By Any Other Name: Writers Named James
February 7, 2015 § 1 Comment
There are so many writers named “James“. Just, so many. You might think this means that people named James are more likely to become writers, but probably it’s more because James has been a popular name for a very long time, so there are no doubt hundreds of well-known James’s in any profession. In any case, if you are looking for writers with the first name “James”, this list is a good start:
– James of Viterbo (c. 1255-1308), Italian friar, theologian, and writer.
– James II of Aragon (1267-1327), Spanish ruler and poet.
– James Barton Adams (1843-1918), American cowboy poet.
– James Truslow Adams (1878-1949), American historian and writer.
– James Agate (1877-1947), English critic and diarist.
– James Agee (1909-1955), American author, critic, journalist, poet, and screenwriter.
– James Albery (1838-1889), English dramatist.
– James Aldrich (1810-1856), American editor and poet.
– James Algar (1912-1998), American director, producer, and screenwriter.
– James Alison (b. 1959), English author, priest, and theologian.
– James Alexander Allan (1879-1967), Australian historian and poet.
– James Lane Allen (1849-1925), American novelist and short story writer.
– James Anderson (1662-1728), Scottish antiquarian, historian, and lawyer.
– James Anderson (c.1679/80-1739), Scottish minister and writer.
– James Anderson (1739-1808), Scottish agriculturalist, economist, and journalist.
– James Anderson (1936-2007), English mystery author.
– James Petit Andrews (1737-1797), English antiquarian and historian.
– James Stout Angus (1830-1923), Scottish poet and writer.
– James Arbuckle (1700-c.1742?), Irish critic and poet.
– James Atkinson (1780-1852), English artist, author, poet, scholar, and surgeon.
– James Atlas (b. 1949), American author and editor.
– James Ambrose Dominic Aylward (1813-1872), English poet and theologian.
– James Bacon (1914-2010), American actor, author, and journalist.
– James Bacque (b. 1929), Canadian editor, historian, novelist, and publisher.
– James Montgomery Bailey, “The Dansbury News Man” (1841-1894), American humorist and journalist.
– James Robert Baker (1946-1997), American novelist and screenwriter.
– James Baldwin (1841-1925), American children’s book author, editor, and educator.
– James Baldwin (1924-1987), American essayist, novelist, playwright, poet, and social critic.
– James Ballantine (1806-1877), Scottish artist and author.
– James Bandinel (1814-1892), English author, clergyman, and poet.
– James Barclay (b. 1965), English fantasy author.
– James Nelson Barker (1784-1858), American playwright, poet, politician, and soldier.
– James Barnes (1866-1936), American author, editor, historian, and journalist.
– James Lee Barrett (1929-1989), American dramatist, producer, and screenwriter.
– James Battye (1871-1954), Australian historian and librarian.
– James Keir Baxter (1926-1972), New Zealander poet.
– James Phinney Baxter (1831-1921), American businessman, civic leader, and historian.
– James Phinney Baxter III (1893-1975), American academic, educator, and historian.
– James Beattie (1735-1803), Scottish moralist, philosopher, and poet.
– James Warner Bellah (1899-1976), American Western author.
– James Theodore Bent (1852-1897), English archaeologist, explorer, and travel writer.
– James Beresford (1764-1840), English author, clergyman, and satirist.
– James Billings (b. 1932), American director, librettist, lyricist, and performer.
– James Bisset (c.1762-1832), Anglo-Scottish artist, collector, poet, and writer.
– James DeRuyter Blackwell (1828-1901), American author and poet.
– James Carlos Blake (b. 1947), American author and essayist.
– James A. Bland (1854-1911), American musician and songwriter.
– James Blish (1921-1975), American fantasy and science fiction author.
– James Boaden (1762-1839), English biographer, dramatist, and journalist.
– James Bonwick (1817-1906), Anglo-Australian historian and writer.
– James Boswell (1740-1795), Scottish author, diarist, and lawyer.
– James Cloyd Bowman (1880-1961), American children’s book author and educator.
– James F. Bowman (1826-1882), American journalist and poet.
– James Boyd (1888-1944), American novelist.
– James I.C. Boyd (1921-2009), English author and historian.
– James C. Bracken (1909-1972), American songwriter.
– James C. Bradford (b. 1945), American historian and professor.
– James Bradley (b. 1954), American historical nonfiction author.
– James Bradley (b. 1967), Australian critic and novelist.
– James Bramston (c. 1694-1744), English poet and satirist.
– James Brasfield (b. 1952), American poet and translator.
– James Bridges (1936-1993), American director and screenwriter.
– James Bridie (1888-1951), pen name of Scottish playwright, screenwriter, and surgeon Osborne Henry Mavor.
– James Franck Bright (1832-1920), English historian.
– James Brockman (1886-1967), Russian-American songwriter.
– James Broughton (1913-1999), American filmmaker and poet.
– James Cooke Brown (1921-2000), American science fiction author and sociologist.
– James Buchan (b. 1954), Scottish journalist and novelist.
– James Bland Burges (1752-1824), English author, barrister, poet, and politician, also known as James Bland Lamb.
– James Burgess (1832-1916), Anglo-Indian archaeologist and author.
– James Burgh (1714-1775), Anglo-Scottish politician, reformer, and writer.
– James Burke (b. 1936), Anglo-Irish author, broadcaster, producer, and science historian.
– James Lee Burke (b. 1936), American mystery author.
– James Burney (1750-1821), English author and rear-admiral.
– James Burnham (1905-1987), American philosopher and political theorist.
– James MacGregor Burns (1918-2014), American biographer, historian, and political scientist.
– James Ramsay Montagu Butler (1889-1975), English academic, historian, and politician.
– James Branch Cabell (1879-1958), American fantasy and belles lettres author.
– James M. Cain (1892-1977), American author, crime author, and journalist.
– James Cameron (1911-1985), Anglo-Scottish journalist.
– James Dykes Campbell (1838-1895), Scottish biographer, merchant, and writer.
– James Madison Carpenter (1888-1983), American folklorist, minister, and scholar.
– James Carroll (b. 1943), American historian, journalist, and novelist.
– James Chapman (b. 1968), English historian.
– James Martin Charlton (b. 1966), English director, filmmaker, and playwright.
– James Hadley Chase (1906-1985), pen name of English thriller author René Lodge Brabazon, who also wrote under the pen names “Ambrose Grant”, “James L. Docherty”, “R. Raymond”, and “Raymond Marshall”.
