Aptronym: Difference between revisions
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* [[Jules Angst]], German professor of [[psychiatry]], who has published works about [[anxiety]]<ref name="guardian">{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2014/oct/31/mind-your-language-nominative-determinism |title= Reckless by name, reckless by nature? (But at least he’s not called Rich White) |last= Nunn |first= Gary }}</ref> |
* [[Jules Angst]], German professor of [[psychiatry]], who has published works about [[anxiety]]<ref name="guardian">{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2014/oct/31/mind-your-language-nominative-determinism |title= Reckless by name, reckless by nature? (But at least he’s not called Rich White) |last= Nunn |first= Gary }}</ref> |
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* [[Jeff Bagwell]], retired MLB firstbaseman<ref name="ranker">{{cite web |url= http://www.ranker.com/list/famous-people-with-literal-names/jordan-love |title= Famous People with Literal (and Hilarious) Names |last= Love |first= Jordan }}</ref> |
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* [[Colin Bass]], British [[bass guitar|bassist]] in the rock band [[Camel (band)|Camel]]<ref name=guardian/> |
* [[Colin Bass]], British [[bass guitar|bassist]] in the rock band [[Camel (band)|Camel]]<ref name=guardian/> |
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* [[Sara Blizzard]], [[meteorology|meteorologist]] (television weather presenter) for the [[BBC]]<ref name="guardian"/> |
* [[Sara Blizzard]], [[meteorology|meteorologist]] (television weather presenter) for the [[BBC]]<ref name="guardian"/> |
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* [[Russell Brain, 1st Baron Brain|Russell Brain]], [[Neurology|neurologist]]<ref name="ranker"/> |
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* [[Thomas Crapper]], manufacturer of Victorian [[toilet]]s (note that the word ''crap'' predates Mr. Crapper)<ref name="ranker"/> |
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* [[Mark De Man]], Belgian [[association football|soccer]] defender (who is likely to "mark the man") |
* [[Mark De Man]], Belgian [[association football|soccer]] defender (who is likely to "mark the man") |
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* [[Creflo Dollar]], American minister and advocate of [[prosperity theology]]; also criticized for his extravagant lifestyle |
* [[Creflo Dollar]], American minister and advocate of [[prosperity theology]]; also criticized for his extravagant lifestyle |
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* [[Stuart Fell]], [[BBC]] [[stunt performer|stunt]] coordinator |
* [[Stuart Fell]], [[BBC]] [[stunt performer|stunt]] coordinator |
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* [[Storm Field]], meteorologist |
* [[Storm Field]], meteorologist |
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* [[Cecil Fielder]] and son [[Prince Fielder]], [[baseball]] players<ref name="ranker"/> |
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* [[Allen Forward]], [[rugby union|rugby]] forward |
* [[Allen Forward]], [[rugby union|rugby]] forward |
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* [[Amy Freeze]], meteorologist |
* [[Amy Freeze]], meteorologist |
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* [[Alexander Garden (naturalist)|Alexander Garden]], naturalist after whom the [[Gardenia]] was named |
* [[Alexander Garden (naturalist)|Alexander Garden]], naturalist after whom the [[Gardenia]] was named |
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* [[States Rights Gist]], [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] Army [[brigadier general]] |
* [[States Rights Gist]], [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] Army [[brigadier general]] |
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* [[Go Seigen]], considered the greatest modern [[Go (board game)|Go]] champion<ref name="ranker"/> |
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* [[Eiichi Goto]], computer scientist ([[goto]] or "go to" is a common piece of code in many programming languages) |
* [[Eiichi Goto]], computer scientist ([[goto]] or "go to" is a common piece of code in many programming languages) |
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* [[Armand Hammer]], businessman; served on the board of the [[Arm & Hammer]] company, which was so named 31 years before his birth |
* [[Armand Hammer]], businessman; served on the board of the [[Arm & Hammer]] company, which was so named 31 years before his birth |
