The Art of Literary Nomenclature

ORIGIN:
From an English last name meaning “nook” or “retreat”, an old Scottish place name meaning “from a faraway valley” or “by the estuary”, or possibly referencing the word meaning “healthy and strong”.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Haile, Hails, Hal, Hales, Hallas, Halys, Hayle, Hayles, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Middle name of Nathan Hale Creighton (1848-1852), one of the three young Creighton boys who died of “paralysis” the year Jethro was born, in Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (1964; set during the American Civil War, 1861-1865).

Tagged: 1840s, 1860s, 1960s, English, H, Scottish