tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post7981738543530517633..comments2024-03-23T12:38:46.260+00:00Comments on The History Girls: Naming names, by H.M. CastorMary Hoffmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-82230627130361311282013-05-03T12:50:12.614+01:002013-05-03T12:50:12.614+01:00Hello! I simply would like to offer you a huge thu...Hello! I simply would like to offer you a huge thumbs up for the excellent information you have got here on this post.I am returning to your site for more soon. Check out my web blog ; <a href="http://www.paulmaccotter.com" rel="nofollow"> irish surnames</a>Alinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01769920008239959024noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-47482703046854098222012-10-15T16:51:16.611+01:002012-10-15T16:51:16.611+01:00Leslie - I empathise - my dad opted for my unusual...Leslie - I empathise - my dad opted for my unusual spelling. (Mind, if I'd been the son he wanted instead of a disappointing daughter, I'd have been Michael Jr, or just Junior, no doubt!)Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15888298679182871669noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-18539949923210265752012-10-15T16:37:15.281+01:002012-10-15T16:37:15.281+01:00Bridget, I remember being fascinated by my husband...Bridget, I remember being fascinated by my husband telling me about a village in the Glens of Antrim where everyone had the same name..<br />As for John, when my eldest daughter was small, if she wasn't sure of a man's name she would call him 'John' as a default option. 'Hans' which is a derivative of Johann or Johannes, is a similar kind of common denominator in German folklore, hence 'Lucky Hans.'<br />Michele, I sympathise! People are always spelling my name Lesley, or even getting angry with me for spelling it the way I do. 'It's not normal.' Particularly the older generation can get really shirty about it..and I didn't even choose to spell it that way, it was my parents. And I would rather they'd called me Sophie...Leslie Wilsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15105465949970430998noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-78239641063598261472012-10-15T08:26:50.827+01:002012-10-15T08:26:50.827+01:00Loved this blogpost - very interesting. I came acr...Loved this blogpost - very interesting. I came across 'Galyon Hone' when researching my novel and as soon as I saw it the character jumped into life - it was such a powerful name. Names are so fascinating. Thanks - will check out the books mentioned.Joss Alexandernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-38844914257193687782012-10-14T09:33:33.781+01:002012-10-14T09:33:33.781+01:00I love that, Bridget! And that's very interest...I love that, Bridget! And that's very interesting, both about local surnames and about the tradition of naming after grandparents being a factor in siblings bearing the same name. That may well have been a factor in English naming practices too. Many thanks for commenting.H.M. Castorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08716936870601385683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-30432323096959867882012-10-13T23:28:39.947+01:002012-10-13T23:28:39.947+01:00Common names most give rise to a rich variety of n...Common names most give rise to a rich variety of nicknames. In Ireland surnames have remained regional throughout the centuries (I suspect because people tended to leave the island of Ireland rather than migrate within in it) so you often find villages dominated by two or three surnames. Added difficulties arise because up until relatively recently it was traditional to name first son after the paternal grandfather, second son after maternal grandfather etc etc so there could be numerous John O'Sullivan's (for example) in a village and in the graveyard.<br />Me? I quite like my name (second daughter, named after maternal and much loved grandmother) because it together with my married name creates a combination that, while not especially unusual, is now so old fashioned if you google me, my website is usually in the top three. I also tend to get to know other BWs. There's a lovely one in Melbourne with a similar email address who sometimes tells my creative writing students off when they write to beg another week's grace in handing in a short story homework... Bridget Whelanhttp://bridgetwhelan.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-75204376934504075222012-10-13T12:35:06.858+01:002012-10-13T12:35:06.858+01:00When I first saw the name "Adele Geras",...When I first saw the name "Adele Geras", it made me think of a ballet dancer - definitely not a fat opera singer! And I thought it was French.Ann Turnbullhttp://www.annturnbull.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-11412059436890660282012-10-12T22:04:56.225+01:002012-10-12T22:04:56.225+01:00What a great name!What a great name!H.M. Castorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08716936870601385683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-12350547491876780842012-10-12T20:02:25.142+01:002012-10-12T20:02:25.142+01:00In my adopted family's background there was a ...In my adopted family's background there was a Tempest Pollard -I wonder what images that conjures up for you?K.M.Lockwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07540392557430776265noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-60076152188266579482012-10-12T19:52:33.426+01:002012-10-12T19:52:33.426+01:00Blimey, Mark, yes! Thanks for the clip. And thank ...Blimey, Mark, yes! Thanks for the clip. And thank you all for a brilliant collection of very interesting comments. Adele, isn't it fascinating how we get feelings or images about names? And how much they can differ. 