English | The Art of Literary Nomenclature

Ernestine

July 30, 2014 § Leave a comment

ORIGIN:
Feminine variant of “Ernest”, from the Germanic, meaning “serious”, “vigor”, or “intent”.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Earnestine, Erna, Ernesta, Ernestina, Tina, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Ernestine (b. 1908), the third of the dozen Gilbreth children whose upbringing is related in Cheaper By the Dozen (1948) and Belles on Their Toes (1950), written by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.

WRITERS:
– Ernestine Gilbreth Carey (1908-2006), American author and memoirist.

Lillian

July 30, 2014 § 6 Comments

ORIGIN:
Alternative spelling of “Lilian”, from the Latin for “lily”. Possibly also originally a diminutive form of “Elizabeth“.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Leann, Leanna, Leanne, Liana, Liane, Liann, Lianna, Lianne, Lileas, Lilias, Lilian, Liliana, Lilla, Lillah, Lillia, Lillianna, Lillianne, Lilli, Lillias, Lillie, Lily, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Lillian (b. 1914), called “Lill” by the family, the seventh of the dozen Gilbreth children whose upbringing is related in Cheaper By the Dozen (1948) and Belles on Their Toes (1950), written by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.
– Lillian Moller Gilbreth (b. 1878), called “Lillie” by her husband and family, the industrial engineer and efficiency expert whose family life is related in Cheaper By the Dozen (1948) and Belles on Their Toes (1950), written by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.

AUTHORS:
– Lillian Hellman (1905-1984), American playwright and screenwriter.

Frank

July 30, 2014 § 3 Comments

ORIGIN:
Shortened form of “Francis“, from the Late Latin word “Franciscus” (meaning “Frenchman”), from the Germanic / Old French word for “free”, or referring to the Germanic tribe settled in Europe known as the Franks.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Chica, Chico, Ferenc, Feri, Fran, Franca, Francesco, Francis, Francisco, Franciscus, Franco, Francois, Franka, Frankie, Franky, Franny, Frans, Franz, Franzi, Paca, Paco, Pancho, Paquita, Paquito, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Frank, Ida Standish’s uncle, on whose farm she, the Kennedy family, and Miss Sarah Parsons will work all summer, in order to “pick berries, and get strong”, in “May Flowers”, from A Garland for Girls, by Louisa May Alcott, 1887.
– Frank Churchill, Mr. Weston’s son, adopted by his wealthy aunt and uncle; a very friendly and engaging young man who is looked on as a possible match for Emma, in Jane Austen’s Emma (1815).
– Frank Crawley, one of the Rev. Bute Crawley’s sons, in Vanity Fair, by William Makepeace Thackeray (published in 1847-48, but set in the 1810s-20s).
– Frank Gilbreth (b. 1911), the fifth child, and oldest boy, of the dozen Gilbreth children whose upbringing is related in Cheaper By the Dozen (1948) and Belles on Their Toes (1950), written by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.
– Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Sr. (b. 1868), the industrial engineer and efficiency expert whose family life is related in Cheaper By the Dozen and Belles on Their Toes.
– Frank A. Hale, manager of the Standard Theatre in Chicago, in Theodore Dreiser’s Sister Carrie (published in 1900; set 1889-1890s).
– Dr. Frank Harmon, whose generosity once saved Ruth’s soul, and “who concludes to leave the city”, in The Harvester (1911) by Gene Stratton Porter.
– Frank Lyman, Lucretia Harper’s fiancée, in “Pansies” from A Garland for Girls.
– Frank Smithson, an “arch-schemer and swindler” who flees to Rio, in “That Little Smith Girl” from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
– Frank L. Taintor, a friend of Hurstwood’s, in Sister Carrie.
– Frank Tuchek, the blond Ukrainian boy Lily has a crush on at school, in Sleeping Arrangements, by Laura Cunningham (published 1989, set in the 1950s).

WRITERS:
– Frank Bunker Gilbreth, Jr. (1911-2001), American author and memoirist.
– Frank Loesser (1910-1969), American composer and lyricist.

