Aurelia
November 15, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Auralia”; feminine form of “Aurelius“, from the Latin for “golden”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Aura, Auralee, Auralia, Auralie, Aurelie, Ora, Oralee, Oralia, Oralie, Orelia, Orelie, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Aurelia S. Larsen, the Rev. Larsen’s wife, who writes devotional poetry, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
Andor
November 15, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
From Norwegian, meaning “Thor’s eagle”, or a Hungarian version of “Andreas” / “Andrew“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Anaru, Ander, Anders, Andras, Andre, Andreas, Andrei, Andrej, Andreu, Andrew, Andrey, Andria, Andries, Andris, Andro, Andrus, Arnor, Arnorr, Bandi, Dand, Endre, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Andor Harsanyi, the Chicago concert pianist Thea goes to for lessons, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
– Andor Harsanyi, Jr., the musician’s young son, in The Song of the Larkby Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
Hartley
November 15, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From an Old English place name, meaning “hart (stag) clearing”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Hartlay, Hartlaye, Hartleigh, Hartlie, Hartly, Hertelay, Herthelay, Hertlay, Hertlegh, Hertley, Hertleye, Hertly, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Dr. Hartley Evans, a Chicago friend of Dr. Archie’s, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
Lars
November 15, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Scandinavian version of “Laurence” / “Lawrence“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Enzo, Larkin, Larrie, Larry, Lasse, Lassi, Laurance, Lauren, Laurence, Laurent, Laurie, Lauritz, Lawrance, Lawrence, Lawrie, Loren, Lorencio, Lorens, Lorenzo, Lorin, Lorrin, Rance, Rens, Renzo, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Rev. Lars Larsen, a friend of Mr. Kronborg’s in Chicago, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Lars Ahlin (1915-1997), Swedish author and philosopher.
– Lars Forssell (1928-2007), Swedish writer.
– Lars Jansson (1926-2000), Finnish author and cartoonist.
Lily
November 15, 2014 § 5 Comments
ORIGIN:
From the lily flower, a symbol of purity. Sometimes used as a diminutive of “Lillian” or “Elizabeth“, etc.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Lil, Lili, Lillie, Lilly, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Lily Fisher, Thea’s rival in Moonstone, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
– Lily Hiles, the amiable and generous proprietor of Newton’s only restaurant, in Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (1964; set during the American Civil War, 1861-1865).
– Lily Pearl (sometimes also known as “Lily Moore” and “Lily Shaine”, and called “D” or “Doll” by her uncles), the young girl whose family life is recounted in Sleeping Arrangements, by Laura Cunningham (published 1989, set in the 1950s).
WRITERS:
– Lily L. Allen (1867-1952), Irish author and missionary.
– Lily Braun (1865-1916), German activist and author.
– Lily Brett (b. 1946), German-Australian essayist, novelist, and poet.
– Lily Brown (b. 1981), American poet.
– Lily Dougall (1858-1923) Canadian activist and author.
– Lily Goddard (1916-2002), Austrian author and designer.
– Lily Koppel (b. 1981), American novelist and nonfiction author.
– Lily Ross Taylor (1886-1969), American academic and author.
– Lily Tuck (b. 1938), American novelist and short story writer.
Elmer
November 14, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
From the Anglo-Saxon “Adelmar”, meaning “noble” or “famous”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Adelmar, Aylmer, Edelmiro.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Elmer, Ray Kennedy’s unlucky brother-in-law, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Elmer Davis (1890-1958), American author and reporter.
– Elmer Rafael Diktonius (1896-1961), Finnish composer and poet.
– Elmer Hader (1889-1973), American children’s book author and illustrator.
– Elmer Blaney Harris (1878-1966), American author, dramatist, and playwright.
– Elmer Keith (1899-1984), American author and rancher.
– Elmer Kelton (1926-2009), American journalist and writer.
– Elmer Rice (1892-1967), American playwright.
Famos
November 14, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From Catalan, meaning “famous”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
. . . I . . . don’t . . . know?
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Famos Serreños, Spanish Johnny’s cousin, who moves to Moonstone to work in the brickyard, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
Ray
November 14, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Shortened form of “Raymond”, or sometimes a diminutive of “Raphael”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Rae, Raye, and that’s about it. Rai, maybe? There’s really only so many ways to make a one-syllable name.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Ray Kennedy, the freight train conductor who is one of Thea’s dearest friends and most ardent admirers, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), American author.
Billy
November 14, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Like “Bill” and “Willie“, etc., a diminutive of “William“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Bil, Bill, Billie, Gwil, Liam, Lyam, Pim, Vila, Vili, Viljo, Ville, Wil, Wilkie, Wilkin, Wilky, Will, Willie, Willis, Willy, Wim, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Uncle Billy Beemer, the benevolent town drunk responsible for Moonstone’s grove of cottonwoods, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
– Uncle Billy Jeffers, the Creighton’s neighbor down the road, who survived the War of 1812, in Across Five Aprils by Irene Hunt (1964; set during the American Civil War, 1861-1865).
WRITERS:
– Billy Rose (1899-1966), American impresario, lyricist, and showman.
– Billy Strayhorn (1915-1967), American jazz composer, lyricist, musical arranger, and pianist.
– Billy Wilder (1906-2002), Austrian-American artist, filmmaker, journalist, producer, and screenwriter.
Paulina
November 14, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Feminine form of “Paul“, meaning “small” or “humble”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Lien, Lina, Paolina, Paula, Pauleen, Paulene, Paulette, Paulien, Pauline, Pavlina, Pol, Polina, Poll, Polly, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Paulina Kohler, Fritz’s wife, who “lived for her men and her garden”, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Paulina Irby (1831-1911), British activist and travel writer.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 