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* [[Igor Judge]], [[Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales]] |
* [[Igor Judge]], [[Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales]] |
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* [[Chuck Long]], former [[NFL]] quarterback for the [[Detroit Lions]] and the [[Los Angeles Rams]] |
* [[Chuck Long]], former [[NFL]] quarterback for the [[Detroit Lions]] and the [[Los Angeles Rams]] |
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* [[Ryan Longwell]], NFL placekicker who holds the record for longest [[field goal]] in [[Green Bay Packers]] history<ref name="ranker"/> |
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* [[John W. Marshall]], former [[United States Marshal]] for the Eastern District of Virginia |
* [[John W. Marshall]], former [[United States Marshal]] for the Eastern District of Virginia |
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* [[George McGovern]], former [[South Dakota]] politician and presidential candidate |
* [[George McGovern]], former [[South Dakota]] politician and presidential candidate |
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* [[Jim McGovern (Scottish politician)|Jim McGovern]], Scottish politician |
* [[Jim McGovern (Scottish politician)|Jim McGovern]], Scottish politician |
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* [[Chris Moneymaker]], 2003 [[World Series of Poker]] champion<ref name="ranker"/> |
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* [[Josh Outman]], [[Oakland Athletics]] pitcher |
* [[Josh Outman]], [[Oakland Athletics]] pitcher |
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* [[James Cash Penney]], businessman, entrepreneur, retailer |
* [[James Cash Penney]], businessman, entrepreneur, retailer |
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* [[Bob Rock]], rock music producer whose clients have included [[Metallica]] and [[Bon Jovi]] |
* [[Bob Rock]], rock music producer whose clients have included [[Metallica]] and [[Bon Jovi]] |
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* [[James Roe (rower)|James Roe]], [[Paralympic Games|Paralympic]] [[Rowing (sport)|rower]] |
* [[James Roe (rower)|James Roe]], [[Paralympic Games|Paralympic]] [[Rowing (sport)|rower]] |
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* [[Richard Smalley]], [[Rice University]] pioneer in [[nanotechnology]]<ref name="ranker"/> |
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* [[Phoebe Snetsinger]], a [[birder]] and amateur [[ornithologist]] (who likely spotted many [[Phoebe (bird)|phoebe]]s) |
* [[Phoebe Snetsinger]], a [[birder]] and amateur [[ornithologist]] (who likely spotted many [[Phoebe (bird)|phoebe]]s) |
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* [[Larry Speakes]], presidential spokesperson under [[President]] [[Ronald Reagan]]<ref name="ranker"/> |
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* [[Lake Speed]], former [[NASCAR]] driver |
* [[Lake Speed]], former [[NASCAR]] driver |
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* [[Scott Speed]], [[NASCAR]] driver, formerly in [[Formula One]], [[GP2 Series|GP2]], and [[A1GP]] |
* [[Scott Speed]], [[NASCAR]] driver, formerly in [[Formula One]], [[GP2 Series|GP2]], and [[A1GP]] |
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* [[Douglas Terman|Douglas ("D.") Terman]], author of several [[Choose Your Own Adventure]] books, where the user ''determines'' the ending<ref>{{cite news|last1=Slotnik|first1=Daniel E.|title=R.A. Montgomery, 78, Dies; Published Choose Your Own Adventure Series|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/business/ra-montgomery-publisher-of-the-choose-your-own-adventure-series-dies-at-78-.html|accessdate=9 January 2016|publisher=The New York Times|date=19 November 2014}}</ref> |
* [[Douglas Terman|Douglas ("D.") Terman]], author of several [[Choose Your Own Adventure]] books, where the user ''determines'' the ending<ref>{{cite news|last1=Slotnik|first1=Daniel E.|title=R.A. Montgomery, 78, Dies; Published Choose Your Own Adventure Series|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/20/business/ra-montgomery-publisher-of-the-choose-your-own-adventure-series-dies-at-78-.html|accessdate=9 January 2016|publisher=The New York Times|date=19 November 2014}}</ref> |
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* [[Willie Thrower]], former NFL quarterback; first [[African-American]] quarterback in NFL during modern era<ref name="ranker"/> |
