The Very Best Baby Name Book: 60,000+ Names

Very Best Baby Name Book, the #1 best-selling baby name book in the world, is now bigger and better. The most important changes are: more names (50,000 names vs. 30,000 names previously) and more lists to help readers choose (100 lists vs. 25 lists previously). You will find the lists not only fun to read but illuminating and extremely helpful for parents who want to pick names with strong positive associations and avoid names with strong negative associations. The new lists of names have been selected to highlight names with strong positive associations,such as:u names that suggest intelligence and competence for girls and boysu names that suggest success for girls and boysu names that suggest athletic prowess and strength for girls and boysu names that suggest attractiveness for girls and boysu names that suggest a good sense of humor for girls and boys The new lists also highlight names with strong negative (or questionable) associations, such as:u names that suggest stupidity and incompetence for girls and boysu names that suggest low odds of success for girls and boysu names that suggest an absence of athletic prowess and strength for girls and boysu names that give off sexual vibes for girls and boys' In addition, Lansky provides lists of names strongly associated with famous people in the arts, professions, science, and business, as well as names associated with popular names from the New and Old Testament and from literature and history. In short, Lansky has come up with the most useful -- as well as fun -- collection of lists available. In addition, this book contains a variety of helpful, informative and fun features, including: -advice on how to pick a name -baby name legal guide - the 100 most popular girls names in 2003 -fascinating facts about names - the 100 most popular boys' names in 2003 -stereotypes of name - celebrity name changes -popular names in foreign countries - celebrities' babies names No wonder The Very Best Baby Name Book is also North America's best-selling baby name book and likely to stay that way for a long, long time.

If I had known I was going to end up posing for a self-portrait against this wall, I probably would have worn a hoody or something more ghetto looking to fit the scene better. But sometimes you just happen upon a place where you are inspired to do something and you just go with what you got. I haven't done a SP for awhile now, but there was awesomeness in this wall and the graffiti and for some inexplicable reason, I knew I had to stand in front of it.

That's kind of how the year has gone for me in general. Going with my gut, finding shots on the fly during a busy storm chasing season and winging it when it comes to my portrait business. I'm not a planner...I tend to hate planning, I don't write down goals and rarely strategize. I have visions in my head of things I want, but nothing down on paper. But that needs to change.

I'm on vacation from my "real job" until January 4th and during that time I will likely not be posting much on the blog (if at all) and will be instead focus on three things: Spending time with my girls, catching up on movies and TV and planning my 2011 strategy for the photog business. I may get so bored and so excited about an image that I'll have to post it, but otherwise, I'm on vacation from the blog as well *grin*

There is no doubt that 2010 was an incredible year. In many ways it was Year One, despite having started some of the portrait work back in late 2009. So much happened. My mission to storm chase all over Arizona and then publish a book ended up coming true (okay, I guess I do have SOME goals). I was counting on doing more photoshoots for people and that really boomed the last few months. I've been a part of a gallery, a few farmer's markets, got into Shutterbug magazine and have sold over 25 prints in the last 12 months. And one of those prints endedup in a performing arts show in Canada! I'm so very proud of that.

But likely my favorite part of the last year are the relationships I've formed along the way. Of course I love the people, the families, the kids, the horses, the new parents, the new babies, the newly engaged, the-about-to-be-married...all the clients that have had me take photos for them. I'm beyond appreciative of all of that. I thank you for your trust. I thank you for telling your friends about me. And I hope to see you again next year.

The largest impact on me personally this year has been the bonds I've formed with my fellow warriors behind the shutter. My buddy Dee at work and all our conversations, Rick who taught me how to use an off-camera flash correctly and Brian M, one of the very best guys I know who is a constant help, inspiration and friend (I seriously owe you a few beers man). And to all my Twitter peeps like Heath, Dave, Oscar, Pat, Jim, Bob, Jacob, Jacques, Jay, Chris (F and L), Scott (Wood, Wyden and Frederick), Steve, Doug, Viveca, Jon, James, Mark, Stefanie, Jesse, Justin, Tobias, Tim and others. I know that since I mentioned a bunch of names that I'll miss someone, but I appreciate you all.

Some photographers keep all their secrets to themselves and don't want to help others. Not these guys. They share in the struggle and would rather help those facing the same problems then to just sit and watch a guy drown himself without tossing out a life line. A few even bought prints from me and a few more bought copies of my book. Thank you guys for your unbelievable generosity.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention Facebook, because I have a ton of supporters on there, too many to name. Needless to say, I love all the comments and all the kind words from you guys...some of the things you guys tell me about my work is incredibly humbling and confidence boosting. Again, thank you.

And of course, never last, never least, Jina. You are, as always, the reason I ever succeed at anything. You know this. I know this. Thank you.

So what is coming in 2011? I'm not sure yet, that's what the break is mostly going to determine. I do know that I will be changing up my portrait photography business model to a more standard format. I've used the last year as practice and I'm ready to go to the next level. I will be taking a 4-5 day trip to the midwest this spring for some stormchasing, so expect something awesome to come from that. Depending on how busy the portrait business gets, I will be doing more stormchasing in Arizona during the summer months and will probably do another book.

My other big goal is to start teaching people about HDR photography. I always have photographers asking how to do it and that they'd be interested in a workshop. So I'm going to make it happen...hopefully in a few months we'll get together a first attempt at one and see how it goes. I'm super excited about it, nothing is more fun that teaching what you love to people who want to learn.

If you are interested in those workshops, let me know. Also, if you'd like to see something else from me, please ask!

Mostly I want to keep doing what I'm doing.

