Julia Cresswell – författare

Babies’ Names is a best-selling guide to over 1,500 first names. The book gives the origins of each name, and also lists the most popular girls’ and boys’ names in Britain today. It’s the ideal reference for parents-to-be everywhere.From grandparents and friends to the milkman, everyone seems to have an opinion on what name you should give your baby. If you’re struggling to agree with your partner, this is your one-stop guide to finding that perfect name.All entries are listed alphabetically for easy reference, giving a pronunciation guide, background to the origins of the name and any related nicknames or pet forms. Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Afro-Caribbean and European names, as well as Christian names, are all included.A helpful guide to registering your baby’s birth and points to consider when naming your child, plus up-to-date lists of the most popular girls’ and boys’ names complete this comprehensive guide. It couldn’t be more easy to find that special baby name.

Newly updated to incorporate recent additions to the English language, the Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins provides a fascinating exploration of the origins and development of over 3,000 words in the English language. Drawing on Oxford's unrivalled dictionary research programme and language monitoring it brings to light the intriguing and often unusual stories of some of our most used words and phrases. The A-Z entries include the first known use of the term along with examples, related lexes, and expressions which uncover the etymological composition of each word. Also featured are 22 special panels that give overviews of broad topic areas, 5 of which are completely new and that variously cover words from Oceania, word blends, eponyms, and acronyms. New findings in the OED since the previous edition have also been added, including emoji, mansplain, meeple, meme, and spam. An absorbing resource for language students and enthusiasts, but also an intriguing read for any person interested in the development of the English language, and of language development in general. It also includes an extended introduction on the history of the English language.

Did you know that coconut derives from the Spanish and Portuguese coco for 'grinning face'? Or that giraffes used to be called camelopards? Or that walrus has its origin in Dutch, meaning 'whale horse'.The Little Oxford Dictionary of Word Origins includes 1,000 word histories arranged across 100 wide-ranging themes, from food to phobias, from the universe to love. Featuring words with interesting or surprising origins, it is an irresistible collection of word histories, including dates of origin and an authoritative account of each word's derivation. Beautifully produced and attractively designed, this fascinating volume is a pleasure to browse. It also features a useful index so you can quickly find just the word you are looking for. It is the perfect gift for word lovers and for anyone with an interest in the English language.

- What does the name Calvin mean?- What is the meaning of Beverley?- Which boy's name means 'little seal'?- Which girl's name means 'spear strength'?- And what links Merle and Mavis? Chambers Dictionary of First Names offers pronunciations,meanings, histories, variant spellings and other colourfulinformation about 10,000 names in more than 4,000 entries. It also explainschanging fashions in names, mentions famous historical,literary or cultural figures who bore a name and offersinvaluable advice on everything from cultural traditions topotential pitfalls in naming your child.Whether you're an expectant parent, have a scholarlyinterest or simply want to look up your own name or thoseof your friends, you will find Chambers Dictionary of FirstNames to be endlessly fascinating.answersbald; beaver stream; Ronan; Gertrude;both are birds: Merle means blackbird and Mavis means songthrush

An illustrated pocket guide to the creatures of British myth and legend.From mythical legends – dragons, unicorns, mermaids, sea serpents, griffins, yales and wyverns – to contemporary tall-tales such as big cats on the moors and the Loch Ness Monster, the British imagination has ever been stalked by fantastic beasts. These creatures find their origins in folklore, literature, heraldry and religion and are vividly transmitted to us in countless manuscript illuminations, woodcuts, sculptures, engravings, carvings and paintings.Julia Cresswell here outlines and investigates the legendary beasts of Britain, including famous examples such as St George's dragon alongside more local traditions such as the Laidly Worm, a princess turned by an evil stepmother into a monster that terrorised the countryside. It is the perfect guide to a heritage of creatures that range from the ugly and malevolent to the beguiling and benevolent.