Hello, My Name Is...: The Remarkable Story of Personal Names

Using examples from Anglo-Saxon kings to today's celebrities, this book charts the history and importance of personal names - given names, surnames, name titles, and professional names. Not long ago, one in two boys was named William, John, or Thomas. Today, only one in 20 have the three most popular names as parents aim to give their children distinctive names. There are still more surnames than given names, and a huge number of titles to add to our personal names. All have interesting histories, such as how "Mrs." once said nothing about a woman's age or marital status.