This photo takes its name from what my sister-in-law termed the aha! experience — a profound spiritual experience I underwent in August 1984, when I stopped hating myself, stopped living continually at the edge of or inside the pit of despair. At my brother's house, Anchorage, Alaska. Christmas 1984.

The story
From a couple of posts in the "Coming out stories" thread in the Lesbians group (22 Mar 2006):

... I had a long long battle in from about 6th grade to about age 25 with depression & despair. Thought about suicide a lot. Never did attempt it, but that's mostly because I knew it wouldn't be just an attempt. And because I couldn't do that to my family. About age 25, had a spiritual experience (nothing to do with any organized religions though) that put the end to most of the self-hate, though I've never been completely free of the despair or occasional, & sometimes very debilitating, bouts of depression. And still, being a dyke is one of those things which gives me the greatest strength to get through it....

I had been doing a lot of stuff that year (1984) trying to deal w/ my depression/despair stuff. One thing was to get involved for a time w/ a 12-Step group (similar to AA) called Emotions Anonymous. I did a lot of writing about the first three steps, & most crucial was the stuff about "Came to believe in a power greater than ourselves that could restore our sanity" (or however that goes) & "Made a decision to turn our lives & our will over to the care of god as we understood god."

My problem was, how can I turn my life & my will over to the care of someone I don't flat f**king trust? Mind you, I had by that time a B.A. in Religion, knew craploads about a whole big variety of religions, was an adherent of none of them because much as I believed in god (lower-case g), which I define as "the universe & everything in it," I didn't trust any of the Gods that various religions put up as who I should be kowtowing to.

When they told me who to put on the throne
I said no, I will not be ruled
the gods they showed me were tyrants
who displeased me with their judgments,
their injustice, yes, their cruelty.

So, in short, I made up my own self-defined "religion." I reckoned that the universe & everything in it (god) is awfully damn hard to develop a personal relationship w/, so I had to whittle it down somehow, so I "invented" a sort of big sister/helping spirit/personal guide type of "imaginary" being to act as my personal connection to the "all of the above" that is god.

I named her Mielikki, after the Finnish spirit of woodland. The name comes from the Finnish word mieli which means mind or heart or desire, plus the suffix of endearment -kki. It's sometimes translated as "darling" but to me her name means "my dearest desire." And she is an "imaginary" being that is bigger than myself, while at once she is a part of me... like my gut feelings (which have always been more accurate than my conscious brain-thoughts about how to live life). So her "will" is the same a mine: what is best for me, to be most fully me. If that makes sense.

That was February/March that I did that work. Fast forward to August: I was spending about 20 minutes each night before falling asleep doing a sort of meditation breathing in & out to the phrase "Thou art / with me" (a borrowing w/ slight rewrite of part of the 23rd Psalm). Although some things were changing, I was still pretty messed up, still self-hating, & still going a lot into deep ugly pits of suicidal ideation. And then I was fired from my job.

My job was at a bookstore, one of several in a large Alaska-owned chain called the Book Cache, & the reason I was fired made no sense. I got confirmation later that I was fired for being a lesbian. But the important point is that as I was leaving the mall, in a matter of just a few steps down that hallway by the phonebooth, a whole bunch of thoughts went like at-tat-tat-tat through my brain:

"This doesn't make sense. Why me? I should just give up. First last night" [a particularly nasty evening in the pit] "& now this. I'll never be free of this depression. I should just kill myself.... " blah blah blah.

And then: "Thou art / with me."

And with that thought, it all just... changed. I knew my brother & sister-in-law & friends wouldn't let me die in the gutter. I knew I'd get through this, & would find another job. I knew I would be okay. (And I also knew that even if she was just a made up figment of my imagination, Mielikki was right there.)

And I went & got on the bus & went over to my brother's & sister-in-law's house to tell them about it.

Although I've had my bouts in the pit since then, I've never hated myself since, & have generally known that I could get through wh

The very best baby name book just got better! Now with more than 60,000 popular and unusual names for boys and girls, this book provides expectant parents with abundant information on names, including origins, meanings, variations, fascinating facts, and famous namesakes. The following helpful features make finding the perfect name for your baby fun and easy:
— "Baby Name Guru" Bruce Lansky provides advice on how to choose a name for your baby and how to customize a popular name
— Popular names from around the world, including thousands of French, English, Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, German, Scottish, Welsh, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Scandanavian, Polish, Native American, Hawaiian, African, and Hindi names
— Icons to identify names used for both boys and girls
— Over 5,000 names African-American families often choose for their children
— Over 5,000 names that Hispanic families commonly use
— More than 300 fun lists to help you brainstorm names, including a list of names celebrities are choosing for their children
— Stereotypes of commonly used names
— Plans for a name-the-baby shower by Becky Long, author of Themed Baby Showers
The most useful, helpful, and fun collection of names on the market!

The very best baby name book just got better! Now with more than 60,000 popular and unusual names for boys and girls, this book provides expectant parents with abundant information on names, including origins, meanings, variations, fascinating facts, and famous namesakes. The following helpful features make finding the perfect name for your baby fun and easy:
— "Baby Name Guru" Bruce Lansky provides advice on how to choose a name for your baby and how to customize a popular name
— Popular names from around the world, including thousands of French, English, Latin, Hebrew, Arabic, Greek, German, Scottish, Welsh, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Scandanavian, Polish, Native American, Hawaiian, African, and Hindi names
— Icons to identify names used for both boys and girls
— Over 5,000 names African-American families often choose for their children
— Over 5,000 names that Hispanic families commonly use
— More than 300 fun lists to help you brainstorm names, including a list of names celebrities are choosing for their children
— Stereotypes of commonly used names
— Plans for a name-the-baby shower by Becky Long, author of Themed Baby Showers
The most useful, helpful, and fun collection of names on the market!