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* [[John Tory]], former leader of the [[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party]] (Tories) |
* [[John Tory]], former leader of the [[Ontario Progressive Conservative Party]] (Tories) |
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* [[Tommy Tune]], [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[singer]], [[dancer]], and [[choreographer]] |
* [[Tommy Tune]], [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] [[singer]], [[dancer]], and [[choreographer]] |
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* [[Sam Whitelock]], [[New Zealand]] [[Rugby Union]] player whose name reflects his race and [[Lock (rugby union)|position]] |
* [[Sam Whitelock]], [[New Zealand]] [[Rugby Union]] player whose name reflects his race and [[Lock (rugby union)|position]] |
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* [[William Wordsworth]], English poet and advocate for the extension of [[British copyright law]]<ref>{{Cite book|author=Wordsworth, William|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ZcUAAAAQAAJ|title=The Prose Works of William Wordsworth|editor= Alexander B. Grosart|location=London|publisher=Edward Moxon, Son and Co.|year=1876|page=21}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Swartz, Richard G.|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/438162|title=Wordsworth, Copyright, and the Commodities of Genius|journal= [[Modern Philology]] |volume=89|issue=4|year=1992|pages=482–509|publisher=[[JSTOR]]|accessdate=20 March 2015}}</ref> |
* [[William Wordsworth]], English poet and advocate for the extension of [[British copyright law]]<ref>{{Cite book|author=Wordsworth, William|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ZcUAAAAQAAJ|title=The Prose Works of William Wordsworth|editor= Alexander B. Grosart|location=London|publisher=Edward Moxon, Son and Co.|year=1876|page=21}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal|author=Swartz, Richard G.|url=http://www.jstor.org/stable/438162|title=Wordsworth, Copyright, and the Commodities of Genius|journal= [[Modern Philology]] |volume=89|issue=4|year=1992|pages=482–509|publisher=[[JSTOR]]|accessdate=20 March 2015}}</ref> |
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* [[Early Wynn]], baseball pitcher; recorded two wins in [[List of Cleveland Indians Opening Day starting pitchers|Opening Day games for the Cleveland Indians]] (1952, 1954) and two no-decision [[List of Chicago White Sox Opening Day starting pitchers|Opening Day games for the Chicago White Sox]] that resulted in wins in 1960 and 1961.<ref name="ranker"/> |
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===Inaptronyms=== |
===Inaptronyms=== |
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* [[John Balance]], English musician, died after falling from a two-story balcony at his home |
* [[John Balance]], English musician, died after falling from a two-story balcony at his home |
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* [[Grant Balfour]], MLB pitcher, who would not want to "grant [[base on balls|ball four]]" in a game |
* [[Grant Balfour]], MLB pitcher, who would not want to "grant [[base on balls|ball four]]" in a game |
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* [[Frank Beard (musician)|Frank Beard]], the only member of [[ZZ Top]] to not have a [[beard]]<ref name="ranker"/> |
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* [[Don Black (white nationalist)|Don Black]], [[White supremacy|White supremacist]]<ref name="guardian"/> |
* [[Don Black (white nationalist)|Don Black]], [[White supremacy|White supremacist]]<ref name="guardian"/> |
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* [[Peter Bowler (cricketer)|Peter Bowler]], [[cricket]]er (in fact, primarily a [[batsman]])<ref name="guardian"/> |
* [[Peter Bowler (cricketer)|Peter Bowler]], [[cricket]]er (in fact, primarily a [[batsman]])<ref name="guardian"/> |
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Revision as of 05:12, 1 August 2016
 | This article possibly contains original research. (June 2016) |
An aptronym, aptonym or euonym is a personal name aptly or peculiarly suited to its owner. The Encyclopaedia Britannica attributes the term to Franklin P. Adams, a writer who coined it as an anagram of patronym, to emphasize "apt".[1]
According to Frank Nuessel, in The Study of Names (1992), an aptonym is the term used for "people whose names and occupations or situations (e.g., workplace) have a close correspondence."
