Andy
September 26, 2015 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of names like “Andrew“, “Andor“, even “Alexander“, etc. For girls, sometimes a nickname for “Andrea” or even “Ann” / “Anne“, “Anna“, etc.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Andi, Andie, Andra, Drea, Ea, etc.
For boys: Andie, Andre, Andro, Andor, Antti, Atte, Bandi, Dand, Dre, Drew, Dru, Drue, Ea, Endre, Tero, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Andy, one of Johnny’s acquaintances, an apprentice at one of the shops on the wharf, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
WRITERS:
– Andy Stack (1931-2015), pen name of American crime author Ann Rule, who also published as “Arthur Stone” and “Chris Hansen”.
Saul
September 21, 2015 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From the Hebrew “Sha’ul”, meaning “asked for” or “prayed for”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Saoul, Sauli, Saulius, Shaul, Shuah, Sol, Suah.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Saul, one of Johnny’s acquaintances, an apprentice at one of the shops on the wharf, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
WRITERS:
– Saul Akkemay (b. 1964), Belgian columnist, novelist, and publicist, who publishes under the pen name “Panbello”.
– Saul Alinksy (1909-1972), American activist and writer.
– Saul Ascher (1767-1822), German bookseller, translator, and writer.
– Saul Bellow (1915-2005), American novelist, playwright, and short story writer.
– Saul David (b. 1966), Welsh author, broadcaster, historian, and professor.
– Saul Elkins (1907-2001), American director, producer, and screenwriter.
– Saul Friedländer (b. 1932), Israeli historian and professor.
– Saul Friedman (1929-2010), American educator and journalist.
– Saul Landau (1936-2013), American author, commentator, filmmaker, and journalist.
– Saul Alves Martins (1917-2009), Brazilian anthropologist, folklorist, and poet.
– Saul K. Padover (1905-1981), Austrian-American academic and historian.
Vinny
September 17, 2015 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of names such as “Vincent” or “Lavinia“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Lavina, Lavinia, Lavena, Viney, Vinie, Vinnie.
For boys: Vin, Vince, Vinn, Vinnie.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Vinny (Lavinia) Lyte, Johnny’s proud and determined mother (and Merchant Lyte’s niece), once the “wildest and handsomest girl in Boston”, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
Lavinia
September 17, 2015 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Unknown; possibly Etruscan; the name of Aeneas’ wife in The Aeneid.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Lavina, Lavena, Viney, Vinie, Vinnie, Vinny.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Lavinia Lyte (called “Vinny“), Johnny’s proud and determined mother (and Merchant Lyte’s niece), once the “wildest and handsomest girl in Boston”, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
– Lavinia Lyte, Merchant Lyte’s daughter, a beautiful, spoiled, jaded, rich girl who gets what she wants no matter who suffers by it, in Johnny Tremain.
WRITERS:
– Lavinia R. Davis (1909-1961), American children’s book author and novelist, who also published under the pen name “Wendell Farmer”.
– Lavinia Derwent (1909-1989), pen name of Scottish author and broadcaster Elizabeth Dodd.
– Lavinia Dock (1858-1956), American activist, author, and nurse.
– Lavinia Greenlaw (b. 1962), English novelist and poet.
QUOTATIONS:
– From Titus Andronicus (c. 1594), Act II, scene 1, by William Shakespeare: “She is a woman, therefore may be woo’d; / She is a woman, therefore may be won; / She is Lavinia, therefore must be loved.”
Jehu
September 17, 2015 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From Hebrew (pronounced “JEE-hyoo”), meaning “he is Jehovah”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Hieu, Iou, Yehu.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Jehu, Mr. Hancock’s page-boy, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
WRITERS:
– Jehu O’Cataract (1793-1876), pen name of American author and critic John Neal.
Izzy
September 12, 2015 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
For boys, a shortened version of “Isidor” / “Isidore”, “Israel“, “Isaiah”, “Isaac”, etc. For girls, a shortened version of “Isadora”, “Isannah“, “Isabel” / “Isobel”, “Isabella“, etc.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Isa, Issie, Issy, Izzie.
For boys: Is, Isa, Issy, Iz, Izzie.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Izzy (Isannah) Lapham, Mrs. Lapham’s delicate and ethereally-beautiful youngest daughter, precocious, selfish, vain, and a skilled little actress, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
Isannah
September 12, 2015 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Unknown; possibly a combination of “Isabella” with “Susannah” or “Hannah“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ana, Ane, Ani, Ann, Anna, Anne, Anni, Annie, Anny, Hana, Hanna, Hannah, Hanne, Isa, Isanna, Isanne, Issie, Issy, Izzie, Izzy, Sanna, Sanne, Zana, Zanna, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Isannah Lapham (called “Izzy“), Mrs. Lapham’s delicate and ethereally-beautiful youngest daughter, precocious, selfish, vain, and a skilled little actress, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
Dorcas
September 12, 2015 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Greek variation of the Arabic name “Tabitha”, meaning “gazelle”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Dodie, Dody, Dor, Dora, Dorri, Dorrie, Dorry, Dory, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Dorcas Lapham, Mrs. Lapham’s second-oldest daughter, “built like Madge, but not so loud-voiced, nor as roughly good-natured”, who “thirsted for elegance” and is frequently “painfully prissy [and] proper”, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
WRITERS:
– Dorcas Cochran Jewell (c.1903-1991), American lyricist and screenwriter.
Madge
September 12, 2015 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Margaret” or “Margery” / “Marjorie” / “Marjory“, or possibly even “Martha“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Maarit, Mae, Maisie, Maisy, Maggi, Maggie, Maggy, Mamie, Maret, Margaux, Marge, Margie, Margit, Margo, Margot, Margy, Marji, May, Meg, Megeen, Megan, Megen, Meggie, Meggy, Midge, Peg, Pegeen, Peggie, Peggy, Peigi, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Madge Lapham, Mrs. Lapham’s oldest daughter, “handsome in a coarse-grained, red-faced, thick-waisted way”, loud-voiced and roughly good-natured, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
Priscilla
September 9, 2015 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Prisca”, from a Roman family name meaning “ancient” or “of ancient birth”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Cece, Cila, Cili, Cilka, Cilla, Cille, Pricila, Pricilla, Pris, Prisca, Priscila, Priska, Priskilla, Prissie, Prissy, Scilla, Sileas, Silja, Silje, Silke, Sile, Sille, Sisi, Sissie, Sissy, Zilla, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Priscilla Lapham (called “Cilla“), Mrs. Lapham’s devoted, reliable, practical teenaged daughter, who remains a true friend to Johnny through all the turmoil of Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
WRITERS:
– Priscilla (1735-1812), pen name of English activist, reformer, and writer Ann Jebb.
– Priscilla Buckley (1921-2012), American author and editor.
– Priscilla Galloway (b. 1930), Canadian children’s book author.
– Priscilla Napier (1908-1998), English author and biographer.
– Priscilla Uppal (b. 1974), Canadian novelist, playwright, and poet.
– Priscilla Wakefield (1751-1832), English activist, children’s book author, and writer.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 