Whether you are seeking inspiration for your own magical name or you're looking for baby names, The New Book of Magical Names will ignite your imagination.
The New Book of Magical Names by Phoenix McFarland (Llewellyn Publications, ISBN 0-7387-0395-8) is one of those books that every Pagan and Wiccan should have on their bookshelf. Phoenix McFarland’s work is a great reference work and a source of endless inspiration, whether you are seeking a new name for yourself, your baby, a book character, or even your coven.
The New Book of Magical Names begins by taking readers on the journey of how names have developed and changed. You will explore how people went from using one name to two names and, eventually, three names. You will see how the Church influenced names and how Pagans and Wiccans are breaking free of the stifling choices of Mary, John, and Matthew.
One of the more interesting sections in the beginning of The New Book of Magical Names is on the Puritans. Explore actual Puritan names discovered in English birth records. Some of the more known Puritan names are Caleb, Charity, Ebenezer, Ezekiel, and Zachariah. The lesser-known Puritan names, however, are the more bizarre: Adulterina, Fear God, Flea-Fornication, Fly Fornication Richardson, Joy In Sorrow, and Kill Sin Pimple. The Puritan name “If Christ Had Not Died for Thee Thou Hads’t Been Damned” proved to be most interesting and, it turns out, was shortened to “Damned.”
The New Book of Magical Names also has chapters on naming children and naming rituals. Included in these two chapters is sage advice on how to choose a good name for your baby as well as meditations, spells, and rituals on how to arrive at names for everything from babies to your house, your coven to your own personal seasonal name,
If your goal is to find the perfect magical name that described who you are or what you most want to become, Phoenix McFarland has lists and ideas for just about everything under the sun. There are name lists for birds, kitchen items, and elements. There are name lists from popular books such as Beowulf, Castle of Wizardry by David Eddings, Crystal Singer by Anne McCaffrey, and The Darkover Novels by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Deity names from a number of pantheons are included.
Picking a magical name from out of the blue can sometimes be difficult. The New Book of Magical Names is a terrific tool that inspires the imagination. The lists, the exercises, and the questionnaires will help you find the perfect name to match your needs.
