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Uncover the world of onomastic variations and cryptonyms explored by Don L. F. Nilsen and Alleen Pace Nilsen. This linguistic adventure delves into aliases, anagrams, blendings, associations, and more, spanning from superheroes like Superman to cultural figures such as Prince. Discover the hidden meanings behind names and the playful naming conventions found in literature, brand names, misspellings, and shortened phrases. Dive into the fascinating realm of names and their ever-evolving variations.
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Onomastic Variation By Don L. F. Nilsen and Alleen Pace Nilsen
Acronyms, Initialisms and Numbers O. J. Simpson ( was known as the juice and was a spokesman for Orange Juice). Tony Dorset had the initials T.D. meaning “touchdown.” Note that Siddhartha Gautama and Jesus of Nazareth are known by their roles—Buddha and Christ or Savior. In Peanuts there are characters named 3, 4, and 5.
Aliases (a.k.a.) Barry Humphreys, Bruce Banner, Bruce Wayne, Clark Kent, Peter Parker, Wolverine Dame Edna, The Hulk, Batman, Superman, Spiderman; Wolverine’s aliases depend on the situation Note that Superman has to become Clark Kent to keep from being a superhero, while Bruce Wayne hides his identity by becoming Batman. Prince the artist formerly known as Prince. He is also known as “The Love Symbol.”
Then there are the doppelgangers, like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Tweedledum and Tweedledee, and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. There are also code names like POTUS for Barack Obama FLOTUS for Michelle Obama Sawhorse for Al Gore Angler for Dick Cheney Evergreen for Hillary Clinton Phoenix for John McCain.
Anagrams In the Lemony Snicket books, Count Olaf is an anagram of Al Funcoot Foreman Flacutono and Dr. O. Lucafont. In the Harry Potter books, Tom Marvolo Riddle is an anagram of “I am Lord Voldemort.”
Aptronyms in John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress • Christian • Faithful • Mr. Brisk • Mr. Great Heart • Mr. Honest • Giant Despair • Giant Grim • Madam Bubble • Mr. Despondency • Mr. Moneylove • Mrs. Bats-Eyes
Brand NamesBlendings Efferdent toothpaste Danskin tights Allerest allergy medicine Slimnastics Mylanta antacid medicine
Associations Chevrolet Lumina Honda Acura Mitsubishi Precis Nissan Maxima Nissan Altima Sentra Car Volkswagen Jetta
Mexico City Zoo: • Ying Ying • Washington D.C. Zoo: • Ling Ling • Hsing-Hsing • London Zoo: • Chia-Chia • As a mark of affection, Chinese parents often give their children double names. • Since Pandas are native only to China, Pandas also receive double names.
Misspellings Sunkist Oranges Jello Dessert DieHard Batteries Evenflo baby bottles Klos kids’ clothing Mop & Glo cleaner Sew n’ Vac repairs
“X-Rated” Brands Sinex medicine Sominex medicine Xerox Kotex Clorox Exxon Kleenex Ford Ranger XLT Hyundai Excel
Character Names • In Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind she had a character named Pansy. • On the advice of her editor she changed the name to Scarlett O’Hara.
Cryptonyms James Bond, Karl Malone 007, The Mailman (because of his number 32, the cost of a stamp at that time, and because “he delivers!”) In Get Smart Maxwell Smart was Agent 86 and his sidekick was Agent 99.
Gender Identifications Authors like S. E. Hinton and J. K. Rowling use initials. And Mary Evans George Eliot.
Toward Ethnicity Cassius Clay, Daniel Michaeli, David Cornwell, Jerry Rivers, Lesane Parish Crooks, Lew Alcindor, Susan Weaver Muhammad Ali, Danny DeVito, John Le Carré, Geraldo Rivera, Tupac Amaru Shakur, Kareem Abdul Jabar, Sigourney Weaver
Away from Ethnicity Aaron Chwatt, Avram Chomsky, Bernard Schwartz, Carlos Estevez, Carlos Ray, David Kaminsky, Dino Crocetti, Doris von Kappelhoff, Enrique Martin Morales, Frederick Austerlitz, Gerald Silberman Red Buttons, Noam Chomsky, Tony Curtis, Charlie Sheen, Chuck Norris, Danny Kaye, Dean Martin, Doris Day, Ricky Martin, Fred Astaire, Gene Wilder
Jacob Cohen, Jennifer Anastassakis, Joan Molinsky, Jonathan Leibowitz, Joseph Levitch, Larry Zeigler, Louise Ciccone Ritchie, Margarita Cansino, Melvin Kaminsky, Paul Rubenfeld, Raquel Tejada, Salvatore Bono, Winona Horowitz Rodney Dangerfield, Jennifer Aniston, Joan Rivers, Jon Stewart, Jerry Lewis, Larry King, Madonna, Rita Hayworth, Mel Brooks, Pee-Wee Herman, Raquel Welch, Sonny Bono, Winona Ryder
Toward Formality Andre Young, Dana Owens, Frances Gumm, Gary Keillor, James Bumbarner Dr. Dre, Queen Latifah, Judy Garland, Garrison Keillor, James Garner NOTE: We don’t normally go in this direction. We would prefer to be thought of as informal and maybe a bit off beat.