Frederick

July 29, 2014 § 7 Comments

ORIGIN:
From the Germanic for “peaceful ruler”.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Fedde, Federico, Federigo, Fred, Frederic, Frederik, Freddie, Freddy, Fredo, Fredric, Friedrich, Fritz, Ric, Rick, Ricki, Rickie, Ricky, Rico, Rik, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Frederick (called “Fred“, b. 1916), the eighth of the dozen Gilbreth children whose upbringing is related in Cheaper By the Dozen (1948) and Belles on Their Toes (1950), written by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.
– Frederick Augustus Bullock (called “Fred” by his family), the young man Maria Osborne hopes to marry in Vanity Fair, by William Makepeace Thackeray (published in 1847-48, but set in the 1810s-20s).
– Frederick Augustus Howard Stanley Devereux Bullock is Maria Osborne’s child with Fred Bullock, by whom she hopes to replace Georgy Osborne as heir to Mr. Osborne’s affections and fortune, in Vanity Fair.
– Frederick Deuceace, the gentleman whose house is purchased by Miss Crawley’s former butler, Mr. Charles Raggles, and later rented to Rawdon and Becky, in Vanity Fair.
– Frederick Lynn, one of the Lynn brothers who are members of Mr. Rochester’s social set, in Jane Eyre, 1847, by Charlotte Bronte.
– Frederick Pigeon, who loses badly while gambling at Becky’s house in Florence, in Vanity Fair.
– Frederick Winterbourne, the protagonist in Daisy Miller by Henry James (1879).

Ezra

July 29, 2014 § 1 Comment

ORIGIN:
Hebrew, meaning “help” or “helper”.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ez? Ezzie? Pretty limited, here.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Ezra Miller, the title character’s wealthy father in Daisy Miller by Henry James (1879).

AUTHORS:
– Ezra Pound (1885-1972), American poet and critic.

Annie

July 29, 2014 § 7 Comments

ORIGIN:
Like “Ann” and “Anne“, a variant form of “Anna“. Could also be a nickname for Anastasia, Andrea, Angela, Angelina, Anita, Annabel, Anthea, Antonia, etc.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ann, Anne, Ann, Nan, Nancy, Nanny, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Annie Grainger, a friend of Kitty’s and Laura’s, in “Esther Bodn”, from Nora Perry’s A Flock of Girls and Boys (1895).
– Annie P. Miller is the title character’s actual given name in Daisy Miller by Henry James (1879).
– Annie Ridd (sometimes called “Nanny” or “Nancy“), John’s favorite sister, a sweet little homemaker, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
– Annie Tenney, the skilled nurse hired to help care for Sylvie Lamonte in “The Story of Little Syl”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).

WRITERS:
– Annie Dillard (b. 1945), American writer and poet.
– Annie Groves (1946-2011), pen name of English romance author Penelope Halsall, who also published under the pen names “Caroline Courtney”, “Lydia Hitchcock”, “Melinda Wright”, and “Penny Jordan”.
– Annie Fellows Johnston (1863-1931), American children’s book author.
– Annie Shepherd Swan (1859-1943), Scottish journalist, novelist, and writer.

QUOTATIONS:
– The old Scottish song “Annie Laurie“, based on a poem by William Douglas, c. 1685 (rewritten in 1834): “And for bonnie Annie Laurie / I’d lay me down and die”.
– Though “Annie’s Song” (1973) by John Denver doesn’t explicitly mention Annie in the lyrics, it’s still beautiful, and the title might make any Annie feel as though it is especially meant for her.

Daisy

July 29, 2014 § 1 Comment

ORIGIN:
Anglo-Saxon flower name, “the day’s eye”. Plant and flower names were popular in the 19th century.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
None, really. Although it seems to be used as a nickname for “Annie“. Go figure.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Daisy Miller, the title character in Daisy Miller by Henry James (1879).

QUOTATIONS:
– The classic popular song “Daisy Bell (Bicycle Built for Two)” by Harry Dacre, 1892: “Daisy, Daisy / Give me your answer, do / I’m half-crazy / All for the love of you”

Randolph

July 29, 2014 § Leave a comment

ORIGIN:
Variant form of “Randall” or “Randolf”, an old Anglo-Saxon word for “shield-wolf”. Either that, or a place name for “fair valley.” You takes your pick, I guess.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Rand, Randal, Randall, Randolf, Randy, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Randolph Miller, the title character’s scamp of a younger brother in Daisy Miller by Henry James (1879).

