For the past few
days I’ve been tweaking (not twerking) my lecture on language for my classes
next week, specifically the topic of names. Everyone can relate to
exploring a name, or names in general, by thinking about them as words.
While browsing the
library last week, I found a book titled “The Name Game, a Look Behind the
Labels,” by Donna M. Jackson, illustrated by Ted Stearn, Viking, 2009. As you might have guessed, the book is geared
toward young readers, but makes the exploration into names fun for everyone.
I learned that words
with the suffix “nym” or “onym,” originate from the Greek word onoma, which
means name. It can refer to a specific type of name, or describe the
relationship between words or names.
Some examples include:
Mononym: a one-word
name, such as Rihanna.
Autonym: a person’s
real name, as opposed to his or her pseudonym. Samuel Langhorne Clemens is the
autonym. Mark Twain is the pseudonym.
Aptronym: a name suited
to its owner’s occupation or interests, such as oceanographer Dr. Fish, or
ophthalmologist Dr. See.
Eponym: Something named
for a person, like Pike’s Peak, after Zebulon Pike, Jr.
Synonym: Words with
the same or similar meanings: “Happy” is a synonym of “Cheerful.”
So the next time you
are naming characters, places or other objects in your fiction, take time to
think about the name you use. Names matter.
Write soon,
Mary
