Gregory
October 3, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
From the Greek “Gregorios”, via the Latin “Gregorius”, meaning “watchful” or “alert”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Goyo, Greagoir, Greg, Grega, Greger, Gregg, Grégoire, Gregor, Gregorio, Gregorios, Gregorius, Greer, Greig, Grigol, Grigor, Grigore, Grigori, Grigoriy, Grigory, Griogair, Grisha, Grzegorz, Hryhoriy, Reijo, Reko, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Gregory, the gardener, one of the servants who was supposed to look after Robin while his parents were away, in The Door in the Wall (written in 1949 and set sometime between 1327-1377), by Marguerite de Angeli.
Jon
October 3, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Shortened form of “Jonathan“, or variation of “John“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Eoin, Evan, Ewan, Gianni, Giannino, Giovanni, Hankin, Hans, Ian, Iain, Ioannes, Ivan, Jack, Jackie, Jackin, Jacky, Jan, Janko, Jannick, Jean, Jeannot, Jenkin, Jens, Jo, Joan, Jock, Johan, Johannes, John, Johnnie, Johnny, Jonas, Jonel, Jonny, Joop, Jovan, Juan, Juanito, Nino, Sean, Shane, Shawn, Yan, Yannick, Yochanon, Yon, Yvan, Vanya, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Jon the Cook, one of the servants who was supposed to look after Robin while his parents were away, in The Door in the Wall (written in 1949 and set sometime between 1327-1377), by Marguerite de Angeli.
Christopher
September 16, 2014 § 6 Comments
ORIGIN:
From the Greek “Christophoros”, meaning “bearer of Christ”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Chip, Chris, Christie, Christoffel, Christoffer, Christophe, Christophoros, Christy, Cris, Cristobal, Cristoforo, Hristo, Hristofor, Kester, Kit, Kris, Kristof, Kristoffer, Kristofor, Kristopher, Krsto, Krystof, Krzys, Krzysiek, Krzysztof, Risto, Toph, Topher, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Christopher Badcock (called “Kit“), the innocent farmer whose young child is murdered while his wife, Margery, is carried off by the Doones, the final outrage which causes the locals to rise up against this scourge in their midst, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Christopher Fry (1907-2005), English poet and playwright.
– Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011), Anglo-American author, debater, journalist, and polemicist.
– Christopher Isherwood (1904-1986), English novelist.
– Christopher Koch (1932-2013), Australian novelist.
– Christopher Marlowe (1564-1593), English dramatist, poet, and translator.
– Christopher Morley (1890-1957), American essayist, journalist, novelist, and poet.
– Christopher Nolan (1965-2009), Irish author and poet.
Josiah
September 15, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
From Hebrew, meaning “Jehovah supports”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Iosias, Jos, Josias, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Josiah Bowden, the local parson in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
– Josiah Quincy, the “best young lawyer in Boston”, who defends Johnny against charges of theft and fraud, in Johnny Tremain by Esther Forbes (written in 1943; set during the years leading up to the American Revolutionary War, 1773-1775).
WRITERS:
– Josiah Conder (1789-1855), English author and editor.
– Josiah Gregg (1806-1850), American author, explorer, merchant, and naturalist.
– Josiah Henson (1789-1883), American-Canadian abolitionist, author, and minister.
– Josiah Gilbert Holland (1819-1881), American novelist and poet who sometimes used the pen name “Timothy Titcomb”.
– Josiah Quincy III (1772-1864), American historian and politician.
– Josiah Priest (1788-1851), American pseudohistorical and pseudoscientific writer.
– Josiah Strong (1847-1916), American author, clergyman, editor, and organizer.
– Josiah Tucker (1713-1799), Welsh churchman, economist, and political writer.
Alan
September 13, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Celtic or Breton, possibly meaning “handsome” or “harmony”, or “little rock”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ailin, Al, Alain, Alayne, Alen, Allan, Allen, Alleyn, Allyn, Alun, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Alan-at-Gate, the gruff gatekeeper at Sir Peter’s castle, in The Door in the Wall (written in 1949 and set sometime between 1327-1377), by Marguerite de Angeli.
– Lord Alan Brandir, Lorna’s dashing young Scottish cousin, who attempts to rescue her, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
– Alan Krescott, who is, with his twin brother John, included in the “irregular” kids at Lily’s school, due to their having been born prematurely and continuing to be undersized, in Sleeping Arrangements, by Laura Cunningham (published 1989, set in the 1950s).
WRITERS:
– Alan Bradley (b. 1938), Canadian writer.
– Alan Burns (1929-2014), English author.
– Alan Dean Forster (b. 1946), American writer.
– Alan Hunter (1922-2005), English author.
– Alan Jay Lerner (1918-1986), American librettist and lyricist.
– Alan Marshall (1902-1984), Australian story teller and writer.
– Alan Paton (1903-1988), South African activist and author.
– Alan Sillitoe (1928-2010), English writer.
– Alan Wade (1916-2013), pen name of American author Jack Vance, who also published under the pen names Ellery Queen, Jay Kavanse, John van See, and Peter Held.
Hugh
September 13, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
German, meaning “heart”, “mind”, or “spirit”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Hewie, Hudde, Huey, Hughes, Hughie, Hugo, Huw, Shug, Ugo, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Sir Hugh Fitzhugh, Sir Peter’s cousin and neighbor, in The Door in the Wall (written in 1949 and set sometime between 1327-1377), by Marguerite de Angeli.
– Baron Hugh de Whichehalse, a local magistrate and one of those nobleman whose means do not live up to their gentility, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Hugh Cook (1956-2008), English author.
– Hugh Haliburton (1846-1922), pen name of Scottish author, editor, and poet James Logie Robertson.
– Hugh Kingsmill (1889-1949), English journalist and writer.
– Hugh Lofting (1886-1947), English author and engineer.
– Hugh MacLennan (1907-1990), Canadian author and educator.
– Hugh Marlowe (b. 1929), pen name used by English author Harry Patterson, who also published under the pen names “Jack Higgins”, “James Graham”, and “Martin Fallon”.
– Hugh Walpole (1884-1941), English novelist.
– Hugh Walters (1910-1993), English author.
Phoebe
September 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
From the Greek name “Phoibe”, meaning “bright and pure” or “the shining one”, after a goddess associated with the moon.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Febe, Phebe, Pheobe, Phoibe.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Phoebe, the doddering old woman who serves as a sort of housemother at John Ridd’s school, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Phoebe Cary (1824-1871), American poet.
– Phoebe Gilman (1940-2002), Canadian-American children’s book author and illustrator.
– Phoebe Palmer (1807-1874), American evangelist and writer.
– Phoebe Atwood Taylor (1909-1976), American mystery author who also wrote under the pen names “Freeman Dana” and “Alice Tilton”.
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”.
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.
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.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 