– James Freeman Clark (1810-1888), American author and theologian.
– James Clavell (1921-1994), Anglo-Australian director, novelist, screenwriter, and soldier.
– James Cleugh (1891-1969), English author and translator.
– James Lincoln Collier (b. 1928), American author, journalist, and musician.
– James F. Conant (b. 1958), American author and philosopher.
– James Fenimore Cooper (1789-1851), American novelist.
– James Costigan (1926-2007), American actor, playwright, and screenwriter.
– James Cousins (1873-1956), Irish actor, critic, editor, poet, playwright, teacher, and writer.
– James Cowan (1870-1943), New Zealander author and historian.
– James Cowan (b. 1942), Australian author and poet.
– James Gould Cozzens (1903-1978), American novelist.
– James Ashmore Creelman (1894-1941), American screenwriter.
– James Edwin Creighton (1861-1924), American essayist and philosopher.
– James Crumley (1939-2008), American crime author, novelist, and short story writer.
– James Currie (1756-1805), Scottish biographer, editor, and physician.
– James Curtis (1907-1977), English novelist.
– James Oliver Curwood (1878-1927), American adventure writer and conservationist.
– James Cuthbertson (1851-1910), Scottish-Australian poet and teacher.
– James Dashner (b. 1972), American novelist.
– James Darmesteter (1849-1894), French antiquarian, author, and translator.
– James Daugherty (1889-1974), American children’s book author, illustrator, and painter.
– James Conway Davies (1891-1971), Welsh historian and palaeographer.
– James (J.) Kitchener Davies (1902-1952), Welsh playwright and poet.
– James Davis (1706/07-1755), Welsh physician and satirist.
– James Wentworth Day (1899-1983), English broadcaster, sportsman, and writer.
– James De Mille (1833-1880), Canadian novelist.
– James Deahl (b. 1945), Canadian poet and publisher.
– James Dearden (b. 1949), English director and screenwriter.
– James Devaney (1890-1976), Australian journalist, novelist, and poet.
– James Dickey (1923-1997), American novelist and poet.
– James Main Dixon (1856-1933), Scottish author and educator.
– James Donaldson (1831-1915), Scottish scholar, theologian, and writer.
– James Lowry Donaldson (1814-1885), American author and soldier.
– James V. Downton (b. 1938), American sociologist and writer.
– James William Drought (1931-1983), American author, editor, and press officer.
– James Duff Duff (1860-1940), Scottish editor, scholar, and translator.
– James Duffy (1809-1871), Irish author and publisher.
– James Duport (1606-1679), English classical scholar and translator.
– James M. Edie (1927-1998), American philosopher and writer.
– James Edmeston (1791-1876), English architect and hymnwriter.
– James Edward Edmonds (1861-1956), English historian and soldier.
– James Ellroy (b. 1948), American crime fiction writer and essayist.
– James Elphinston (1721-1809), Scottish educator, linguist, phonologist, and writer.
– James Elward (1928-1996), American actor, author, playwright, and screenwriter.
– James Fallows (b. 1949), American journalist and writer.
– James L. Farmer, Sr. (1886-1961), American author, educator, and theologian.
– James Farrar (1823-1944), English poet.
– James Gordon (J.G.) Farrell (1935-1979), Irish novelist.
– James T. Farrell (1904-1979), American novelist, poet, and short story writer.
– James Fenton (b. 1931), Scottish linguist and poet.
– James Fenton (b. 1949), English critic, journalist, and poet.
– James Fergusson (1808-1886), Scottish architect, historian, and writer.
– James Thomas Fields (1817-1881), American editor, poet, and publisher.
– James Fitzmaurice-Kelly (1858-1923), Scottish translator and writer.
– James Elroy Flecker (1884-1915), English novelist, playwright, and poet.
– James Flint (b. 1968), English journalist, novelist, and short story writer.
– James Follett (b. 1939), English author and screenwriter.
– James Forbes (1749-1819), Anglo-Scottish artist, author, and traveler.
– James Forbes (1871-1938), Canadian playwright and screenwriter.
– James Fordyce (1720-1796), Scottish minister and poet.
– James Baillie Fraser (1783-1856), Scottish artist and travel writer.
– James George Frazer (1854-1941), Scottish anthropologist and author.
– James Dillet Freeman (1912-2003), American minister and poet.
– James Midwinter Freeman (1827-1900), American clergyman and writer.
– James Freney (1719-1788), Irish highwayman and writer.
– James Frey (b. 1969), American producer and writer.
– James N. Frey (b. 1943), American author and educator.
– James Hain Friswell (1825-1878), English essayist and novelist.
– James Anthony Froude (1818-1894), English biographer, editor, historian, and novelist.
– James Gairdner (1828-1912), Scottish historian.
– James Galvin (b. 1951), American author and poet.
– James Alan Gardner (b. 1955), Canadian science fiction author.
– James Louis Garvin (1868-1947), English author, editor, and journalist.
– James Gilreath (1936-2003), American singer and songwriter.
– James Gleeson (1915-2008), Australian artist, critic, curator, poet, and writer.
– James Gleick (b. 1954), American author and science historian.
– James Goldman (1927-1998), American novelist, playwright, and screenwriter.
– James Grady (b. 1949), American journalist and novelist.
– James Graham (b. 1929), pen name used by English author Harry Patterson, who also published under the pen names “Hugh Marlowe”, “Jack Higgins”, and “Martin Fallon”.
– James Grahame (1765-1811), Scottish poet.
– James Grainger (c.1721-1766), Scottish doctor, poet, and translator.
– James Grant (1822-1887), Scottish historian and novelist.
– James H. Gray (1906-1998), Canadian author, historian, and journalist.
– James Green (b. 1944), American activist, author, and educator.
– James Greenwood (c. 1683-1737), English author and grammarian.
– James Greenwood (1832-1929), English journalist, and writer.
– James Grippando (b. 1958), American lawyer and novelist.
– James Gruen (1894-1967), American screenwriter.
– James Gunn (b. 1923), American science fiction author and editor.
– James William Hackett (b. 1929), American philosopher and poet.
– James Hadow (1667-1747), Scottish author, educator, and theologian.
– James Baker Hall (1935-2009), American novelist, photographer, poet, and teacher.
– James Halliwell-Phillipps (1820-1889), English collector and historian.
– James Hanley (1897-1985), Anglo-Irish novelist, playwright, and short story writer.
– James F. Hanley (1892-1942), American lyricist and songwriter.
