Hugh
September 13, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
German, meaning “heart”, “mind”, or “spirit”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Hewie, Hudde, Huey, Hughes, Hughie, Hugo, Huw, Shug, Ugo, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Sir Hugh Fitzhugh, Sir Peter’s cousin and neighbor, in The Door in the Wall (written in 1949 and set sometime between 1327-1377), by Marguerite de Angeli.
– Baron Hugh de Whichehalse, a local magistrate and one of those nobleman whose means do not live up to their gentility, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Hugh Cook (1956-2008), English author.
– Hugh Haliburton (1846-1922), pen name of Scottish author, editor, and poet James Logie Robertson.
– Hugh Kingsmill (1889-1949), English journalist and writer.
– Hugh Lofting (1886-1947), English author and engineer.
– Hugh MacLennan (1907-1990), Canadian author and educator.
– Hugh Marlowe (b. 1929), pen name used by English author Harry Patterson, who also published under the pen names “Jack Higgins”, “James Graham”, and “Martin Fallon”.
– Hugh Walpole (1884-1941), English novelist.
– Hugh Walters (1910-1993), English author.
Nicholas
September 13, 2014 § 5 Comments
ORIGIN:
From the Greek “Nikolaos”, meaning “victory of the people”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Cai, Caj, Claes, Claus, Col, Colas, Cole, Colet, Colin, Collin, Kai, Kaj, Kay, Klaas, Klaes, Klas, Klaus, Kolya, Miklos, Mikolas, Miksa, Mykola, Neacel, Nels, Nic, Niccolo, Nichol, Nichols, Nick, Nickie, Nickolas, Nicky, Nico, Nicol, Nicola, Nicolas, Nicolaas, Nicolaos, Nicolau, Nicolaus, Nicolo, Nicos, Niek, Niels, Nigul, Nik, Nika, Nikko, Niklas, Niklaus, Niko, Nikola, Nikolai, Nikolaj, Nikolajs, Nikolaos, Nikolas, Nikolaus, Nikolay, Nikoloz, Nikos, Niksa, Nikusha, Nils, Nixon, Nykko, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Nicholas Snowe, the neighbor whose farm is next to the Ridd’s in location and importance, and whose three daughters hope to catch John Ridd’s attention, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Nicholas Blake (1904-1972), pen name of English poet and novelist Cecil Day-Lewis
– Nicholas Mosley (b. 1923), English novelist.
– Nicholas Rowe (1674-1718), English dramatist, poet, and writer.
– Nicholas Sparks (b. 1965), American novelist and screenwriter.
Carver
September 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Old English last name, meaning “wood carver” or “stone carver”, or Anglo-Norman, meaning “ploughman”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Kerver, Keruer.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Carver Doone, the vengeful and wicked villain who earns his name from his cruelty, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
Ensor
September 12, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Anglo-Saxon place name meaning “Eden’s ridge” or “ridge of prosperity”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Edensor, Endser, Endsor, Enser, Ensie, Ensy, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Sir Ensor Doone, captain and progenitor of the murderous band of Doones who terrorize Exmoor, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
– Ensor Doone (called “Ensie“; later re-named Jones), Carver’s young son, who adores and is adopted by John Ridd following the assault on the Doone stronghold, in Lorna Doone.
Jem
September 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
An English medieval diminutive of “James“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Jae, Jaime, Jamie, Jamey, Jay, Jemmy, Jim, Jimi, Jimmie, Jimmy, Jimsy, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Red Jem Hannaford, a sheep thief, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
– Jem Slocombe, a laborer on John Ridd’s farm, in Lorna Doone.
Archie
August 30, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Archibald”, from Germanic, meaning “genuinely bold”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Arch, Archbold, Archembald, Archer, Archibald, Archibold, Archy, Ercanbald.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Archie Lambert, one of the children who delight in offering hospitality to those in need on the holiday, in “The Thanksgiving Guest”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
Bertie
August 30, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Albert”, “Herbert“, “Robert“, etc., or of the feminine versions of these names — “Alberta”, “Bertina”, “Roberta“, etc.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Alberta, Alberte, Albertina, Albertine, Bertina, Berty, Roberta, Tina, etc.
For boys: Abe, Al, Altti, Baer, Bert, Bertil, Berto, Berty, Brecht, Burt, Herb, Herbie, Pertti, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Bertie Selwyn, one of Marian’s cousins, who knows all about the trick, in “An April Fool”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
Bernard
August 30, 2014 § 6 Comments
ORIGIN:
Germanic, meaning “stern bear” or “brave bear”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Barnard, Barnet, Barney, Ben, Bent, Berinhard, Bernardino, Bernardo, Bernarr, Bernat, Bernd, Bernhard, Bernie, Bernt, Berny, Dino, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Dr. Bernard Phillips, whose house Ally mistakes for home, in “Ally”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
WRITERS:
– Bernard Ashley (b. 1935), English children’s book writer.
– Bernard Lewis (b. 1916), Anglo-American historian and writer.
– Bernard Malamud (1914-1986), American author.
– (George) Bernard Shaw (1856-1950), Irish author, critic, and playwright.
Jake
August 29, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Variant of “Jack“, or diminutive of “Jacob”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Cobus, Coby, Jaak, Jack, Jackie, Jacko, Jacks, Jacky, Jacob, Jak, Jakes, Jakey, Jakin, Jaks, Jax, Jaxon, Jaxson, Jeb, Jeppe, Jock, Jockie, Jocky, Koba, Kobe, Koby, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Jake, a “tough” who lives in Cove Street and adores sharp little Becky Hawkins, in “Becky”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
– Jake Roscoe, an elderly neighbor of the Creighton’s, whose son (also named “Jake“) is off fighting in the war, in Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (1964; set during the American Civil War, 1861-1865).
WRITERS:
– Jake Arnott (b. 1961), English novelist.
– Jake Copass (1920-2006), American poet and storyteller.
– Jake Halpern (b. 1975), American author, commentator, and producer.
– Jake Holmes (b. 1939), American singer and songwriter.
– Jake McDonald (b. 1949), Canadian novelist and writer.
– Jake Saunders (b. 1947), American businessman, novelist, and science fiction author.
– Jake Thackray (1938-2002), pen name of English journalist, poet, singer, and songwriter John Philip Thackray.
– Jake Adam York (1972-2012), American poet.
Tim
August 29, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Shortened version of “Timothy“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Timmer, Timmie, Timmy, Timo, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Tim, the “prizefighter” Becky Hawkins risks her life to save, in “Becky”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
– Tim Potter, one of the locals riled up into a mob with the intent of at least arresting, if not shooting, the pardoned and somewhat-reformed highwayman Tom Faggus, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Tim Burton (b. 1958), American artist, director, producer, poet, and writer.
– Tim O’Brien (b. 1946), American novelist.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 