Beryamen
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Medieval variation of “Benjamin“, from Hebrew, meaning “son of the south” or “son of the right hand”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Bairre, Barrie, Barry, Ben, Beniamin, Beniamino, Benj, Benja, Benjamin, Benji, Benjie, Benjy, Bennie, Benny, Benyamen, Berrie, Berry, Bery, Binyamin, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Beryamen Piggin, a local brewer, who is suggested to (and summarily rejected by) Keren Lemon as a possible husband, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Davy
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “David“, from Hebrew, meaning “beloved”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Dai, Daividh, Dauid, Dave, Daveth, Davey, David, Davide, Davie, Davis, Davit, Daw, Dawid, Dawud, Dewie, Dewey, Dewydd, Dovid, Taavetti, Taavi, Tavi, Taffy, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Davy Short-hose, a local poulterer, who is suggested to (and summarily rejected by) Keren Lemon as a possible husband, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Meg
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Margaret“, meaning “pearl”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Madge, Mae, Mag, Maggi, Maggie, Maggy, Maighread, Maisie, Maisy, Mame, Mamie, Marga, Margaid, Margaux, Marge, Marged, Margery, Margie, Margit, Margy, Margo, Margot, Marji, Marjorie, Marjory, May, Mayme, Maymie, Meg, Megan, Megeen, Megen, Meggie, Meggy, Meta, Metta, Midge, Mim, Mimi, Mimsie, Mimsy, Mysie, Peg, Pegeen, Peggie, Peggy, Peigi, Reeta, Rita, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Mistress Meg Titmouse, a friend of Keren Lemon’s, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Keren-Happuch
August 22, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Hebrew, meaning “horn of face paint” or “box of cosmetics”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
. . . I got nothin’.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Keren-Happuch Lemon (so christened in order that her parents can call her “Keren” when she pleases them — which is usual, especially where her father is concerned — and “Happuch” when she is misbehaving), whose bravery and kindness in the face of heartbreak is the topic of her father’s story in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Keren
August 22, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Hebrew, meaning “horn” or “ray of light”. Sometimes used as an alternate spelling of “Karen”, “Carin”, etc.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Caren, Carin, Carina, Caryn, Karen, Karena, Karin, Karina, Karyn, Kerena, Kerr, Kerrie, Kerry, Reena, Rina, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Keren Lemon (christened “Keren-Happuch” in order that her parents can call her “Keren” when she pleases them — which is usual, especially where her father is concerned — and “Happuch” when she is misbehaving), whose bravery and kindness in the face of heartbreak is the topic of her father’s story in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Job
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From the Hebrew name “Iyyov”, meaning “afflicted” or “hated”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Iob, Iyov, Iyyov, Joby.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Job Long-pate, a farrier who lives in Dancing Marston, spoken of as a friend by Humfrey Lemon and Bered Turnip, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Humfrey
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Humphrey“, from the Germanic, meaning “peace-giant” or “peaceful warrior”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Humphrey, Humphry.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Humfrey Lemon, a local farrier whose whose large family is the subject of Anthony Butter’s envy, in “A Brother to Dragons” (written in 1886, set in 1586), and who tells his friend, Bered Turnip, the story of his daughter Keren’s troubles in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Bered
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From Hebrew, meaning “hail”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
None, really.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Bered Turnip, a local farrier whose large family is the subject of Anthony Butter’s envy, in “A Brother to Dragons” (written in 1886, set in 1586), and who meets up with his old friend, Humfrey Lemon, to hear the story of Keren Lemon’s troubles, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
Robin
August 22, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Medieval diminutive of “Robert“. For girls, usually a reference to the small, red-breasted songbird.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Bobbie, Robbie, Robbin, Robinett, Robinette, Robena, Robenia, Roberta, Robina, Robyn, etc.
For boys: Bob, Bobbie, Bobby, Rab, Rob, Robbie, Robby, Robert, Roberto, Robi, Rupert, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Robin, the little boy whose illness prevents him from following the path laid out for him, but who manages to find the door in the wall nevertheless, in The Door in the Wall (written in 1949 and set sometime between 1327-1377), by Marguerite de Angeli.
– Robin (Lord Robert of Amhurste), a brave and generous young man, in “A Brother to Dragons” (written in 1886, set in 1586), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
– Robin (Robert) Racket, a handsome and charming lad who steals the hearts of cousins Keren Lemon and Ruth Visor, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888).
– Robin Snell (called “Bob“), the little schoolboy whose fight with young John Ridd is momentarily disrupted by news of the elder Ridd’s death, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Robin Ddu o Fon (c.1744-1785), Welsh poet also known as “Robert Hughes”.
Tony
August 22, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Shortened version of “Antony” / “Anthony“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Teun, Teunis, Theun, Theunis, Tone, Tonino, Tonio, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Tony (Anthony) Butter, the gardener at Amhurste Hall, who narrates “A Brother to Dragons” (written in 1886, set in 1586), and is made fun of by Humfrey Lemon and Bered Turnip for his envy of their large broods, in “The Farrier Lass o’ Piping Pebworth” (written in 1887, set circa 1600), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 