– James Hannay (1827-1873), Scottish diplomat, journalist, and novelist.
– James Aloyisius Harden-Hickey (1854-1898), Franco-American adventurer, author, and editor.
– James Hardiman (1782-1855), Irish historian and librarian.
– James Wycliffe Headlam-Morley (1863-1929), English classicist and historian.
– James Hearst (1900-1983), American philosopher, poet, and professor.
– James Hebblethwaite (1857-1921), Anglo-Australian clergyman, poet, and teacher.
– James Heneghan (b. 1930), Anglo-Canadian children’s book writer and novelist.
– James Henry (1798-1876), Irish poet and scholar.
– James Leo Herlihy (1927-1993), American actor, novelist, and playwright.
– James A. Herne (1839-1901), American actor and playwright.
– James Hilton (1900-1954), English novelist and screenwriter.
– James Hinton (1822-1875), English author and surgeon.
– James P. Hogan (1941-2010), English science fiction author.
– James Hogg (1770-1835), Scottish essayist, novelist, and poet.
– James Holman, “The Blind Traveler” (1786-1857), English adventurer and author.
– James Archibald Houston (1921-2005), Canadian artist, author, designer, and filmmaker.
– James D. Houston (1933-2009), American novelist.
– James Howe (b. 1946), American children’s book author.
– James Howell (c. 1594-1666), Anglo-Welsh historian and writer.
– James Huneker (1857-1921), American critic and writer.
– James Hynes (b. 1955), American novelist.
– James Janeway (1636-1674), English author and minister.
– James Jackson Jarves (1818-1888), American author, collector, critic, and editor.
– James Weldon Johnson (1871-1938), American activist, author, diplomat, educator, lawyer, and songwriter.
– James Johonnot (1832-1888), American author and educator.
– James Joll (1918-1994), English biographer, historian, and lecturer.
– James Jones (1921-1977), American novelist.
– James Joyce (1882-1941), Irish novelist and poet.
– James Kaplan (b. 1951), American biographer, journalist, and novelist.
– James Kelly (b. 1959), Irish author, editor, educator, and historian.
– James Patrick Kelly (b. 1951), American science fiction author.
– James Kennaway (1928-1968), Scottish novelist and screenwriter.
– James Kenney (1780-1849), English dramatist.
– James Kenward (1908-1944), English author and illustrator.
– James Kirkup (1918-2009), English poet, translator, and travel writer.
– James Kirkwood, Jr. (1924-1989), American actor, author, and playwright.
– James Kisner (1947-2008), American horror author, who also wrote under the pen names “Eric Flanders” and “Martin James”.
– James Krüss (1926-1997), German children’s book author and illustrator, dramatist, poet, and translator.
– James Howard Kunstler (b. 1948), American author and social critic.
– James Lapine (b. 1949), American director, librettist, playwright, and screenwriter.
– James Lasdun (b. 1958), English author and poet.
– James Laughlin (1914-1997), American poet and publisher.
– James Laver (1899-1975), English author, critic, curator, and historian.
– James MacPherson Le Moine (1825-1912), Canadian author and barrister.
– James Leasor (1923-2007), English novelist.
– James Lees-Milne (1908-1997), English architectural historian, biographer, diarist, and novelist.
– James Matthews Legaré (1823-1859), American inventor and poet.
– James Legge (1815-1897), Scottish editor, missionary, sinologist, and translator.
– James Lockhart (1933-2014), American author and historian.
– James Russell Lowell (1819-1891), American critic, diplomat, editor, and poet.
– James Love (1722-1774), pen name of English actor, playwright, and poet, James Dance.
– James Lydon (1928-2013), Irish educator and historian.
– James Mabbe (1572-1642), English poet, scholar, and translator.
– James Macdonnell (1841-1879), Scottish author and journalist.
– James E. Mace (1952-2004), American historian and professor.
– James MacGeoghegan (1702-1763), Irish historian and priest.
– James MacKaye (1872-1935), American engineer and philosopher.
– James Mackintosh (1765-1832), Scottish historian, journalist, jurist, philosopher, and politician.
– James Noël MacKenzie Maclean (1928-1978), Scottish author and memoirist.
– James Macpherson (1736-1796), Scottish poet, politician, translator, and writer.
– James Clarence Mangan (1803-1849), Irish poet.
– James Marr (1918-2009), English author and historian.
– James Marshall (1942-1992), American children’s book writer and illustrator.
– James Martineau (1805-1900), English religious philosopher and writer.
– James David Marwick (1826-1908), Scottish historian, lawyer, and town clerk.
– James Mayhew (b. 1964), English children’s book writer and illustrator.
– James McAuley (1917-1976), Australian academic, critic, journalist, and poet.
– James McBride (b. 1957), American author, journalist, musician, and screenwriter.
– James H. McClure (1939-2006), English author and journalist.
– James McCourt (b. 1941), Irish- American novelist and writer.
– James McFarlane (1920-1999), English editor, scholar, and translator.
– James Kevin McGuinness (1893-1950), American producer and screenwriter.
– James McHenry (1785-1845), American author, diplomat, and physician.
– James McIntyre (1828-1906), Canadian poet.
– James McLevy (1796-1875), Irish-Scottish detective and mystery author.
– James L. McMichael (b. 1939), American poet.
– James McNeish (b. 1931), New Zealander author, novelist, and playwright.
– James Alan McPherson (b. 1943), American essayist and short story writer.
– James M. McPherson (b. 1936), American author and historian.
– James McSherry, Jr. (1819-1869), American lawyer and writer.
– James Meek (b. 1962), Anglo-Scottish novelist and journalist.
– James Melville (1556-1614), Scottish clergyman, poet, and translator.
– James Creed Meredith (1875-1942), Irish activist, author, philosopher, scholar, and translator.
– James Merrick (1720-1769), English poet and scholar.
– James Merrill (1926-1995), American author and poet.
– James J. Metcalfe (1906-1960), American poet, reporter, and special agent.
– James Lionel Michael (1824-1868), Anglo-Australian poet and solicitor.
– James A. Michener (1907-1997), American non-fiction author and novelist.
– James Mill (1773-1836), Scottish economist, historian, philosopher, and political theorist.
– James Miller (1730-1744), English clergyman, librettist, playwright, and poet.
– James Mitchell (1926-2002), English crime fiction author and screenwriter who also wrote under the pen names “James Munro” and “Patrick O. McGuire”.
