Lorna
September 13, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Invented by English author Richard Doddridge Blackmore for his 1869 novel, Lorna Doone. The character was a descendant of the Earl of Lorne, a Scottish nobleman.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Um . . . Lori, maybe? Stuff like that?
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Lorna Doone (Dugal), the titular fair maiden who captures simple John Ridd’s heart in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
Nanny
September 12, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
Medieval diminutive of “Annis”, or of “Ann” / “Anne” (via “Nan”).
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ann, Anne, Annie, Anny, Nainsi, Nan, Nancie, Nancy, Nana, Nance, Nandag, Nanette, Nanice, Nanine, Nannie, Nanse, Nansi, Nansie, Nansy, Nenci, Nensi, Neske, Nest, Nesta, Nina, Ninette, Ninon, Nona, Nonna, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Nanny (Annie) Ridd (sometimes called “Nancy“), John’s favorite sister, a sweet little homemaker, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
Phoebe
September 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From the Greek name “Phoibe”, meaning “bright and pure” or “the shining one”, after a goddess associated with the moon.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Febe, Phebe, Pheobe, Phoibe.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Phoebe, the doddering old woman who serves as a sort of housemother at John Ridd’s school, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Phoebe Cary (1824-1871), American poet.
– Phoebe Gilman (1940-2002), Canadian-American children’s book author and illustrator.
– Phoebe Palmer (1807-1874), American evangelist and writer.
– Phoebe Atwood Taylor (1909-1976), American mystery author who also wrote under the pen names “Freeman Dana” and “Alice Tilton”.
Annamaria
September 2, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Combination of “Anna” and “Maria“; variation of “Annemarie”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Anna Maria, Anna Marie, Anne Marie, Annamarie, Annemarie, Marian, Marianne, Maryann, Maryanna, Maryanne, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Annamaria, one of Sir John and Lady Middleton’s children, in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (set between 1792-1797, published in 1811).
WRITERS:
– Anna Maria Bennett (c. 1750-1808), English novelist (sometimes credited as “Agnes Maria Hall”)
– Anna Maria Bunn (1808-1889), Australian author.
– Anna Maria Falconbridge (1769-c. 1816), English writer.
– Anna Maria Hall (1800-1881), Irish novelist (sometimes credited as “Mrs. S.C. Hall”)
– Anna Maria Hussey (1805-1853), English scientist, writer, and illustrator.
– Anna Maria Lenngren (1754-1817), Swedish poet, translator, and writer.
– Anna Maria Ortese (1914-1998), Italian poet and short story writer.
– Anna Maria Porter (1780-1832), English poet and novelist.
– Anna Maria Rückerschöld (1725-1805), Swedish author.
– Anna Maria van Schurman (1607-1678), German-Dutch engraver, painter, poet, and scholar.
– Anna Maria Wells (c. 1794-1868), American poet and children’s book writer.
Elinor
September 2, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Eleanor“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Alianor, Aliénor, Eilionoir, Eilidh, Elea, Eleanor, Eleanora, Eleanore, Elenor, Elenora, Elenore, Eleonor, Elinora, Elinore, Ella, Ellanore, Elle, Ellen, Elli, Ellie, Ellinor, Elly, Elnora, Leanora, Leonore, Lenora, Lenore, Leonor, Lore, Lorita, Nell, Nelle, Nellie, Nelly, Nonie, Nony, Noor, Noora, Nora, Norah, Noreen, Norene, Norina, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Elinor Dashwood, the practical and restrained older Dashwood sister, with “an excellent heart; — her disposition was affectionate, and her feelings were strong; but she knew how to govern them”, in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (set between 1792-1797, published in 1811).
WRITERS:
– Elinor Brent-Dyer (1894-1969), English children’s book writer.
– Elinor Glyn (1864-1943), English novelist and writer.
– Elinor Lyon (1921-2008), English children’s book writer.
– Elinor Mordaunt (1872-1942), pen name of English writer Evelyn May Clowes, who also wrote under the pen names “Evelyn May Mordaunt” and “Elenor Mordaunt”.
– Elinor Wylie (1885-1928), American novelist and poet.
Ellen
August 30, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
Variation of “Helen“, meaning “torch” or “bright one”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Alena, Alyona, Elen, Elena, Eleni, Eli, Elin, Elina, Ella, Elle, Ellie, Ellin, Elly, Ellyn, Elyn, Helen, Helena, Helene, Hellen, Ileana, Jelena, Leena, Lena, Lene, Leni, Lenke, Nell, Nelle, Nellie, Nelly, Olena, Yelena, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Ellen, a maidservant in the Lambert household, in “The Thanksgiving Guest”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
– Ellen, one of the servants who was looking after Robin while his parents were away, until the plague hit the household, in The Door in the Wall (written in 1949 and set sometime between 1327-1377), by Marguerite de Angeli.
– Ellen Creighton, a strong, sensible, and affectionate woman, mother of the Creighton clan, in Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (1964; set during the American Civil War, 1861-1865).
– Middle name of Mary Ellen Creighton (b. 1844-46), Jethro’s older sister, “pretty as Jenny, only blond and more delicate”, who was killed in a carriage accident caused by a drunken Travis Burdow in 1859, in Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (1964; set during the American Civil War, 1861-1865).
WRITERS:
– Ellen Gilchrist (b. 1935), American novelist, short story writer, and poet.
– Ellen Glasgow (1873-1945), American novelist.
– Ellen Goodman (b. 1941), American columnist and journalist.
– Ellen Key (1849-1926), Swedish writer.
– Ellen Peck (1942-1995), American activist and writer.
– Ellen Raskin (1928-1984), American writer, illustrator, and fashion designer.
– Ellen Wood (1814-1887), English novelist who often wrote under the pen name “Mrs. Henry Wood”.
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).
Angela
August 30, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
Feminine form of the Latin “Angelus”, derived from the Greek “angelos”, meaning “messenger”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Aingeal, Anda, Andela, Andelka, Andjela, Angele, Angelia, Angelien, Angelina, Angeline, Angelita, Angelle, Angie, Aniela, Anielka, Anzhela, Anzhelina, Lina, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Angela Jocelyn, a bright, naive girl whose poverty makes her self-conscious, in “An April Fool”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
WRITERS:
– Angela Brazil (1868-1947), English author.
– Angela Carter (1940-1992), English novelist and journalist.
– Angela Huth (b. 1938), English novelist and journalist.
– Angela Jackson (b. 1951), American poet, playwright, and writer.
– Angela Johnson (b. 1961), American poet and children’s book writer.
– Angela Thirkell (1890-1961), Anglo-Australian novelist.
Nelly
August 30, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Nellie”, diminutive of “Eleanor“, “Ellen“, or “Helen“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Elea, Ella, Elle, Ellie, Elly, Leanora, Lenora, Lenore, Nell, Nelle, Nellie, Nora, Norah, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Nelly Ryder, a spiteful, petty girl who tries to play a mean trick, in “An April Fool”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
WRITERS:
– Nelly Sachs (1891-1970), German dramatist and poet.
Ally
August 30, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Allie”, etc.; diminutive of “Alice“, “Alison“, “Alexandra”, other names beginning with “Al-“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ailis, Ale, Aleid, Aleida, Alex, Alexa, Alexina, Ali, Alida, Alis, Alisa, Alix, Aliz, Alli, Allie, Alyx, Lexa, Lexie, Lexine, Lexy, Ola, Sandie, Sandy, Xandra, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Ally (Alice) Fleming, a little orphan girl who can’t seem to find her place in the world, in “Ally”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 