Comparison

First Name Dictionary vs Surname & Name Dictionary

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

First Name Dictionary

Features
Read full description

This app provides an offline version of First Name Dictionary The First Name Dictionary covers over 6,000 names in common use in English, including newly created names and traditional names that have been newly discovered. From Alice to Zanna and Adam to Zola this app will answer all your questions: it will tell you the age, origin, and meaning of the name, as well as how it has fared in terms of popularity, and notes famous bearers (both historical and fictional). It covers alternative spellings, short forms and pet forms, and masculine and feminine forms, as well as help with pronunciation. The edition featured fully updated appendices covering names in other languages, including Scottish, French, German, Italian, Arabic, and Chinese, etc. This is the most comprehensive first names dictionary available. From the traditional to the rare and unconventional, this app will tell you everything you need to know about names. ▸ Basic features include: - Easy navigation - Bookmark a word - Names of the day - Built-in dictionary - Flashcard

About

Surname & Name Dictionary

Explore the origins, meanings, and histories of surnames and given names from diverse cultures and periods. Discover entries from mythology, fiction, and the bible, with options to bookmark and add personal notes.

Highlights
  • Surname origin, meaning, and history
  • Name origin, meaning, and history
  • Entries from over 200 languages
  • Includes mythological and fictional names
  • Bookmark and add notes
  • Advanced search functionality
  • Pronunciation guide
Features
Read full description

This app provides a dictionary of surnames and names with their meaning, origin and history. Its scope is broad: all surnames, names from all cultures (English, Spanish, Arabic, Japanese, Korean, Irish, Indian, German, Greek, Latin etc.) and periods are eligible to be included in the app. Names from mythology, fiction and bible are also included. SURNAME • Over 48029 entries • Origin, meaning and history • Surnames from over 200 langauges and dialects • Write note for each entry NAME • Over 201000 entries • Origin, meaning and history • Names from over 200 langauges and dialects • Write note for each entry OTHER FEATURES • Bookmark a name • Advanced search • Cross references • Built-in dictionary • Pronunciation

Screenshots

First Name Dictionary4 screens
Surname & Name Dictionary4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Surname & Name Dictionary at every 4 months against First Name Dictionary's every 58 months. Surname & Name Dictionary also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15). First Name Dictionary's advantage is price ($1.99 vs $2.99). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

First Name Dictionary costs $1.99 and Surname & Name Dictionary $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

First Name Dictionary ships an update every 58 months, Surname & Name Dictionary every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
First Name Dictionary versus Surname & Name Dictionary: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFirst Name DictionarySurname & Name Dictionary
Price$1.99 — better$2.99
Rating—1.9 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—14.3% of reviews
Number of ratings—8 — better
Update frequencyEvery 58 monthsEvery 4 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Paid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS1512.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB297 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperThanh NguyenBui Hoai Trang

In-app purchases

None

First Name Dictionary

No in-app purchases

None

Surname & Name Dictionary

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is First Name Dictionary free?
First Name Dictionary costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Surname & Name Dictionary free?
Surname & Name Dictionary costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do First Name Dictionary or Surname & Name Dictionary have ads?
Neither First Name Dictionary nor Surname & Name Dictionary shows ads.
Which is updated more often, First Name Dictionary or Surname & Name Dictionary?
First Name Dictionary ships an update every 58 months, and Surname & Name Dictionary every 4 months. Most recently, First Name Dictionary was updated on November 6, 2026 and Surname & Name Dictionary on November 2, 2026.

Other comparisons