– James Moffat (1922-1993), Anglo-Canadian pulp novelist, who also published under the pen names of “Etienne Aubin”, “Richard Allen”, and “Trudi Maxwell”.
– James Lynam Molloy (c. 1837-1909), Irish author, composer, and poet.
– James Moloney (b. 1954), Australian children’s book author.
– James J. Montague (1873-1941), American journalist, poet, and satirist.
– James Montgomery (1771-1854), Anglo-Scottish editor, hymnwriter, and poet.
– James Mooney (1861-1921), American ethnographer and writer.
– James Augustus Cotter Morrison (1832-1888), English essayist and historian.
– James K. Morrow (b. 1947), American fantasy and science fiction author.
– James Mortimer (1833-1911), Anglo-American chess player, journalist, and playwright.
– James Hope Moulton (1863-1917), English author, philologist, and theologian.
– James Mudge (1844-1918), American author and clergyman.
– James Murdoch (1856-1921), Scottish educator, historian, journalist, and scholar.
– James Vincent Murphy (1880-1946), Irish journalist, translator, and writer.
– James Murray (1837-1915), Scottish editor, lexicographer, and philologist.
– James W. Nichol (b. 1940), Canadian novelist and playwright.
– James Oppenheim (1882-1932), American editor, novelist, and poet.
– James Orr (1770-1816), Scottish weaver poet.
– James Otis (1848-1912), pen name of American children’s book author and journalist James Otis Kaler.
– James Owen (b. 1969), English historian and journalist.
– James Parkes (1896-1981), English activist, clergyman, and historian.
– James Patterson (b. 1947), American novelist.
– James Lloydovich Patterson (b. 1933), Russian-American naval officer and poet.
– James Payn (1830-1898), English novelist.
– James Larkin Pearson (1879-1981), American poet and publisher.
– James Gates Percival (1795-1856), American geologist and poet.
– James Breck Perkins (1847-1910), American historian, politician, and writer.
– James Phillips (b. 1977), English director, photographer, and playwright.
– James Philp (c. 1860-1935), Scottish-Australian author and journalist.
– James Lord Pierpont (1822-1893), American composer and songwriter.
– James Shepherd Pike (1811-1882), American journalist.
– James Planché (1796-1880), English antiquarian and dramatist.
– James Poe (1921-1980), American screenwriter.
– James Alan Polster (1947-2012), American explorer, journalist, novelist, producer, and screenwriter.
– James Pope-Hennessy (1916-1974), English biographer and travel writer.
– James A. Porter (1836-1897), American novelist.
– James Powell (b. 1932), Canadian short story writer.
– James Puckle (1667-1724), English inventor, lawyer, and writer.
– James Purdy (1914-2009), American novelist, playwright, poet, and short story writer.
– James Morgan Pryse (1859-1942), American author, publisher, and theosophist.
– James Pycroft (1813-1895), English author, cricketer, and vicar.
– James Rado (b. 1932), American actor, composer, and writer.
– James Raine (1791-1858), English antiquarian, author, and clergyman.
– James G. Randall (1881-1953), American author and historian.
– James Ryder Randall (1839-1908), American journalist and poet.
– James Reaney (1926-2008), Canadian librettist, playwright, poet, and professor.
– James Redhouse (1811-1892), English author and linguist.
– James Rees (1802-1885), American author, editor, and playwright.
– James Reeves (1909-1978), English children’s book writer, playwright, and poet.
– James Reiss (b. 1941), American poet.
– James Rennell (1742-1830), English geographer, historian, and oceanographer.
– James Reston, Jr. (b. 1943), American author and journalist.
– James Rhoades (1841-1923), English author, mystic, poet, and translator.
– James Rice (1843-1882), English novelist who published in collaboration with Walter Besant.
– James Robert Richard (1900-1977), pen name of American aviator, author, editor, and journalist Robert Sidney Bowen, who also published as “R. Sidney Bowen”.
– James Maude Richards (1907-1992), English architect and author.
– James Richardson (1809-1851), English diarist and explorer.
– James Richardson (b. 1950), American poet.
– James Theodore Richmond, “Twilight Ted”, (1890-1975), American conservationist, librarian, preacher, and writer.
– James Ridley (1736-1765), English novelist.
− James Oliver Rigney, Jr. (1948-2007), American fantasy author who wrote under the pen names “Chang Lung”, “Jackson O’Reilly”, “Reagan O’Neal”, and “Robert Jordan”.
– James Riordan (1936-2012), English author, broadcaster, and historian.
– James Risen (b. c. 1955), American journalist.
– James Robertson (b. 1958), Scottish author and poet.
– James Alexander Robertson (1873-1939), American archivist, bibliographer, historian, and translator.
– James Burton Robertson (1800-1877), English historian and translator.
– James Craigie Robertson (1813-1882), Scottish clergyman and historian.
– James Logie Robertson (1846-1922), Scottish author, editor, and poet, who also wrote under the pen name “Hugh Haliburton”.
– James Harvey Robinson (1863-1936), American historian.
– James Jeffrey Roche (1847-1908), Irish-American diplomat, journalist, and poet.
– James Roose-Evans (b. 1927), English author, director, playwright, and priest.
– James Roy (b. 1968), Australian children’s book writer.
– James Runcie (b. 1959), English director, novelist, and producer.
– James Runciman (1852-1891), English author, journalist, and teacher.
– James Malcom Rymer (1814-1884), Anglo-Scottish pulp novelist.
– James Sallis (b. 1944), American crime author and poet.
– James Salter (b. 1925), American novelist and short story writer.
– James Saunders (1925-2004), English playwright.
– James Schevill (1920-2009), American critic, playwright, poet, and professor.
– James H. Schmitz (1911-1981), American science fiction author.
– James Scholefield (1789-1853), English classical scholar and translator.
– James Schouler (1839-1920), American historian and lawyer.
– James Schuyler (1923-1991), American poet.
– James Scully (b. 1937), American poet and translator.
– James Sempill (1566-1625/26), Scottish diplomat, poet, and theologian.
– James Witt Sewell (1865-1955), American educator, grammarian, and writer.
– James S. Shapiro (b. 1955), American author, educator, and historian.
– James Shirley (1596-1666), English dramatist and poet.
– James Simmons (1933-2001), Irish critic, poet, and songwriter.
– James Spedding (1808-1881), English author and editor.
– James Augustus St. John (1795-1875), Welsh author and traveler.
– James Lee Stanley (b. 1946), American singer and songwriter.
