Jocelyn
October 4, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
Germanic, from the name of the Gaut (or Goth) tribe.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
For girls: Jocelin, Joceline, Jocelyne, Josceline, Joselyn, Joslyn, Josseline, Josselyn, Josslyn, Joyce, Joycelin, etc.
For boys: Gauzlin, Goscelin, Gosslin, Jocelin, Joscelin, Josceline, Joselyn, Joslyn, Joss, Josselin, Josslyn, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Lord Jocelyn, a neighbor of Sir Peter’s who covets the de Lindsay land, in The Door in the Wall (written in 1949 and set sometime between 1327-1377), by Marguerite de Angeli.
WRITERS:
– Jocelyn Brooke (1908-1966), English author.
– Jocelyn Lee Hardy (1894-1958), English army officer and author.
– Jocelyn Playfair (1904-1996), English novelist.
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.
The Origins of 10 Nicknames
September 20, 2014 § Leave a comment
How did we get “Dick” from “Richard“? “Bill” from “William“? “Hank” from “Henry” and “Jack” from “John“? Why does “Chuck” come from “Charles“, “Peggy” from “Margaret“, and “Ted” from “Edward“? Where did we get “Harry” from “Henry” and “Jim” from “James“? And why is “Sally” from “Sarah“?
Click through to find out!
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.
Jasper
September 15, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
From Persian, meaning “treasurer”, or referring to the gemstone.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Cas, Caspar, Casper, Gaspar, Gaspard, Gaspare, Gasparo, Gaszi, Jas, Jaspar, Jesper, Kaspar, Kasper, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Jasper Flight, a prospector for Dr. Archie’s company, in The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather (written in 1915 and set in the 1890s).
– Jasper Kebby, a local yeoman whose farm neighbors Ridd’s and Snowe’s, though is far less prosperous than either, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
Jerry
September 14, 2014 § 4 Comments
ORIGIN:
Diminutive of “Gerald”, “Jeremiah“, “Jeremy“, “Jerome”, etc.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Gerrie, Gerry, Jarmo, Jer, Jere, Jeri, Jeroen, Jerold, Jerri, Jerrie, Jorma, Reme, Remy, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Nickname for Jeremy Stickles (sometimes called “Jeremiah” as well), the Court Messenger who, after being sent to bring John Ridd back to London, befriends the Ridd family and aids in the fight against the Doones, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
Jeremiah
September 14, 2014 § 2 Comments
ORIGIN:
Hebrew, meaning “God has raised high”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Hieremias, Ieremias, Jarmo, Jer, Jere, Jeremias, Jeremie, Jeremy, Jerrie, Jerry, Jorma, Reme, Remy, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Nickname for Jeremy Stickles (sometimes called “Jerry” as well), the Court Messenger who, after being sent to bring John Ridd back to London, befriends the Ridd family and aids in the fight against the Doones, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Jeremiah Burrows (c. 1600-1646), English preacher and religious writer.
– Jeremiah Curtin (1835-1906), American folklorist and translator.
Jeremy
September 14, 2014 § 3 Comments
ORIGIN:
Variation of “Jeremiah“, meaning “God has raised high”.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Jarmo, Jer, Jere, Jeremiah, Jeremie, Jerrie, Jerry, Jorma, Reme, Remy, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Jeremy Stickles (sometimes called “Jerry” or “Jeremiah“), the Court Messenger who, after being sent to bring John Ridd back to London, befriends the Ridd family and aids in the fight against the Doones, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
WRITERS:
– Jeremy Bentham (1748-1832), English philosopher, social reformer, and writer.
– Jeremy Lane (1893-1963), American writer.
Jem
September 12, 2014 § Leave a comment
ORIGIN:
An English medieval diminutive of “James“.
VARIATIONS and NICKNAMES:
Jae, Jaime, Jamie, Jamey, Jay, Jemmy, Jim, Jimi, Jimmie, Jimmy, Jimsy, etc.
REFERENCES IN LITERATURE:
– Red Jem Hannaford, a sheep thief, in Lorna Doone, by R.D. Blackmore (written in 1869, set in the 1670s-1680s).
– Jem Slocombe, a laborer on John Ridd’s farm, in Lorna Doone.
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 