Behind the Name (web)

Name: Behind the Name (web)
Author: Sugggest

Behind the Name is a website dedicated to providing information about first names. It includes meanings, origins, popularity rankings, variant spellings, and other details about thousands of names from around the world.

Education & Reference Name Resources

names meanings origins popularity variants details

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What is Behind the Name (web)?

Behind the Name is a website focused on first names and what they mean. Launched in 1996 by Mike Campbell, it provides information on the meanings, origins, history, popularity trends, variant spellings, pronunciation guides, and more for over 25,000 names from cultures around the world.

The site covers first names from many languages and cultures, including English, Spanish, French, German, Arabic, and Native American names. Each name entry provides detailed etymology and background on the name's history and evolution over time. There are also popularity charts showing naming trends by country and year.

In addition to extensive name listings, Behind the Name contains reference articles on naming traditions, name selection tips, and other name-related topics. Users can browse names based on categories like country/language of origin, popularity, or theme. There is also a name generator tool and quizzes on name meanings. The site sees over 120 million pageviews per year and is run on a non-commercial basis by Campbell along with a small team of editors and researchers.