Nominative determinism, or just a massive coincidence?
Nominative determinism, or just a massive coincidence?
Nominative determinism, or just a massive coincidence?
Nominative determinism, or just a massive coincidence?
We wondered what author names would best fit certain books, and what book names would fit certain authors. This collection represents almost ten years of work, but won't take you that long to read.
What's in a name? Well, quite a lot, apparently...
Nominative determinism, or just a massive coincidence?
Nominative determinism, or just a massive coincidence?
Nominative determinism, or just a massive coincidence?
Nominative Determinism brings together from across time the dos and don'ts, taboos and customs, fashions and traditions, for naming a baby or person: how a good name brings luck and how a miss is as good as a mile. This book is practical and yet fun to read, full of precious references for parents planning to name their babies. Nominative Determinism: How Your Name Determines Your Fate brings together from across time the dos and don'ts, taboos and customs, fashions and traditions, for naming a baby or person: how a good name brings luck and how a miss is as good as a mile; the various ancient naming techniques using a person's five elements and Chinese zodiacs, supplemented by thought-provoking practical examples; analysis of names and sobriquets from historical and modern figures... This book is practical and yet fun to read. It does not only give you dinner conversation starters, but also precious references for parents and soon-to-be parents who plan to name their babies.
Too good to be true? Let's find out.
Nominative determinism, or just a massive coincidence?
We have gathered together a list of the most unfortunate names, from the USA and Canada to Singapore and South Africa. Some make you wonder how their parents could be so gullible.
Nominative determinism strikes again.
Too good to be true? Let's find out.
Explore Brett Jordan's 53763 photos on Flickr!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nominative_determinism Nominative determinism (ND) is the theory that a person's name can have a significant role in determining key aspects of job, profession or even character. It was a commonly held notion in the ancient world. Synonyms and/or related concepts include: aptronym, apronym, aptonym, jobonyms, 'namephreaks', onomastic determinism, 'perfect fit last names' (PFLNs), psychonymics and, classically, the notion that nomen est omen, or όνομα ορίζοντας. Tom Stoppard in his play Jumpers labelled the phenomenon cognomen syndrome. A related term, to refer to a name peculiarly suited to its owner, is aptronym, said to have been coined by the US newspaper columnist Franklin P. Adams. The distinction between cognitive determinacy and a mere aptronym is seen as subtle but fundamental: i.e. post hoc vs propter hoc. ND researchers are sometimes referred to as comiconomenclaturists — connoisseurs of humorous names. Research into nominative determinism Bennett, HJ. (1992-12-02). "A piece of my mind. Calling Dr Doctor". JAMA 268 (21): 3060. doi:10.1001/jama.268.21.3060. PMID 1306061. Balestra, DJ. (1993-04-07). "Dr Doctor calls back". JAMA 269 (13): 1637. doi:10.1001/jama.269.13.1637c. PMID 8455293. Hug, Hr. (1993-04-07). "Dr Doctor calls back". JAMA 269 (13): 1637. doi:10.1001/jama.269.13.1637b. PMID 8455294. Casler, L. (1975). "Put the Blame on Name". Psychol Rep 36 (2): 467–472. doi:10.2466/pr0.1975.36.2.467. Christenfeld, N; Phillips DP, Glynn LM (September 1999). "What's in a name: Mortality and the power of symbols". J Psychsom Res 47 (3): 241–254. doi:10.1016/S0022-3999(99)00035-5. PMID 10576473. Cole, C (2001-02-09). "Is work calling your name?". George Street Journal 25. Dickson, P. (1996). What's in a name?. Springfield MA.: Merriam-Webster. ISBN 0-87779-613-0. Joubert, CE. (1985). "Factors Related To Individuals Attitudes Toward Their Names". Psychol Rep 57 (3): 983–986. doi:10.2466/pr0.1985.57.3.983. Luscri, G; Mohr PB (June 1998). "Surname effects in judgments of mock jurors". Psychol Rep 82 (3): 1023–1026. doi:10.2466/PR0.82.3.1023-1026. Michalos, Christina (2009-04-02). "In the Name of the Law". Counsel Magazine - the Journal of the Bar Council: 16–18. Murphy, WF (1957). "A Note on the Significance of Names". The Psychoanalytic Quarterly 26: 91–106. Nuessel, F (1994). The Study of Names. Greenwood Press. ISBN 0-313-28356-7. Slovenko, R (1983). "The Destiny Of A Name". Journal of Psychiatry and Law 11 (2): 227–270. Slovenko, R (April 1980). "On naming". Am J Psychother 34 (2): 208–219. PMID 7386692. Strumpfer, DJW (1978). "Relationship Between Attitudes Toward Ones Names And Self-Esteem". Psychol Rep 43 (3): 699–702. doi:10.2466/pr0.1978.43.3.699. Pelham, B; Mirenberg, Matthew C.; Jones, John T. (2002). "Why Susie sells seashells by the seashore: Implicit egotism and major life decisions". Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 82 (4): 469–487. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.82.4.469. PMID 11999918.
