Andor
November 15, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
From Norwegian, meaning “Thor’s eagle”, or a Hungarian version of “Andreas” / “Andrew“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Anaru, Ander, Anders, Andras, Andre, Andreas, Andrei, Andrej, Andreu, Andrew, Andrey, Andria, Andries, Andris, Andro, Andrus, Arnor, Arnorr, Bandi, Dand, Endre, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Andor Harsanyi, the Chicago concert pianist Thea goes to for lessons, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
– Andor Harsanyi, Jr., the musician’s young son, in The Song of the Larkby Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
Hartley
November 15, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From an Old English place name, meaning “hart (stag) clearing”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Hartlay, Hartlaye, Hartleigh, Hartlie, Hartly, Hertelay, Herthelay, Hertlay, Hertlegh, Hertley, Hertleye, Hertly, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Dr. Hartley Evans, a Chicago friend of Dr. Archie’s, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
Lars
November 15, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Scandinavian version of “Laurence” / “Lawrence“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Enzo, Larkin, Larrie, Larry, Lasse, Lassi, Laurance, Lauren, Laurence, Laurent, Laurie, Lauritz, Lawrance, Lawrence, Lawrie, Loren, Lorencio, Lorens, Lorenzo, Lorin, Lorrin, Rance, Rens, Renzo, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Rev. Lars Larsen, a friend of Mr. Kronborg’s in Chicago, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Lars Ahlin (1915-1997), Swedish author and philosopher.
– Lars Forssell (1928-2007), Swedish writer.
– Lars Jansson (1926-2000), Finnish author and cartoonist.
Elmer
November 14, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
From the Anglo-Saxon “Adelmar”, meaning “noble” or “famous”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Adelmar, Aylmer, Edelmiro.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Elmer, Ray Kennedy’s unlucky brother-in-law, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Elmer Davis (1890-1958), American author and reporter.
– Elmer Rafael Diktonius (1896-1961), Finnish composer and poet.
– Elmer Hader (1889-1973), American children’s book author and illustrator.
– Elmer Blaney Harris (1878-1966), American author, dramatist, and playwright.
– Elmer Keith (1899-1984), American author and rancher.
– Elmer Kelton (1926-2009), American journalist and writer.
– Elmer Rice (1892-1967), American playwright.
Famos
November 14, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From Catalan, meaning “famous”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
. . . I . . . don’t . . . know?
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Famos Serreños, Spanish Johnny’s cousin, who moves to Moonstone to work in the brickyard, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
Ray
November 14, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Shortened form of “Raymond”, or sometimes a diminutive of “Raphael”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Rae, Raye, and that’s about it. Rai, maybe? There’s really only so many ways to make a one-syllable name.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Ray Kennedy, the freight train conductor who is one of Thea’s dearest friends and most ardent admirers, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), American author.
Billy
November 14, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Like “Bill” and “Willie“, etc., a diminutive of “William“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Bil, Bill, Billie, Gwil, Liam, Lyam, Pim, Vila, Vili, Viljo, Ville, Wil, Wilkie, Wilkin, Wilky, Will, Willie, Willis, Willy, Wim, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Uncle Billy Beemer, the benevolent town drunk responsible for Moonstone’s grove of cottonwoods, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
– Uncle Billy Jeffers, the Creighton’s neighbor down the road, who survived the War of 1812, in Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (1964; set during the American Civil War, 1861-1865).
WRITERS:
– Billy Rose (1899-1966), American impresario, lyricist, and showman.
– Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967), American jazz composer, lyricist, musical arranger, and pianist.
– Billy Wilder (1906-2002), Austrian-American artist, filmmaker, journalist, producer, and screenwriter.
Gus
November 6, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Shortened version of “Augustus”, “Angus”, “Gustave”, etc. Sometimes used as a diminutive of “Constantine”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Guus, Kusti, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Gus Kronborg, Thea’s oldest brother, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Gus Kahn (1886-1941), American lyricist.
– Gus Tyler (1911-2011), American activist, author, and columnist.
Gunner
November 6, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Gunnar”, from Old Norse, meaning “warrior”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Gunnar, Gunnarr, Gunne, Gunter, Gunther, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Gunner Kronborg, one of Thea’s rambunctious younger brothers in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Gunner Berg (1764-1827), Norwegian politician, priest, and writer.
Axel
November 6, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Danish version of “Absalom”, from the Hebrew, meaning “my father is peace”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Acke, Aksel, Akseli, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Axel Kronborg, one of Thea’s rambunctious younger brothers in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Axel Jensen (1932-2003), Norwegian author.
– Axel Munthe (1857-1949), Swedish author, physician, and psychiatrist.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 