Timothy
August 16, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
From the Greek “Timotheos”, meaning “to honor God”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Tim, Timmer, Timmie, Timmy, Timo, Timofei, Timofey, Timotei, Timoteo, Timoteus, Timotheos, Timotheus, Timoti, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Uncle Timothy, the little Dunbars’ wealthy, somewhat cantankerous uncle, in “The Little Dunbars, and Their Charming Christmas Plans”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
– Timothy Makeshift, a local farrier who might be competition for the Lemons, 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.
– Timothy Pooke, proprietor of the Spit and Gridiron, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Timothy Findley (1930-2002), Canadian novelist and playwright.
– Timothy Leary (1920-1996), American psychologist and writer.
– Timothy Titcomb (1819-1881), pen name sometimes used by American novelist and poet Josiah Gilbert Holland.
Milly
August 16, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Millie“, a diminutive of “Mildred”, “Millicent”, “Emilie” / “Emily“, “Camille”, “Amelia“, etc.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Mila, Mili, Milla, Milli, Millie, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Milly, one of the servants at Caryston Hall, in Virginia of Virginia, written by Amélie Rives in 1888.
– Milly Rogers, a snobbish girl the Dunbar’s fear will look down on them for their plans to make and sell doll clothes, in “The Little Dunbars, and Their Charming Christmas Plans”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
Jeannette
August 16, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Jean” / “Jeanne” or “Joan“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Genette, Jana, Janina, Janine, Janna, Jeanette, Jeanine, Jeannine, Nettie, Netty, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Mademoselle Jeannette is what Adèle Varens sometimes calls her governess, Jane, since she can’t pronounce “Eyre” very well, in Jane Eyre, 1847, by Charlotte Bronte.
– Jeannette, one of the French servants in the Lamonte household in “The Story of Little Syl”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
Sylvia
August 16, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Silvia”, feminine form of the Latin name “Silvius”, meaning “of the forest”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Silva, Silvia, Silvie, Silviya, Silvy, Syl, Sylva, Sylvi, Sylvie, Sylwia, Szilvia, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Sylvia (Sylvie) Lamonte (called “Syl“), the “little dryad that had slipped from some rose-tree’s bark” who Doctor Tom cures, in “The Story of Little Syl”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
WRITERS:
– Sylvia Plath (1932-1963), American poet, novelist, and short story writer.
– Sylvia Townsend Warner (1893-1978), English novelist and poet.
– Sylvia Wright (1917-1981), American editor, humorist, and writer.
Syl
August 16, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Shortened version of “Sylvia“, “Sylvie“, etc. meaning “of the forest”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Silva, Silvia, Silvie, Silviya, Silvy, Sylva, Sylvi, Sylvia, Sylvie, Sylwia, Szilvia, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Little Syl (Sylvie) Lamonte, the “little dryad that had slipped from some rose-tree’s bark” who Doctor Tom cures, in “The Story of Little Syl”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
Em
August 16, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Shortened form of “Emma“, “Emmy“, “Emily“, and other names beginning with “Em-“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Amie, Amy, Ema, Emma, Emme, Emmalyn, Emelina, Emeline, Emmaline, Emmeline, Emmie, Emmy, Ima, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Em Mayo, poor little Jessie Mayo’s little sister, one of the girls Doctor Tom tells the story of Sylvie to, in “The Story of Little Syl”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
Bess
August 15, 2014 § 1 Comment
ORIGIN:
Shortened version of “Bessie” / “Bessy“, a diminutive of “Elizabeth“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Bessie, Bessy, Betje, Bette, Betsy, Bettie, Bettina, Betty, Bettye, Buffy, Let, Lettie, Letty, Pet, Pettie, Tess, Tessie, Tessy, Tetty, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Bess (Bessie), Laura’s sister, the “Bright-Eyes” Ted tells his rag-bag story to, in “In a Rag-Bag”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
WRITERS:
– Bess Streeter Aldrich (1881-1954), American author.
Bessie
August 15, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Alternately spelled “Bessy“, a diminutive of “Elizabeth“, meaning “oath of God”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Bess, Bessy, Betje, Bette, Betsy, Bettie, Bettina, Betty, Bettye, Buffy, Let, Lettie, Letty, Pet, Pettie, Tess, Tessie, Tessy, Tetty, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Bessie (sometimes called “Bess“), Laura’s sister, the “Bright-Eyes” Ted tells his rag-bag story to, in “In a Rag-Bag”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
– Bessie Lee (Leaven, after her marriage), the kind-hearted though quick-tempered nursemaid who looks after Jane and her cousins, the Reeds, in Jane Eyre, 1847, by Charlotte Bronte.
WRITERS:
– Bessie Head (1937-1986), South African author.
Teddy
August 15, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Like “Ted“, etc., a diminutive of “Edward” or “Theodore“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ed, Edd, Eddi, Eddie, Eddy, Fedir, Fedor, Fedya, Ned, Nedd, Neddie, Neddy, Tad, Taddie, Taddy, Ted, Tedd, Teddie, Teo, Theo, Todor, Toshe, Tudor, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Teddy (Theodore) Shaffer, the little boy who is adopted by Mrs. McNeely, and who falls asleep in a rag-bag, leading to fortune and happiness, in “In a Rag-Bag”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
Ted
August 15, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Edward” or “Theodore“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ed, Edd, Eddi, Eddie, Eddy, Fedir, Fedor, Fedya, Ned, Nedd, Neddie, Neddy, Tad, Taddie, Taddy, Tedd, Teddie, Teddy, Teo, Theo, Todor, Toshe, Tudor, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Mr. Ted (Theodore) Shaffer (known as “Teddy” when young), who found his long-lost ship captain father while working in a paper mill, in “In a Rag-Bag”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
WRITERS:
– Ted Lewis (1940-1982), English writer.
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 