Philura
August 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Probably from Latin, meaning “linden tree” or “writing tablet”. Or possibly a variation of “Philippa”, “Phillida”, “Philomena”, “Phyllis”, etc., or of “Pilar”. But probably the Latin one.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Philaura, Phileria, Philleria, Phillire, Philora, Philoria, Philyra, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Philura Maple, the aunt who gave Zeena the cherished, ill-fated, red pickle dish for a wedding present, in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome (written in 1911, but set in the 1890s or first few years of the 1900s).
Endurance
August 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
One of the “virtue” names created by the Puritans, meaning, you know, “endurance”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
I don’t think there are any variations, unless you count all of the other “virtue” names (“Faith”, “Hope”, “Charity”, “Patience”, etc.). As for nicknames . . . whatever. You do what you want.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Endurance Frome, Ethan’s mother, whose death left him lonesome enough to turn to his cousin Zenobia for comfort, in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome (written in 1911, but set in the 1890s or first few years of the 1900s).
Jotham
August 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Hebrew, meaning “Jehovah is upright” or “Jehovah is perfect”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Yotam . . . and . . . that’s it, I guess.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Jotham Powell, the Frome’s hired man, in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome (written in 1911, but set in the 1890s or first few years of the 1900s).
Andrew
August 12, 2014 § 5 Comments
ORIGIN:
From the Greek “Andreas”, meaning “man”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Aindreas, Aindriu, Ander, Anders, Andi, Andie, Andor, Andre, Andrei, Andres, Andrea, Andreas, Andrius, Andro, Andrus, Andy, Deandre, Drew, Ondre, Ondrei, Ondreas, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Brother Andrew, one of the monks at St. Mark’s, in The Door in the Wall (written in 1949 and set sometime between 1327-1377), by Marguerite de Angeli.
– Andrew Hale, Ned’s father, a builder who frequently does business with Ethan, in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome (written in 1911, but set in the 1890s or first few years of the 1900s).
WRITERS:
– Andrew Clements (b. 1949), American children’s book writer.
– Andrew Davies (b. 1936), English novelist and screenplay writer.
– Andrew Gross (b. 1952), American novelist.
– Andrew Murray (1828-1917), South African pastor, teacher, and writer.
Orin
August 12, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Oran” / “Orrin“, from Irish, meaning “little pale green one”, or of “Oren”, from Hebrew, meaning “pine tree”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Odran, Odrhan, Oran, Oren, Orren, Orrie, Orrin, Orry, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Orin Silver, Mattie’s ne’er-do-well father, in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome (written in 1911, but set in the 1890s or first few years of the 1900s).
Matt
August 12, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Shortened form of “Mattie” / “Matty” or “Matthew“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Maddi, Maddie, Maddy, Madge, Mart, Martie, Marty, Mat, Matti, Mattie, Matty, Maud, Maude, Maudie, Midge, Pat, Patti, Pattie, Patty, Tilda, Tilde, Tillie, Tilly, etc.
For boys: Mat, Mattie, Matty, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Matt (Matthew) Creighton, Ellen’s husband and Jethro’s father, a well-respected farmer of integrity and compassion, in Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (1964; set during the American Civil War, 1861-1865).
– Matt (Mattie) Silver, Zeena’s attractive young cousin who comes to stay with the Fromes, in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome (written in 1911, but set in the 1890s or first few years of the 1900s).
Mattie
August 12, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Matty“, “Maddie”, etc.; diminutive of “Matilda“, “Martha“, etc., or of “Matthew“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Maddi, Maddie, Maddy, Madge, Mart, Martie, Marty, Mat, Matt, Matti, Matty, Maud, Maude, Maudie, Midge, Pat, Patti, Pattie, Patty, Tilda, Tilde, Tillie, Tilly, etc.
For boys: Mat, Matt, Matty, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Mattie Silver (called “Matt” for short), Zeena’s attractive young cousin who comes to stay with the Fromes, in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome (written in 1911, but set in the 1890s or first few years of the 1900s).
Denis
August 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Dennis“, from the medieval French version of “Dionysios”, derived from the name of the Greek god of wine, dance, revelry, and fertility.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Deion, Den, Denes, Denney, Dennis, Denny, Denys, Deon, Dion, Dionysios, Dionysius, Tenney, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Denis, one of the other pageboys Robin befriends during his stay in Sir Peter’s castle, in The Door in the Wall (written in 1949 and set sometime between 1327-1377), by Marguerite de Angeli.
– Denis Eady, the “rich Irish grocer” and one-time suitor of Mattie Silver, in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome (written in 1911, but set in the 1890s or first few years of the 1900s).
WRITERS:
– Denis Bond (b. 1946), English children’s book and television writer.
– Denis Diderot (1713-1784), French critic, philosopher, and writer.
– Denis Johnson (b. 1949), American writer.
Harmon
August 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
An English last name derived from the Germanic “Herman”, meaning “army man”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Hariman, Harimon, Harm, Harmie, Harmy, Hermon, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Harmon Gow, former stage-driver and town gossip, who fills the narrator in on some of the details of Ethan’s life, in Edith Wharton’s Ethan Frome (written in 1911, but set in the 1890s or first few years of the 1900s).
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 