In the book What's in a Name? (1996), author Paul Dickson cites a long list of aptronyms originally compiled by Professor Lewis P. Lipsitt, of Brown University.[2] Psychologist Carl Jung wrote in his book Synchronicity that there was a "sometimes quite grotesque coincidence between a man's name and his peculiarities".[3]
Nominative determinism is a hypothesis which suggests a causal relationship based on the idea that people tend to be attracted to areas of work that fit their name.
Notable examples
- Jules Angst, German professor of psychiatry, who has published works about anxiety[4]
- Colin Bass, British bassist in the rock band Camel[4]
- Sara Blizzard, meteorologist (television weather presenter) for the BBC[4]
- Mark De Man, Belgian soccer defender (who is likely to "mark the man")
- Creflo Dollar, American minister and advocate of prosperity theology; also criticized for his extravagant lifestyle
- Paddy Driver, former Grand Prix motorcycle road racer and race car driver
- Josh Earnest, the third press secretary for the Obama Administration (Stephen Colbert observed, "What a name for a press secretary. Josh Earnest. His name literally means, 'Just kidding, but seriously.'"[5])
- Nicholas Economides, professor of economics, New York University, Stern School of Business
- Stuart Fell, BBC stunt coordinator
- Storm Field, meteorologist
- Allen Forward, rugby forward
- Amy Freeze, meteorologist
- Alexander Garden, naturalist after whom the Gardenia was named
- States Rights Gist, Confederate Army brigadier general
- Eiichi Goto, computer scientist (goto or "go to" is a common piece of code in many programming languages)
- Armand Hammer, businessman; served on the board of the Arm & Hammer company, which was so named 31 years before his birth
- William Headline, bureau chief for CNN
- Jim Horn, saxophonist and woodwind player
- Chip Jett, professional poker player
- Igor Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
- Chuck Long, former NFL quarterback for the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams
- John W. Marshall, former United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Virginia
- George McGovern, former South Dakota politician and presidential candidate
- Jim McGovern, Scottish politician
- Josh Outman, Oakland Athletics pitcher
- James Cash Penney, businessman, entrepreneur, retailer
- J.P. Pickens, musician, writer, banjo and guitar player
- Dallas Raines, chief meteorologist at KABC-TV in Los Angeles, California
- Bob Rock, rock music producer whose clients have included Metallica and Bon Jovi
- James Roe, Paralympic rower
- Phoebe Snetsinger, a birder and amateur ornithologist (who likely spotted many phoebes)
- Lake Speed, former NASCAR driver
- Scott Speed, NASCAR driver, formerly in Formula One, GP2, and A1GP
- Douglas ("D.") Terman, author of several Choose Your Own Adventure books, where the user determines the ending[6]
- John Tory, former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party (Tories)
- Tommy Tune, Broadway singer, dancer, and choreographer
- Marilyn vos Savant, a columnist famous for her extremely high IQ and penchant for puzzle solving
- Anthony Weiner, US Congressman embarrassed in a 2011 sex-scandal by a self-taken snapshot of a close-up of his underpants ('weiner' can be a slang term for a man's penis)
- Sam Whitelock, New Zealand Rugby Union player whose name reflects his race and position
- William Wordsworth, English poet and advocate for the extension of British copyright law[7][8]
Inaptronyms
Some aptronyms are ironic rather than descriptive, being called inaptronyms by Gene Weingarten of the Washington Post.[9] A notable example is the former Archbishop of Manila, Jaime Sin who in 1976 was made a cardinal by Pope Paul VI, thus becoming known as "Cardinal Sin".[4]
- Lance Armstrong, a Tour de France-winning cyclist, became famous because of leg, not arm, strength[10]
- John Balance, English musician, died after falling from a two-story balcony at his home
- Grant Balfour, MLB pitcher, who would not want to "grant ball four" in a game
- Don Black, White supremacist[4]
- Peter Bowler, cricketer (in fact, primarily a batsman)[4]
- Samuel Foote, a comic actor who lost a leg in a horseriding accident in 1766, and made jokes on stage about "Foote and leg, and leg and foot"[11]
- Dexter Fowler, MLB outfielder (a batter can't get a hit if all he hits are foul balls)
- Larry Playfair, NHL defenseman known for his fighting[12]
- Keith Urban, country music star
- Bob Walk, retired MLB pitcher[13]
- Taijuan Walker, MLB pitcher
Aptronyms and Inaptronyms in place names
Place-names can also be aptronyms or inaptronyms, perhaps unintentionally.