– James Kenneth Stephen (1859-1892), English poet and tutor.
– James Stephens (1880-1950), Irish novelist and poet.
– James Brunton Stephens (1835-1902), Scottish-Australian poet.
– James Stern (1904-1993), Anglo-Irish author and reviewer.
– James Thomas Stevens (b. 1966), American academic and poet.
– James Stevenson (b. 1929), American children’s book writer and illustrator.
– James Still (1906-2001), American folklorist, novelist, and poet.
– James Hutchison Stirling (1820-1909), Anglo-Scottish author and philosopher.
– James Leigh Strachan-Davidson (1843-1916), English classicist and historian.
– James Street (1903-1954), American journalist, minister, and novelist.
– James Talley (b. 1944), American singer and songwriter.
– James T. Tanner (1858-1915), English director and dramatist.
– James Tate (b. 1943), American poet.
– James Emerson Tennent (1804-1869), Irish politician, traveler, and writer.
– James Alexander Thom (b. 1933), American novelist and short-story writer.
– James Westfall Thompson (1869-1941), American historian.
– James Thomson (1700-1748), Anglo-Scottish playwright and poet.
– James Thomson (1763-1832), Scottish weaver poet.
– James Thomson (1834-1882), Scottish poet who wrote under the pen name “Bysshe Vanolis”.
– James Thomson (1852-1934), Australian journalist and newspaper publisher.
– James F. Thomson (1921-1984), English philosopher.
– James Thornton (1861-1938), American performer and songwriter.
– James Thurber (1894-1961), American author, cartoonist, humorist, journalist, and playwright.
– James Sterling Tippett (1885-1958), American children’s book writer and educator.
– James Tiptree, Jr. (1915-1987), pen name of American science fiction author Alice Bradley Shelden, who also published as “Raccoona Sheldon”.
– James Tod (1782-1835), English geographer, historian, and soldier.
– James Henthorn Todd (1805-1869), Irish educator and historian.
– James Townley (1714-1778), English dramatist.
– James Trefil (b. 1938), American author and physicist.
– James Hammond Trumbull (1821-1897), American historian, philologist, and scholar.
– James Tucker (b. 1929), Welsh novelist, who also publishes under the pen names “Bill James”, “David Craig”, and “Judith Jones”.
– James Tyrell (1642-1718), English author, historian, and political philosopher.
– James Ramsey Ulllman (1907-1971), American mountaineer and writer.
– James Ware (1594-1666), Irish author and historian.
– James Webb (1946-1980), Scottish biographer and historian.
– James R. Webb (1909-1974), American author and screenwriter.
– James Wechsler (1915-1983), American columnist, editor, and journalist.
– James Wedderburn (ca. 1495-1553), Scottish playwright and poet.
– James Weinstein (1926-2005), American historian and journalist.
– James Welch (1940-2003), American novelist and poet.
– James White (1759-1799), Anglo-Irish novelist and translator.
– James White (1928-1999), Irish science fiction author.
– James Wilcox (b. 1949), American novelist and professor.
– James Williamson (1886-1964), English author and historian.
– James Wills (1790-1868), Irish poet and writer.
– James Wood (b. 1965), English critic, essayist, and novelist.
– James Woodforde (1740-1803), English author and clergyman.
– James Young (1872-1948), American actor, director, and screenwriter.
Endangered or Extinct Last Names
January 28, 2015 § 1 Comment
The linked articles list some last names which are going (or have already gone) the way of the dodo, and discuss some of the reasons for their disappearance. Did you even know last names could go extinct? (Also, don’t you think some of these last names sound perfect for gnomes or hobbits?)
9 Last Names on the Brink of Extinction:
“Any last name with under 200 “bearers” is endangered, and we’ve found some which are even extinct. Do you have a rare last name on the verge of extinction? Or is your last name extremely common?”
Endangered last names:
Ajax, Edevane, Gastrell, and Slora
Critically-endangered last names (fewer than 20 bearers):
Berrycloth, Birdwhistle, Dankworth, Fernsby, Loughty, MacQuoid, Miracle, Relish, Sallow, Tumbler, and Villan / Villin
Extinct last names:
Bread, Bythesea, Bytheseashore, MacCaa, Puscat, Pusset, Pussmaid, and Spinster
10 English Surnames About to Go Extinct:
Names which have disappeared from England and Wales (extinct last names):
Chips, Harred, Hatman, Jarsdel, Nithercott, Raynott, Rummage, Southwark, Temples, and Woodbead
Names with fewer than 50 bearers through England and Wales (critically endangered last names):
Bonneville, Carla, Febland, Fernard, Grader, Gruger, Mirren, Nighy, Pober, and Portendorfer.
Names dying out the fastest in England and Wales, compared to the 1901 census (endangered last names):
Ashworth, Brook, Butterworth, Clegg, Cohen, Crowther, Greenwood, Haigh, Ingham, Kershaw, Nuttal, Ogden, Pratt, Sutcliffe, and William
Can you think of any other uncommon or vanished last names?
(Also, if you’re looking for endangered or extinct first names, try this post!)
Most Common Names for Some Common Jobs
January 7, 2015 § Leave a comment
Click here to see an infographic showing the six most disproportionately common names for for 37 professions. The data was gathered from U.S. public records, with some rather interesting (and useful, if, for example, you’re trying to choose a name that really suits a particular character) results. What do you think: Do certain names just sound right for certain jobs? Were there any results that surprised you? Are you in the right position for your name (keep in mind, some names show up for more than one occupation)?
– ACCOUNTANT: Adele, Charmaine, Kurtis, Maribel, Mindy, and Mitzi.
– BIOLOGIST: Cheryl, Janet, Nicholas, Sara, Stuart, and Suzanne.
– CAR SALESPERSON: Allen, Bob, Clay, Larry, Pete, and Travis.
– DRUMMER: Billy, Chad, Dave, Joey, Mickey, and Tommy.
– ELECTRICAL ENGINEER: Alfred, Bernard, Charles, Edwin, Eugene, and Harvey.
– FARMER: Darin, Delbert, Duane, Elwood, Marlin, and Mavis.
– FIREFIGHTER: Brandon, Darren, Jason, Jeremy, Matthew, and Ryan.
– FITNESS INSTRUCTOR: Jennifer, Julie, Karen, Pamela, Rebecca, and Virginia.
– FOOTBALL COACH: Bill, Dan, Jim, Mike, Rich, and Steve.
