Manny
July 12, 2015 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Shortened form of “Almanzo”, “Emmanuel”, “Manuel”, “Manfred”, “Manning”, etc.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Manel, Mano, Manu, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Manny Rubell, head counselor in charge of Camp Ava, where Lily spends a miserable summer, in Sleeping Arrangements, by Laura Cunningham (published 1989, set in the 1950s).
WRITERS:
– Manny Farber (1917-2008), American critic, painter, and writer.
Barb
July 12, 2015 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Shortened version of “Barbara“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Babs, Barbara, Barbary, Barbera, Barbie, Barbra, Barby, Bobbie, Bobby, Varvara, Varvora, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Aunt Barb, Norm’s wife, considered by his family to be a “worthless gold-digger”, in Sleeping Arrangements, by Laura Cunningham (published 1989, set in the 1950s).
Norm
July 12, 2015 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Shortened version of “Norman“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Normand, Normand, Normant, Normie
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Uncle Norm, youngest brother of Rosie, Len, and Gabe Shaine, whose choice of wife distances him from his family, in Sleeping Arrangements, by Laura Cunningham (published 1989, set in the 1950s).
WRITERS:
– Norm Foster (b. 1949), Canadian playwright.
– Norm Ledgin (b. 1928), American author and journalist.
Len
July 7, 2015 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Shortened form of “Leonard”, from the Germanic for “brave lion”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Lenart, Lennart, Lennie, Lenny, Leo, Leon, Leonard, Leonardo, Leonhard, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Len Shaine, Gabe and Rosie’s brother, and Lily’s enigmatic uncle, in Sleeping Arrangements, by Laura Cunningham (published 1989, set in the 1950s).
WRITERS:
– Len Deighton (b. 1929), English artist, historian, novelist, and writer.
– Len Fox (1905-2004), Australian activist, author, journalist, and painter.
– Len Peterson (1917-2008), Canadian novelist, playwright, and screenwriter.
– Len Roberts (1947-2007), American poet.
Morris
July 7, 2015 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Medieval English variation of “Maurice”; ultimately from Latin, meaning “dark-skinned”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Maurey, Mauri, Maurice, Mauricio, Maurie, Mauritius, Maurits, Mauritz, Maurizio, Mauro, Maurus, Maury, Maurycy, Meuric, Meurig, Mo, Moe, Morey, Moric, Moris, Moriz, Morr, Morrie, Morrissey, Morrison, Morry, Morse, Mory, Moss, Muirie, Muiris, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Morris Snezak, co-owner (with his wife, Anna) of AnaMor Towers apartments, in Sleeping Arrangements, by Laura Cunningham (published 1989, set in the 1950s).
Aaron
July 7, 2015 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
From the Hebrew name “Aharon”, possibly meaning “light” or “mountain”; or perhaps of Egyptian origin, meaning unknown.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Aaren, Aharon, Aran, Arin, Aron, Arran, Arrin, Arron, Eran, Erin, Eron, Haroon, Haroun, Harun, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Aaron Hassan, Susan’s older brother in Sleeping Arrangements, by Laura Cunningham (published 1989, set in the 1950s).
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 