- Brownie Septic Systems (now Brownie Environmental Services) of Orlando, Florida, named after the owner.[14]
Aptronyms in other languages
- Vlade Divac, basketball player; "div" means "giant" in Serbian.[15]
- Akihiko Hoshide, Japanese astronaut; "Hoshide" means "an action in the place of stars"[citation needed]
- Antonio Manganelli, head of the Italian Polizia di Stato, his family name meaning "truncheons".[16]
- Eugène Terre'Blanche, South African white nationalist (Terre'Blanche is French for "white land", and Eugene means "born well"; compare eugenics)
See also
References
- ^ "aptronym". Encyclopædia Britannica (Encyclopædia Britannica Online ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2008. Retrieved 19 July 2008.
- ^ Dickson, Paul (1996). What's in a Name? Reflections of an Irrepressible Name Collector. Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster. ISBN 0-87779-613-0.
- ^ "When the name fits the job" BBC. Retrieved 26 July 2013.
- ^ a b c d e f Nunn, Gary. "Reckless by name, reckless by nature? (But at least he's not called Rich White)".
- ^ Topaz, Jonathan (24 June 2014). "Stephen Colbert to 'quitter' Jay Carney: Man up!". Politico. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
- ^ Slotnik, Daniel E. (19 November 2014). "R.A. Montgomery, 78, Dies; Published Choose Your Own Adventure Series". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
- ^ Wordsworth, William (1876). Alexander B. Grosart (ed.). The Prose Works of William Wordsworth. London: Edward Moxon, Son and Co. p. 21.
- ^ Swartz, Richard G. (1992). "Wordsworth, Copyright, and the Commodities of Genius". Modern Philology. 89 (4). JSTOR: 482–509. Retrieved 20 March 2015.
- ^ Gene Weingarten (18 July 2006). "Chatological Humor* (UPDATED 7.21.06)". Washington Post.
- ^ http://www.experienceproject.com/question-answer/Should-Lance-Armstrong-Change-His-Name-To-Lance-Legstrong/984169 Should Lance Armstrong change his name to Lance Legstrong?
- ^ Clarke, Norma (28 December 2014). "Samuel Foote, the one-legged wonder". The Times Literary Supplement. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- ^ "6 Biggest Goons In Buffalo Sabres' History". Rant Sports. 19 January 2014. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- ^ "Bob Walk". Baseball-Reference.com.
- ^ Lundin, Leigh (5 January 2014). "What's in a Name?". Aptonyms. Orlando: SleuthSayers.
- ^ Nikolina S. Uzicanin (1996). Bosnian-English, English-Bosnian Dictionary. Hippocrene Books. p. 29. ISBN 978-0-7818-0276-5.
- ^ Mangenello singualar: Pat Bulhosen; Francesca Logi; Loredana Riu (9 May 2013). Compact Oxford Italian Dictionary. OUP Oxford. p. 195. ISBN 978-0-19-966313-2.. Note: the word used to mean crossbow.
External links
- Aptonyms-wiki was Canadian Aptonym Centre
- "Charol Shakeshaft, Topped!", a list of reader-submitted aptronyms by Slate's Timothy Noah
- Car Talk Fictional Show Credits from the radio show Car Talk
- Lists of real and fictional aptonyms and occupational names
- List of science eponyms