– FOOTBALL PLAYER: Darnell, Derrick, Jermaine, Nate, Quinton, and Reggie.
– GEOLOGIST: Frederick, Henry, Hugh, Leonard, Samuel, and William.
– GOLFER: Bobby, Bud, Johnny, Simon, Tommy, and Willie.
– GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Alison, Diana, Jan, Jessica, Kurt, and Vanessa.
– GUITARIST: Buddy, Eddie, Mick, Richie, Sonny, and Trey.
– HAIRDRESSER: James, Lori, Patricia, Raymond, Robert, and Susan.
– HISTORIAN: Adrienne, Caroline, Emma, Henry, Herbert, and Theodore.
– INSURANCE SALESPERSON: Brent, Clark, Dalton, Garrett, Mac, and Patty.
– INTERIOR DESIGNER: Bonnie, Elise, Lynne, Marjorie, Martha, and Melinda.
– JOURNALIST: Alastair, Angus, Gideon, Hanna, Jonah, and Louisa.
– JUDGE: Archibald, Clement, Josiah, Lise, Louise, and Rufus.
– LAWYER: Augustus, Cecily, Marshal, Norton, Sanford, and William.
– LIBRARIAN: Abigail, Eleanor, Johanna, Julia, Margot, and Nanette.
– MECHANIC: Dave, Fred, Jerry, Patrick, Randy, and Rick.
– METEOROLOGIST: Bill, Jeff, Joe, Jim, Mike, and Scott.
– PHOTOGRAPHER: Annie, Bruno, Hugo, Noah, Tracey, and Zoe.
– POET: Anne, Celia, Dorothy, Edgar, Edmund, and Hannah.
– POLICE OFFICER: Kevin, Kim, Louis, Raymond, Timothy, and Wayne.
– RABBI: Chaim, Judah, Meir, Moshe, Shlomo, and Yosef.
– RACE CAR DRIVER: Bobby, Jimmy, Johnny, Luigi, Robbie, and Sebastian.
– RANCHER: Boyd, Clifford, Judy, Leland, Leroy, and Roy.
– SOCIAL WORKER: Constance, Jeannette, Marsha, Penelope, Stella, and Vivian.
– SOLDIER: Jacob, Jeremy, Joshua, Justin, Kyle, and Zachary.
– SONGWRITER: Benny, Billy, Mick, Richie, Sonny, and Stevie.
– STUNT-PERSON: Alex, Ben, Eddie, Erik, Terry, and Tom.
– SURGEON: Barrett, Harris, Holly, Jefferson, Sanford, and Sherwin.
– VENTURE CAPITALIST: Alexander, Doug, Guy, Joanna, Nicholas, and Shawn.
– VETERINARIAN: Gene, Larry, Peggy, Sara, Tracy, and Wayne.
Top 20 Baby Names for Naughty (and Nice) Children
December 4, 2014 § Leave a comment
Here’s an article about the names shared by kids “most likely to misbehave“. Are you on the naughty list? Do you need to clean up your act before Santa comes to town? Or maybe just change your name real quick so you can make the nice list?
Worst-Behaved Girl Names:
Amber, Bethany, Caitlin, Courtney, Eleanor, Ella, Holly, Jade, Laura, and Olivia
Best-Behaved Girl Names:
Abigail, Alice, Amy, Charlotte, Emily, Emma, Georgia, Grace, Hannah, and Sophie
Worst-Behaved Boy Names:
Benjamin, Cameron, Ethan, Jake, Jamie, Joseph, Joshua, Lewis, Luke, and William
Best-Behaved Boy Names:
Adam, Daniel, Harry, Jack, Jacob, James, Oliver, Ryan, Samuel, and Thomas
Most Common Baby Names, 2014
December 3, 2014 § Leave a comment
This article takes a comedic view on the likely fates of those children given the most common baby names of 2014 (as determined by a U.S. News poll, so not entirely scientific . . . )
For the boys, we’ve got Aiden, Caden, Ethan, Jacob, Jackson, Liam, Logan, Lucas, Mason, and Noah.
And for girls, we’ve got Ava, Emily, Emma, Isabella, Madelyn, Mia, Lily, Olivia, Sophia, and Zoe.
What do you think? Have you see hundreds of little Aidens and Avas and Ethans and Emilys and Masons and Mias experiencing “Baby’s First Fill-in-the-Blank” this year?
Most Popular Boys Names Since 1960
November 15, 2014 § Leave a comment
A Wondrous GIF Shows The Most Popular Baby Names For Boys (By U.S. State) Since 1960:
“Social Security Administration data visualized in the most lovely way possible.“
1960: David, James, John, Michael, and Robert
1961-65: David, James, John, and Michael
1966-67: David, James, and Michael (wow, the 1960s really knew how to mix things up!)
1968: James, John, and Michael
1969: James and Michael
1970: David, James, and Michael
1971: James, Jason, John, and Michael (way to go, North Dakota, trying to shake things up a bit!)
1972-74: Chris, James, Jason, and Michael
1975-76: James, Jason, and Michael
1977-79: Chris, James, Jason, and Michael (alright, Alabama, bringin’ “Chris” back!)
1980: Chris, James, Jason, and Michael (these names are on a serious roll!)
1981: Chris, James, Joshua, Matthew, and Michael
1982: Chris, Joshua, Matthew, and Michael
1983-84: Chris, Matthew, and Michael
1985-86: Chris, Joshua, Matthew, and Michael
1987: Andrew, Chris, Joshua, Matthew, and Michael (Nebraska, you little rebel!)
1988: Chris, Joshua, Justin, Matthew, and Michael
1989: Chris, Joshua, Matthew, Michael
1990: Chris, Jacob, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, and Tyler
1991: Chris, Jacob, Joshua, Michael, and Tyler
1992: Chris, Jacob, Joshua, Michael, Nicholas, and Tyler (I see what you did there, Maine!)
1993: Chris, Jacob, James, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, and Tyler
1994-95: Austin, Chris, Daniel, Jacob, James, Joshua, Michael, Tyler and William
1996: Austin, Chris, Daniel, Jacob, Jose, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, Nicholas, Tyler, and William
1997: Austin, Chris, Daniel, Jacob, James, Jose, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, Nicholas, and William
1998: Austin, Daniel, Jacob, James, Jose, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, and William
1999: Daniel, Jacob, Jose, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, Tyler, and William
2000: Daniel, Jacob, Jose, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, and William
2001: Anthony, Daniel, Jacob, Jose, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, and William (now Nevada’s trying to stand out from the crowd)
2002: Anthony, Daniel, Ethan, Jacob, Jose, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, Nicholas, and William
2003: Anthony, Daniel, Ethan, Jacob, Jose, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, and William
2004: Anthony, Daniel, Ethan, Jacob, Jose, Joshua, Michael, Ryan, and William (and Delaware finds a way to buck the trends!)
