakespearean name that you have chosen suit a pensioner as well as a baby? Will the schoolchild be teased mercilessly? And what will your baby think of your choice? Brush up your Shakespeare! "Whats in a name" is one of the best known quotes by Shakespeare but many more surprising quotes by Shakespeare, which are used every day, can be found on what we consider to be the most comprehensive website on the famous bard at www.william-shakespeare.info. Our thanks go to this site for providing the Shakespearean girl names that we have included on www.babynames.org.uk. This Shakespearean site also includes the full script and summary of each play, poems and sonnets and of course the characters where many unusual names originate. The site also includes the full script and summary of each play, his poems and sonnets and of course the characters where many unusual names originate. So if you want to check out the play and the character of the Shakespearean name of your choice then this will provide you with all conceivable information. The place to go to "Brush up your Shakespeare!"( a song from the Cole Porter musical 'Kiss me Kate' a musical spoof on the Shakespeare play, Taming of the Shrew) The variety of Shakespearean names! Once you are aware of any possible pitfalls associated with Shakespearean names then Shakespeare offers a fine array of names to choose from. Some Shakespearean names are truly beautiful as you will see from the list. The choice is yours! We hope that we have provided you a balanced view of the pleasure and the pitfalls of choosing Shakespearean Names. To assist you further we have developed a Name Evaluator - an essential aid when considering Shakespearean Baby Names. Shakespearean Names (Female Shakespearean names follow below) |