Bob
August 2, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN: Diminutive of “Robert“, meaning “bright flame”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES: Bobbie, Bobby, Dob, Dobbie, Dobby, Rob, Robb, Robbe, Robbi, Robbie, Robby, Robi, Robin, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Bob, the largest of the unfriendly group of “Kirke’s Lambs” John Ridd runs into, after risking his life to save Tom Faggus from the danger of the Monmouth Rebellion, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
– Bob Ames, Mrs. Vance’s idealistic cousin, who inspires Carrie to greater things, in Theodore Dreiser’s Sister Carrie (published in 1900; set 1889-1890s).
– Bob (Robert) Gilbreth (b. 1920), the eleventh of the dozen Gilbreth children whose upbringing is related in Cheaper By the Dozen (1948) and Belles on Their Toes (1950), written by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.
– Bob Martingale, subject of one of Rawdon’s sporty stories in Vanity Fair, by William Makepeace Thackeray (published in 1847-48, but set in the 1810s-20s).
– Bob (Robin) Snell, the little schoolboy whose fight with young John Ridd is momentarily disrupted by news of the elder Ridd’s death, in Lorna Doone.
– Bob Suckling, one of Becky’s conquests in Vanity Fair.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 
[…] IN LITERATURE: – Robert (called “Bob“, b. 1920), the eleventh of the dozen Gilbreth children whose upbringing is related […]
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[…] A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888). – Robin Snell (called “Bob“), the little schoolboy whose fight with young John Ridd is momentarily disrupted by news of […]
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[…] Biologist: Cheryl, Janet, Nicholas, Sara, Stuart, and Suzanne. – Car Salesperson: Allen, Bob, Clay, Larry, Pete, and Travis. – Drummer: Billy, Chad, Dave, Joey, Mickey, and Tommy. […]
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