2005: Angel, Anthony, Daniel, Ethan, Jacob, Jose, Joshua, Matthew, Michael, Ryan, and William (this time Arizona introduces a fresh name)
2006: Angel, Anthony, Daniel, Ethan, Jacob, Jose, Joshua, Logan, Matthew, Michael, Noah, Ryan, and William (ooh, both Hawaii and North Dakota taking a stand!)
2007: Aiden, Angel, Anthony, Daniel, Ethan, Jacob, James, Jose, Joshua, Logan, Matthew, Michael, Noah, and William (ah, bit of fresh air from Alaska, there!)
2008: Alexander, Anthony, Carter, Daniel, Ethan, Isaiah, Jacob, James, Jayden, Jose, Michael, Ryan, and William
2009: Aiden, Alexander, Anthony, Daniel, Ethan, Jacob, Jayden, Jose, Logan, Michael, Noah, Ryan, William, and Wyatt
2010: Alexander, Elijah, Jacob, James, Jayden, Logan, Mason, Michael, Noah, Owen, Samuel, and William
2011: Alexander, Anthony, Carter, Jacob, Jayden, Liam, Mason, Michael, Noah, and William
2012: Alexander, Benjamin, Elijah, Ethan, Jacob, James, Jayden, Liam, Mason, Michael, Noah, and William
Most Popular Girls Names Since 1960
November 15, 2014 § Leave a comment
A Wondrous GIF Shows The Most Popular Baby Names For Girls (By U.S. State) Since 1960:
“Social Security Administration data visualized in the most lovely way imaginable”
1960: Donna, Julie, Karen, Lisa, Lori, Mary, and Susan
1961: Brenda, Lisa, Lori, Mary, and Susan
1962: Lisa, Lori, Mary, and Susan
1963-64: Lisa, Mary (way to branch out, people of the 1960s!)
1965: Lisa. (That’s it. Just “Lisa”. Most popular name in every state.)
1966: Lisa and Mary (ooh, Hawaii, you little rebel!)
1967: Lisa, Mary, and Michelle (Colorado throwing a curve ball)
1968: Angela, Lisa, and Michelle (this time it’s Louisiana trying to be unique)
1969: Angela, Jennifer, Kimberly, Lisa, and Michelle (now Utah and Alabama are breaking away from the pack!)
1970: Angela, Jennifer, Lisa, Kimberly, and Michelle
1971: Angela, Jennifer, and Michelle
1972: Angela, Jennifer, and Melissa (guess West Virginia wanted a different “M” name?)
1973-78: Jennifer. (And now we know why schools in the 1980s were so full of Jennifers.)
1979: Amanda and Jennifer
1980-81: Amanda, Jennifer, and Jessica
1982: Jennifer and Jessica
1983: Amanda, Ashley, Jennifer, and Jessica.
1984: Ashley, Jennifer, Jessica
1985-88: Amanda, Ashley, and Jessica (and just like that, “Jennifer” was over.)
1989: Amanda, Ashley, Brittany, and Jessica
1990: Ashley, Brittany, and Jessica
1991-92: Amanda, Ashley, Jessica, and Sarah (New Hampshire, bringing in some fresh blood!)
1993: Ashley, Emily, Jessica, Samantha, and Sarah.
1994: Ashley, Emily, Jessica, Megan, Samantha, and Taylor
1995: Ashley, Brittany, Emily, Jessica, Samantha, Sarah, and Taylor
1996-98: Alexis, Ashley, Emily, Hannah, Jessica, Madison, Samantha, and Taylor
1999: Alexis, Emily, Hannah, Madison, Samantha, and Taylor
2000: Alexis, Emily, Hannah, Kayla, and Madison (Hawaii being the odd one out again!)
2001: Alexis, Ashley, Emily, Hannah, Madison, and Taylor
2002: Alexis, Emily, Emma, Hannah, Kayla, and Madison
2003: Alexis, Emily, Emma, Hannah, and Madison
2004: Alyssa, Ashley, Emily, Emma, and Madison (this time New Mexico’s the rebel)
2005: Alyssa, Emily, Emma, Madison, and Olivia
2006: Ava, Emily, Emma, Isabella, Madison, and Mia (guess Arizona was feeling left out of the “not like the others” loop)
2007: Addison, Ava, Emily, Emma, Isabella, Madison, Olivia, and Sophia (this time Rhode Island bucks the trend!)
2008: Ava, Chloe, Emily, Emma, Isabella, Madison, and Olivia (looks like Hawaii really dares to be different)
2009: Addison, Ava, Emma, Isabella, Madison, and Olivia
2010-11: Ava, Emma, Isabella, Madison, Olivia, and Sophia
2012: Ava, Emma, Isabella, Olivia, and Sophia
Juan
November 6, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Spanish form of “John“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Ganix, Jan, Joan, Juanito, Xuan, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Juan Tellamantez (called “Spanish Johnny“), a talented guitar player, one of the Mexican workmen who befriend Thea in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
WRITERS:
– Juan Andrés y Morell (1740-1817), Spanish Jesuit author, critic, humanist, and priest..
– Juan José Arreola (1918-2001), Mexican humorist and writer.
– Juan Benet (1927-1993), Spanish writer.
– Juan Ramón Jiménez (1881-1958), Spanish poet.
– Juan Antonio Llorente (1756-1823), Spanish historian and writer.
– Juan Manuel, Prince of Villena (1282-1348), Spanish writer.
– Juan Francisco Manzano (1797-1854), Cuban author.
– Juan Montalvo (1832-1889), Ecuadorian author and essayist.
– Juan Carlos Onetti (1909-1994), Uruguayan novelist and short story writer.
– Juan Ruiz, Archpriest of Hita (ca. 1283-ca. 1350), Spanish poet.
– Juan Perez Rulfo (1918-1986), Mexican novelist and short story writer.
– Juan Luis Vives (1493-1540), Spanish humanist, scholar, and writer.
– Juan Rodolfo Wilcock (1919-1978), Argentinian critic, poet, translator, and writer.
