In an increasingly multicultural world, children's names now reflect the diversity of our heritage. Offering more creative naming options than ever before, A World of Baby Names is the ultimate guide to names from dozens of cultures and countries.

Each chapter focuses on names from a specific country, region, or category, including little-known details about naming customs. Each entry contains the name's meaning, history, etymology, and derivations. With over 30,000 names to choose from, you're sure to find one that is as special as your baby.

The ancient cultural influences of the Celts and the Druids, as well as the later rule by the Vikings, Normans, and the English have all had a great influence on Irish society, and these events in history have produced many interesting names that have their roots in Gaelic, Old Norse, French, Old English, and other languages.

Surnames became hereditary during the reign of King Brian Boru in the tenth century, making Ireland the first European country after the fall of the Roman Empire to adopt hereditary family names. Most family names are patronymics that indicate descendancy from an early ancestor, or, in some cases, from the father.

The O prefix in Irish surnames, such as O Murchadha, stands for the Gaelic word ua, which means "grandson of" or "descendant of." The Gaelic prefix for a girl is Ni, which means "daughter of," as in Ni Murchadha.

English domination and oppression had a great effect on Irish names. Early in the fifteenth century, all Irishmen living in the counties of Dublin, Louth, Kildare, and Meath were ordered by Edward IV to take an English surname. Many people adopted English surnames or translated their Gaelic surnames into English to avoid the penalty of forfeiture of all their yearly goods.

Because of persecution and domination, English names came into great use and Gaelic spellings of names were Anglicized. In recent years, in response to the activities of the Gaelic League, more people are choosing to bestow Gaelic names upon their children. Aoibheann, and Siobhán are popular girls' names. For boys, Aodhán and Lughaidh are popular.

MALE NAMES

Abbán: Diminutive form of abb (an abbot): hence, "little abbot." The name was borne by a 6th-century saint from Leinster. Abban is the Anglicized form of the name. (Ā-bahn)

Ádhamh: Gaelic form of Adam, a name derived from the Hebrew adama (red earth). The name is borne in the Bible by the first man created by God. (Ā-thuhv)

FEMALE NAMES

Abaigeal: Irish Gaelic form of Abigail (father of exhaltation). Short: Abaigh. (AB-ih-gehl)

Affrica: Latinized from of Aifric (pleasant). The name was borne by the 12th-century bride of Olaus the Swarthy, King of Man. Var: Afric, Africa. (af-rih-kah)