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Patrick Foote

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The Origin of Names, Words and Everything in Between: (Name Meanings, Fun Facts, Word Origins, Etymology) Hardcover – October 15, 2018

by Patrick Foote (Author)

4.0 288 ratings

Book 1 of 2: Origin of Names

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Name Meanings Explained

“From the casually curious to etymology junkies (or anyone who’s ever halted a conversation to search the internet for the origin of a word) this book will have something for everyone.” ––William C. Fox of the YouTube channel "Exploring History"

#1 Best Seller in Popular Culture, Puzzles & Games, Curiosities & Wonders, Fun Facts, Questions & Answers, Trivia, and Slang & Word Lists

From Patrick Foote and his popular YouTube channel "Name Explain", comes a book for trivia fans that explains the name meanings of a multitude of things. From toys and animals to countries and cities to planets in our solar system, learn the etymology of words in a fun and entertaining way.

Explore the world of names. What is something that literally everything in existence has in common? It all has a name! With The Origin of Names, Words and Everything in Between, you can learn the origins of a multitude of names.

Learn new things. Why is New York called New York? The Origin of Names, Words and Everything in Between has the answer for you. While author Patrick Foote doesn’t claim to know everything, he has garnered a lot of knowledge about language over the years and he’s excited to get to share it with you in The Origin of Names, Words and Everything in Between.

Get a copy and:

Know random facts, like why Russia is called Russia
Be able to entertain yourself and your friends with interesting fun facts
Discover the word origins and name meanings of planets, animals, countries, and much more

If you enjoyed books such as The Etymologicon, Timeless Trivia, or The Great Book of American Idioms, you’ll want to own The Origin of Names, Words and Everything in Between.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book engages in a way that makes learning fun and surprising. It provides thoughtful, personable and enlightening answers to questions I never knew I had!” Becci, Patrick’s girlfriend

“The Origin of Names, Words, and Everything in Between is a practical etymology for the curious and obsessed. From countries, companies, toys and games, Patrick covers a wide range of fascinating topics that give you a unique perspective on the origin and meaning of names.” Wasif, Social Influencer Marketer

“What I really like about The Origin of Names is that it makes me think about things I never knew I wanted the answer for.” Tania, Patrick’s mother

“Reading this book makes me relive my school days with Patrick. When he would think up a witty idea for a drama piece, I would instantaneously laugh, stand back, and be filled with pride. Then would say something like ‘great job Pat’―the same applies with this fantastic read. Great job.” Liam, friend of Patrick’s

“If I could put Name Explain YouTube videos on my coffee table as a conversation starter, I would. And now with the soon-to-be published The Origins of Names, Words, and Everything in Between, I can. From the casually curious to etymology junkies (or anyone who’s ever halted a conversation to search the internet for the origin of a word) this book will have something for everyone.” William C. Fox of the YouTube channel The Exploration with William C. Fox

“As a recent follower of the Name Explain YouTube channel, I’ve had to catch up quick; there is, indeed, a lot of information covered by Mr. Foote. And it’s utterly fascinating! This book is a perfect addition―it is witty and entertaining, but it also ‘digs deep’ into the roots of where we find the etymology of our everyday words. Definitely recommend.” Julie, Patrick’s girlfriend’s mother

“Patrick Foote, the voice, brain, and hand behind the YouTube channel Name Explain, has transferred his unique humour and wit to his first book. Perfect for fans of all ages both old and new, this book has something in it for everyone. Whether you have an academic interest or just want a few fun facts to drop into conversations. This book is easily accessible for reading bits and pieces or the whole thing in one go!” Claire, friend of Patrick’s

“Patrick has made me realise that even the most mundane and ubiquitous words can have an endlessly fascinating story. His whimsical and friendly tone also makes any topic entertaining and accessible. Hmm…now all of a sudden I would love for Patrick to explain ‘mundane,’ ‘ubiquitous’ and ‘whimsical!’” Betty of the YouTube channel Articulations

Review

“If I could put Name Explain YouTube videos on my coffee table as a conversation starter, I would. And now with the soon-to-be published The Origins of Names, Words, and Everything in Between, I can. From the casually curious to etymology junkies (or anyone who’s ever halted a conversation to search the internet for the origin of a word) this book will have something for everyone.” ––William C. Fox of the YouTube channel The Exploration with William C. Fox