What happens when your name is perfectly reasonable in your home country, but raises a sympathetic smile when you're abroad?
Nominative determinism, or just a massive coincidence?
I've yet to meet a Miss Baker who turns out splendid cakes or a Mr Plummer who can fix a leak in a trice but I have always been fascinated by nominative determinism. You know, the phenomenon whereby a person's name fits their chosen path in life. So when a perfectly fabulous name crossed my path yesterday I knew he had to be the subject of a piece of fiction. So here is a short piece about a character named Dangerous! I tried so hard not to roll my eyes as the five millionth person asked the same question. 'So, are you strong and dangerous?' This was the question everyone I had ever met had asked me and as I had done every time I was asked it I cursed my stupid family for landing me with the name Armstrong Dangerous. If you're being picky about it I'm Armstrong Dangerous III but as I'm not from Miami I don't use the numbers. In the Midlands if you were to use numbers at the end of your name you'd spend the whole time explaining away the Chinese Burn marks or pulling your underwear from your arse. So I leave that part out until I know someone well enough for them not to snigger when saying my name. Why my father decided to stick me with a name that had cursed his childhood years I have no idea. Maybe he thought as he'd had to suffer so should his eldest child. Yes, that's right. Even if I'd had the good fortune to be born a girl he was planning to land me with Armstrong. Possibly as a middle name according to my mother but I'm not sure I believe her. After all, she didn't stand up to him when he decided that I was to be called Armstrong without even a middle name to fall back on. Anyway, back to the story. I failed to avoid rolling my eyes and I think I even sighed dramatically when the hulking new boy asked if my name really was Armstrong Dangerous. I managed to get the first two syllables of my standard explanation out before his massive right fist forced all the air out of my lungs and dropped me to my knees. I sucked air in, wiped the tears from my eyes and looked up into his lard face. 'Loser! My baby sister is more dangerous than you.' He pushed an open ham hand onto my forehead and applied enough pressure to knock me onto my back. I lay on the grass, winded and humiliated and listened to the laughter. Another day, another set of bruises. Being called Dangerous is no fun when you aren't. So there he is, my new friend Armstrong Dangerous, laying in the dirt and wishing he was called John Smith. I wonder is there are other adventures I can take him on?
Too good to be true? Let's find out.
Too good to be true? Let's find out.
Too good to be true? Let's find out.
What's in a name? Well, quite a lot, apparently...
We have gathered together a list of the most unfortunate names, from the USA and Canada to Singapore and South Africa. Some make you wonder how their parents could be so gullible.
Cedric Walker had a long, distinguished career as a professor. As retirement gifts go, this Nissan Cedric is about as perfect as it gets.
These are the fascinating mugshots of Edwardian drunks which reveal that binge-drinking was a problem in Britain more than 100 years ago.
We have gathered together a list of the most unfortunate names, from the USA and Canada to Singapore and South Africa. Some make you wonder how their parents could be so gullible.
We have gathered together a list of the most unfortunate names, from the USA and Canada to Singapore and South Africa. Some make you wonder how their parents could be so gullible.
We have gathered together a list of the most unfortunate names, from the USA and Canada to Singapore and South Africa. Some make you wonder how their parents could be so gullible.
Welcome to 2019.
Are people with the last name Cook more likely to work as chefs? Nominative determinism is the phenomenon that the name a person is given may have a significant impact on their path in life.
Too good to be true? Let's find out.
Too good to be true? Let's find out.
I guess this is not going to be too amusing for all the Dicks, Kuntzs, and Hookers out there but for the rest of us, well… We all know how sticks and stones may hurt bones, but some names can be mildly amusing—especially if there is something childishly funny about them. You know the kind of thing, old favorites like “Mike Hunt” or “Mike Hock” or even “Amanda Gobble.” Now, these names are quite amusing on their own but what about those individuals whose surnames when placed together create an unfortunate double or even single entendre like this fine bunch of happy couples, to whom I wish all happiness. At first, I first thought some of these must be photoshopped but after checking up on a few of them via newspaper wedding banns it turns out they’re (let’s say mostly) legit. Authors often claim they spend hours searching for suitable and unusual names for characters—who knew they had to look no further than the social pages of the local paper? Via Pleated Jeans, Vintage Everyday, and Reddit. ...
Names. We all have them and names are not the same everywhere in the world. In Myanmar names used to consist in only one syllable, it’s only in the recent years that they started adopting names with two-three syllables: Ko, Mi, Min, Minh, Sa, Saya, U. Names usually offer information about persons, their social status, … Continue reading "How Your Name Influences You"
Too good to be true? Let's find out.
What's in a name? Well, quite a lot, apparently...
