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).
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.
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.
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).
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.
Josie
August 29, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Josey”, etc., a diminutive of “Josephine”, a feminine form of “Joseph“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Giosetta, Jo, Joetta, Joleen, Jolene, Joey, Josée, Josette, Josey, Josi, Josiane, Josy, Posie, Posey, Seph, Sephi, Sephie, Sephy, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Josie Kelley, Matty’s sister, and another of the shopgirls in “Becky”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 