Harriet

July 28, 2014 § 7 Comments

ORIGIN:
Like “Henrietta“, an English form of “Henriette”, both being feminine variants of “Harry” or “Henry“, meaning “home ruler” or “leader of the army”.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Enrica, Etta, Ettie, Etty, Halle, Hallie, Harrie, Harriett, Harrietta, Harriette, Harry, Hattie, Hatty, Henrietta, Henriette, Het, Hettie, Hetty, Yetta, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Harriet Dunbar (called “Harry“), a founding member of the children’s society for the prevention of cruelty to cats, in “The Kit-Kat Club”, from The Youngest Miss Lorton, and Other Stories by Nora Perry (1889).
– Harriet Forster, the Mrs. Colonel Forster responsible for aiding and abetting Lydia’s and Wickham’s elopement in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (written in 1797, published in 1813).
– Harriet Kennedy, Sidney Page’s aunt, who decides to branch out on her own and start a dressmaking business, in K. by Mary Roberts Rinehart (1914).
– Harriet Smith, a very pretty, engaging, and humble pupil of Mrs. Goddard’s, who Emma adopts as her new best friend, ripe for meddling with and matchmaking for, in Jane Austen’s Emma (1815).

WRITERS:
– Harriet Miller Davidson (1839-1883), British novelist and poet.
– Harriet Myrtle (1812-1876), pen name of English children’s book author Lydia Mackenzie Falconer Miller.
– Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811-1896), American abolitionist and author.

Anne

July 28, 2014 § 10 Comments

ORIGIN:
Alternate spelling of “Ann“, this is a French variant of “Anna“, from “Hannah” (as used in the Greek and Latin Old Testament), a version of the Hebrew name “Channah”, meaning “favor” or “grace”.

VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ana, Anabel, Anabelle, Anabella, Anais, Andie, Andy, Aneta, Ani, Anica, Anika, Anita, Anitra, Anka, Anke, Anna, Annabel, Annabella, Annabelle, Anne, Anneke, Annetta, Annette, Annick, Annicka, Annie, Annika, Anniken, Annis, Anouk, Antje, Anya, Hanna, Hannah, Hanne, Nan, Nancy, Nanette, Nannie, Nina, Ninon, Ona, Onna, etc.

REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Anne (b. 1905), the eldest of the dozen Gilbreth children whose upbringing is related in Cheaper By the Dozen (1948) and Belles on Their Toes (1950), written by Frank Gilbreth, Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey.
– Anne Cox, one of Mr. Cox’s sisters, who Emma Woodhouse calls “the two most vulgar girls in Highbury”, in Jane Austen’s Emma (1815).
– Lady Anne Darcy, Mr. Darcy’s late mother and Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s sister, in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (written in 1797, published in 1813).
– Lady Anne de Bourgh, Lady Catherine’s daughter and Mr. Darcy’s sickly cousin, in Pride and Prejudice.
– Lady Anne Lennox, older sister to Lady Dorothy and Lord Humphrey, in “Nurse Crumpet Tells the Story” (written in 1887, set circa 1630s-1669), from A Brother to Dragons, and Other Old Time Tales (1888), by Amélie Rives.
– Miss Anne Steele (sometimes called “Nancy“), Lucy’s well-intentioned but empty-headed ninny of an older sister, a woman of “vulgar freedom and folly”, in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility (set between 1792-1797, published in 1811).

WRITERS:
– Anne Dudley (née Seymour), Countess of Warwick (1538-1588), English writer.
– Anne Ker (1766-1821), English novelist.
– Anne Lamott (b. 1954), American activist and writer.
– Anne Logan (b. 1947), pen name of American mystery and romance author Barbara Colley.
– Anne Meredith (1899-1978), one of the pen names of American writer Lucy Beatrice Malleson.
– Anne Rice (b. 1941), American novelist.

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