“Patrick has made me realise that even the most mundane and ubiquitous words can have an endlessly fascinating story. His whimsical and friendly tone also makes any topic entertaining and accessible. Hmm…now all of a sudden I would love for Patrick to explain ‘mundane,’ ‘ubiquitous’ and ‘whimsical!’” ––Betty of the YouTube channel Articulations

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Mango (October 15, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 200 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1633538508
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1633538504
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.3 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.75 x 8.75 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,108,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #834 in Word Lists
- #1,788 in Trivia & Fun Facts (Books)
- #3,836 in Trivia (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.0 288 ratings

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5

288 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

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PeggyFletcger

When your brain freezes this book has it all

Reviewed in the United States on December 14, 2023

Verified Purchase

When I have to reset a password on the spot on my phone all I have to do is open the book

Helpful

Emanuel

Good, but not what I was looking for

Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2020

Verified Purchase

The book isn't poorly written, and the information in it is interesting. However the language is a bit simple, I felt like I was reading something written on a 12 year reading level. It also lacked the dry humor of similar books (I recommend The General Book of Ignorance). No bad if it is a gift for a fourth grader; just not what I was looking for.

7 people found this helpful

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T. Clem

A disappointing waste of money and time

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2020

Verified Purchase

I had high hope for the entertainment and information that would be provided by reading this book. However, I was very disappointed. The publisher should have hired a good proofreader for this book long before it was published. The grammatical and spelling errors were inexcusable. There were so many obvious problems that a high school student could have corrected that there was no way this should have gone to press. Besides that, in relation to the content, there were many places where the conclusion that the author made was that "there is no way to know what the origin of this word is". But, wasn't that the whole stated purpose of the book, to give the origin of the words? My advise to anyone interested in buying this book; save your money and look for another, similar, one.

37 people found this helpful

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Jule Lorraine

Name calling can be fun is sarcasm

Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2023

Verified Purchase

I love words because I struggled to read as a kid. Understanding the origins of words and their meaning makes reading easier. It's just not a bunch of letters trying to sound out. It's a fun book to pick up when you get time.

Helpful

Muhammad Rahman

NameExplain makes a seamless transition from Youtube to the written from.

Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2018

Verified Purchase

You might know Patrick from his youtube channel Name Explain, where he explores the origin and meaning of many common names we use today. The Origin of Names, Words and Everything in Between looks to expand Patrick's scope of content from short youtube videos to more expansive written chapters that explore the fascinating world of etymology. Patrick has carefully curated a list of names that all have a fascinating backstory. Here you will find everything from names of countries, animals, food, historic titles, and much more. This book is also a perfect companion piece to all the great content you will find on the Name Explain Youtube channel. If you are in doubt, check out the channel first. If you like the content on Youtube, you will love this book.

19 people found this helpful

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Charles B. Olson

Enjoyable romp in the meaning of names

Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2018

I've been a fan of the Name Explain You-Tube channel for a time and was gifted this book for Christmas. The book provides the same sort of enjoyment provided by the channel, with snippets of etymology that you can pick up at any time. Great first book for the author, and a fun book to have around for rainy days.

One person found this helpful

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Kathryn

Love these books.

Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2022

Verified Purchase

Received as Christmas gift. Love reading the origin of words. It's fascinating topic. Recommend to anyone who loves to read. Or not.

One person found this helpful

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reddy314

NICE TRY BUT SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTING

Reviewed in the United States on June 15, 2021

Verified Purchase

I don't want to condemn it, but there's not a lot of information in this thin book and not much I did not already know. If you like words, you may find it worthwhile.

5 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Gail H

Informative and funny

Reviewed in Canada on December 18, 2021

Verified Purchase

A really easy read but full of interesting bits of information. SO much more to explore in word origins and this really is a great introduction. Makes ya think!

Amazonaddict

No muy bueno

Reviewed in Mexico on March 27, 2019

Verified Purchase

Not so good. It is pretentious and it does not cure its facts. It is more suitable for children and preteens

2 people found this helpful

WritingOnARock

Very interesting - a lot of research has gone into this.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 23, 2019

Verified Purchase

As a spin off from the YouTube channel, this book covers a lot of ground. It acts as an introduction to the etymology of names and prompts questions for further study. There is something for everyone and credit should be given for the depth of research undertaken in order to present such wide ranging topics. If you’re interested in this type of etymology, I fully recommend following it up through the Name Explain channel and becoming a subscriber. And as a Patreon, you get so much more. I agree with the comments made in other reviews about proof-reading, but the errors do not detract from the success of this excellent book, nor from the clear enthusiasm and commitment of the writer. He knows what he’s talking about, and he knows his intended audience well.