Away from Formality Aaron Chwatt, Allen Konigsberg, Caryn Johnson, Clerow Wilson, Cordazer Broadus, Dante Smith, David Atkins, Gordon Sumner, James Osterberg, James Smith, John Sanford, Joseph Keaton Red Buttons, Woody Allen, Whoopi Goldberg, Flip Wilson, Snoop Doggy Dogg, Mos Def, Sinbad, Sting, Iggy Pop, LL Cool J, Redd Foxx, Buster Keaton The rapper Christopher Wallace Notorious B.I.G. and then “Biggie Smalls.”
Away from Formality Curtis Jackson, Leonard Hackett, Louis Armstrong, Marshall Mathers, Marvin Aday, Milton Superman, Oshea Jackson, Otha Bates, Phyllis Driver, Robert Van Winckle, Salvatore Bono, Scott Thompson, Shelton Lee, Stanley Burrell, Tracy Morrow 50 Cent, Buddy Hacket, Satchmo, Eminem, Meat Loaf, Soupy Sales, Ice Cube, Bo Diddley, Phyllis Diller (note assonance), Vanilla Ice, Sonny Bono, Carrott Top, Spike Lee, M. C. Hammer, Ice-T
Away from Old Fashioned Herbert Gleason, Goldie Studlendgehawn, Malcolm Little, Marion Michael Morrison (also away from gender ambiguity) Jackie Gleason, Goldie Hawn, Malcolm X, John Wayne
Nicknames Donald, Edward, Elizabeth, Francis, Gerald, Harold, Jacqueline, John, Joseph, Josephine, Judith, Leonard, Lucille, Margaret, Marjorie, Melvin, Nicholas, Patrick, Richard, Robert, Salvatore, Samuel, Susan, Theodore, Thomas, William Don, Ed, Lizzy/Lisa/Beth/Betsy/Elsbeth, Frank, Jerry, Harry/Hal, Jackie, Johnny/Jack, Joe, Jo (in Little Women), Judy, Leo, Lucy, Maj/Margo/Maggie/Meg/ Marge/Peggy/Peg, Mel, Nick (this is his “nick-name,” Pat, Dick, Bob, Sal, Sam, Sue/Suzie/Suzie Que, Ted, Tom, Will/Bill/Billie
Patronyms (first names become last names) Brian, Casey, Connor, Donald, Gerald, Jack, John, Murry, Neil, Owen, Patrick, Reilly, Ryan, Will O’Brian, O’Casey, O’Connor, McDonald/O’Donald, Fitzgerald, Jackson, Johnson, McMurry, Neilsen/McNeil/O’Neil, Bowen (Ap Owen), Fitzpatrick, O’Reilly, O’Ryan, Wilson
Pen Names Charles Dodgson, Daniel Handler, Richard Bachman, Samuel Clemens Lewis Carroll, Lemony Snicket, Stephen King, Mark Twain And Theodore Seuss Geisel Dr. Seuss, Theo Le Seig, and Rosetta Stone
In the early 1800s, Louisa May Alcott’s father, Bronson, changed their family name. • The name Allcox became Alcott.
When Ernest Hemingway was in high school (1916-1917) he used all of the following pen names: • B. S. • E. H. • Ernest Hemingway • Ernest MacNamara Hemingway • Ernest Michaelowitch Hemingway • Ernest Miller Hemingway
Pet Names These names tend to be mild insults. Please tell us the pet names of people you know. For example: I have a cat that I call “Dipper Hips.” That’s my cat’s “pet name.” My own name is Don Lee Fred Nilsen, so people used to call me Dolphin (DLFN). When people call me Donald, I correct them by saying, “No, Donald is the duck.” In the army I went to German operas, so my buddies called me “Fledermaus.”