'BABA' IN POLISH TOPONYMY

The article presents the dissemination of the name 'Baba' in Polish toponymy. In seeking the motivation of these names the authoress consults dictionaries of the Polish language (general and dialect), etymological dictionaries, 'Slownik staropolskich nazw osobowych' (The Dictionary of Old Polish Personal Names), as well as a broader Slavic background. She gives a critical overview of motivations encountered in previous onomastic literature. She conducts an overview of onomastic bases: personal names, names of plants and animals, objects associated with water management, and topographic terms. In conclusion she states that 'Baba' names probably have different motivations, depending on the type of object.