'Adele' doesn't conjure a fat opera singer for me! And I'd love to read your names book, Mary - I will look for it. <br /><br />Many thanks to everyone!H.M. Castorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08716936870601385683noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-45743222834888383062012-10-12T19:04:29.363+01:002012-10-12T19:04:29.363+01:00Perhaps not a good idea to be called 'Storm...Perhaps not a good idea to be called 'Storm':<br />http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-19930269Mark Burgessnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-43661597244952401252012-10-12T15:32:08.154+01:002012-10-12T15:32:08.154+01:00Daphne is my middle name and I like it a lot bette...Daphne is my middle name and I like it a lot better than my first name which is a pain because I have to keep telling people about the accent. But even without the accent, Adele reminds me of a fat opera singer...which is a bit what I'm like I suppose.Daphne is a very SLIM sort of name!adelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15826710558292792068noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-48164450183724456412012-10-12T11:15:18.464+01:002012-10-12T11:15:18.464+01:00As a child I was very "bovvered" by my n...As a child I was very "bovvered" by my name! It was the commonest girl's name then and I thought it was plain and boring. I wanted to be Melissa, or Chloe, or Daphne. But I have come to terms with Ann, and now feel it's a good, classic, indeed queenly name, even if it's not fashionable at the moment. (And my family call me Annie, which I like.) Ann Turnbullhttp://www.annturnbull.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-30946186870658825412012-10-12T10:32:31.944+01:002012-10-12T10:32:31.944+01:00I wrote a book about names in the 80s. Fascinated...I wrote a book about names in the 80s. Fascinated by them. I once upset an ex boyfriend by saying John, which was what he was called, was "a waste of a name"!Mary Hoffmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06241989732624913706noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-68447530176863591152012-10-12T10:30:25.157+01:002012-10-12T10:30:25.157+01:00Fascinating stuff Harriet, thank you. As someone w...Fascinating stuff Harriet, thank you. As someone who enjoys family history research, I can only agree how useful it is to come across more unusual names. There are many Johns, Jameses and Williams in my tree and not one Minty, Happy or Toilet. The best I can do is Cornelius Flood Woodman, a music teacher. I imagine him as the typical Victorian gent, side whiskers and starched collar.Mark Burgesshttp://www.markburgess.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-72583887172553306852012-10-12T10:01:28.633+01:002012-10-12T10:01:28.633+01:00Fascinating. Although interesting, I think, that ...Fascinating. Although interesting, I think, that so few fictional heroes are called John, certainly in the romance genre which is where I wear my other hat (am probably opening myself up to a blast at my ignorance here!) I wonder if John wasn't considered particularly high status. There was only one King John, and we know what happened to HIM! <br /><br />I'm sure there's a thesis to be written on names. I've been fascinated by variety of names in records from Elizabethan York, for instance. A surprising number Arthurian names and my favourite, a smith called Hercules Welbourne. Jessica Harthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08665523780886208301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-79803859921357418342012-10-12T09:28:42.166+01:002012-10-12T09:28:42.166+01:00I love Anvilla! And yes, my mother and her two si...I love Anvilla! And yes, my mother and her two sisters were/are all known by their middle names... I have no idea why. Katherine Langrishhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12529700103932422873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-2389421183020961732012-10-12T09:26:37.042+01:002012-10-12T09:26:37.042+01:00Love it! And as you say, all those Johns are a nig...Love it! And as you say, all those Johns are a nightmare for genealogists. I fell with joy on a Skeffington and a Clevansy when I found them in my family tree.<br />Great post.Laurienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-57050507668631303072012-10-12T08:45:17.061+01:002012-10-12T08:45:17.061+01:00Fascinating - thank you!Fascinating - thank you!Joan Lennonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15763862159032836768noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5502671101756463249.post-7902941368462887732012-10-12T08:37:23.239+01:002012-10-12T08:37:23.239+01:00As a child/teenager, I got sick to death of people...As a child/teenager, I got sick to death of people singing "Michelle, my belle" at me. I won't even bother mentioning the fact that even after knowing me for years, some people still misspell my name to the more common 2 Ls variant. And even at nearly 44, I *still* keep my eyes open for folks who spell it with the one L - like Michele Dotrice.Michelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15888298679182871669noreply@blogger.com