Some Less-Popular Historical Baby Names
October 22, 2014 § Leave a comment
Proof that there have always been parents who want to bestow “unique” names on their progeny. Pity the poor little Spurgeons and Hildreds of years past!
“If you’re looking for a baby name and want something truly original, but with historical precedent, here’s your list:
The Least Popular American Baby Names, According to Early Records” (click through to see where they ranked, and to see more unpopular baby names of yesteryear!)
YEAR – BOY NAMES & GIRL NAMES
1880 – Handey & Parthenia (Sheesh, parents, what are you trying to get at, naming your son “Handey”?)
1881 – Okey & Erie (It’s okay to admire a canal, but maybe don’t name your daughter after it.)
1882 – Ab & Dove (Because sometimes it just takes too long to write “Abe”.)
1883 – Commodore & Lovey (It’s like they were prepping a 1970s soft-rock group . . . )
1884 – Spurgeon & Kathern (“Um, doctor, I think it’s spelled Katherine–” “Shut up, I know what I’m doing!”)
1885 – Fount & Icy (“Fount”? “Icy”? Was there something in the water?)
1886 – Squire & Texie (For when you hope your child will grow up to be a character in a 1950s movie musical.)
1887 – Bliss & Lockie (“Bliss”? Who knew there were hippies in the 1880s?)
1888 – Boss & Indiana (“We named you ‘Junior’; we named your sister ‘Indiana’!”)
1889 – Starling & Easter (Lived in the same commune as Bliss, and probably Dove.)
1890 – Lawyer & Pinkey (Hmm, I wonder what little Lawyer’s folks hoped he’d grow up to be?)
1891 – Manley & Chestina (Was there a sudden influx of machismo in the 1890s?)
1892 – Little & Odell (Nobody had told Little’s parents that he would, eventually, grow.)
1893 – Orange & Leafy (That commune is still going strong!)
1894 – Flem & Ova (The parents overheard the doctors and nurses discussing cases in the hallway . . . )
1895 – Toy & Sister (Presumably Sister is the youngest of a large brood and the parents had simply run out of ideas. And I hope someone told Toy’s parents that he was, in fact, a real baby.)
1896 – Josephine & Clifford (The year of the Great Gender Switch!)
1897 – Henery & Florance (“Um, doctor, I believe it’s Henry and Florence–” “Didn’t I tell you I know what I’m doing?”)
1898 – Pleasant & Tiny (My, weren’t those parents in for an eventual surprise! Doesn’t everyone know not to tempt fate like that?)
1899 – Fate & Cuba (Speaking of “tempting Fate”, how sick do you suppose he got of jokes like that? Also, here we can see the dangers of choosing a baby name from current headlines . . . )
1900 – Gorge & Electa (“Um, doctor, I believe it’s spelled George— oh, never mind.”)
1901 – Joesph & Buelah (“*cough*Joseph*cough*Beulah*cough*”)
1902 – Rolla & Bama (Time traveling Southerners?)
1903 – Ples & Capitola (“Ples”? “Capitola”? Really?)
1904 – Council & Pearly (Possibly Council is Capitola’s little brother?)
1905 – Son & Wava (Guess what name they’d have gone with if it’d been a daughter? Yeah, probably not “Wava”.)
1906 – Virgle & Carry (Scrawled in pencil in the nurse’s handwriting are the names Virgil and Carrie.)
1907 – Geo & Arizona (Indiana’s daughter?)
1908 – Lillian & Lilyan (Here’s hoping they were twins, because that would be weirdly adorable!)
1909 – Murl & Flonnie (The nurse tried to correct Merle, but didn’t have the faintest idea what to do about Flonnie . . . )
1910 – Lemon & Classie (Orange’s little brother? And something about “Classie” seems like an aspirational choice . . . )
1911 – Wash & Lavada (I’m sensing a real “cleanliness” theme, here, 1911 . . . )
1912 – Christ & Almeta (Taken together, this sounds like a bit inappropriate? Christ Almeta!)
1913 – Louise & Louis (The Great Gender Switch II!)
1914 – Stephan & Vella (1914 was a year for smooth operators.)
1915 – Mayo & Dimple (Pretty sure their parents were preparing for a vaudeville act . . . )
1916 – Green & Golden (And under “What color will you be painting the nursery?” the exhausted parents put “Dudley” and “Millicent“.)
1917 – Elza & Loyce (The nurse thought of correcting it to Ezra and Luce, but at this point she was pretty sure the doctor was just messing with her . . . )
1918 – Curley & Ivory (Possibly Curley’s parents were psychics who foresaw the 1943 Broadway musical Oklahoma!, and Ivory’s parents just really, really liked soap.)
1919 – Metro & Louvenia (Time-traveling hipsters?)
1920 – Berry & Merry (Here’s hoping these were also twins!)
1921 – Reno & Glendora (When there was a short-lived law that all children had to be named after towns in the American Southwest . . .)
1922 – Author & Gaynell (Oddly, Author grew up to be a dentist. And Gaynell was an extra in three Hollywood films in the late 1930s.)
1923 – Burley & Dorathy (Burley’s parents were Manley and Chestina, of course. And the nurse didn’t even try to fix Dorothy, because she felt she was getting far too old for this stuff . . . )
1924 – Dorman & Mardell (Their parents had visions of plush bellhop, elevator operator, or movie theater usher uniforms dancing in their heads.)
1925 – Buddie & Bobbye (Later the stars of a collection of detective novels for children. Gee whiz!)
1926 – Wardell & Willodean (It’s like they were trying to give their children names they could change once they reached Hollywood . . . )
1927 – Estel & Gregoria (The nurse tried explaining to the parents that they could just as easily have named the boy “Gregory” and the girl “Estelle” if they really wanted their children to be named after them, but they were too exhausted and stunned by the arrival of twins to understand . . . )
1928 – Gust & Hildred (We’ll overlook Gust in the commune to note that combining “Mildred” with “Hilda” is something you only do to people you hate.)
1929 – Vester & Jettie (Time-traveling Goths?)
1930 – Otho & Charlsie (Why would you give your children those names? Do you want them to end up in an Agatha Christie murder mystery?)
1931 – Early & Ferne (The commune is fading, but still has some stragglers . . . Also, guess what name Early would have ended up with if he’d been born after 9pm?)
1932 – Dock & Jack (For when you want both of your children to grow up to be hard-boiled detectives in a gritty film noir. None of this namby-pamby “Buddie and Bobbye, Kid Detectives” stuff for you!)
The Art of Literary Nomenclature 