Joel
August 22, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
From Hebrew, meaning “Jehovah is God”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Jo, Joe, Joey, Ioel, Yoel.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Joel, the bartender at the Red Deer, 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.
WRITERS:
– Joel Chandler Harris (1845-1908), American author, folklorist, and journalist.
– Joel Rosenberg (1954-2011), Canadian-American activist and author.
Reuben
August 22, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
From Hebrew, meaning “behold, a son”. Is it just me, or does it seem very amusing to name your son, “behold, a son”?
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ben, Bennie, Benny, Rouben, Rube, Ruben, Rubens, Rubin, Reuven, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Reuben Huckabuck (sometimes called “Ben“), the Ridd’s wealthy, persnickety uncle in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
– Reuben Puff, a local tinker, 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.
WRITERS:
– Reuben Gold Thwaites (1853-1913), American historian and journalist.
– Reuben Archer (R.A.) Torrey (1856-1928), American educator, evangelist, and writer.
Jezreel
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From a Hebrew place name, meaning “God will sow”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Jesreel, Jessi, Jessie, Jessy, Jezzi, Jezzie, Jezzy.
For boys: Jesse, Jesreel.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Jezreel Spittlewig, a local joiner, 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.
Nanfan
August 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
One of those “last names as first names” that were once a quite popular way for a mother’s maiden name to be passed on to her sons, “Nanfan” was the name of a Cornish village.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Honestly, no idea.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Nanfan Speckle, a local tanner, 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.
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.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 