Aptronyms

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Aptronym, a word allegedly coined by United States newspaper columnist Franklin P. Adams, refers to a name that is aptly suited to its owner. Fictional examples of aptronyms include Mr. Talkative and Mr. Worldly Wiseman in John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress.

Real-life and fictional people can also have aptronyms. Some notable examples:

Michael Ball, footballer, currently at Manchester City

Britt Barefoot, punter for The University of Southern Mississippi college football team

Layne Beachley, Australian world champion surfer

George Best, one of the best footballers for Manchester United, and also in history

Samantha Bond, a Bond girl in 4 films of the James Bond films, playing Miss Moneypenny

Brian Cashman, general manager of the New York Yankees, who consistently have the highest payroll in MLB

Margaret Court (born Margaret Smith), tennis player

Thomas Crapper, manufacturer of Victorian toilets. (Note that the word "crap" predates Mr Crapper. See main article on Thomas Crapper for details)

Cecil Fielder and son Prince Fielder, baseball players

Eric Gagne, Canadian-born major league baseball pitcher, whose last name translates from French to "win"

Learned Hand, judge

Henry Head, an English neurologist

Derek Jeter, New York Yankee shortstop (Jeter is French for "to throw")

Chip Jett, professional poker player

Mort Kunstler, American painter, whose name in German directly translates as "artist"

Mario Lemieux, French-Canadian NHL Hall-of-Fame player, whose name in French directly translates as "The Best"

Chuck Long, former NFL quarterback for the Detroit Lions and the Los Angeles Rams

Bill Medley, singer, one half of The Righteous Brothers

Chris Moneymaker, winner of 2003 World Series of Poker

Anna Smashnova, tennis player

Margaret Spellings, Education Secretary under George W. Bush

Larry Speakes, presidential spokesman under President Ronald Reagan

Lake Speed, former Nascar driver

Scott Speed, former Formula One, GP2 and A1GP racing driver

Charlie Spikes, former Major League Baseball player

Mack Strong, NFL fullback

Willie Thrower, former NFL quarterback

John Tory, leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party

Bob Walk, former Major League Baseball pitcher

Tiger Woods, golfer (Wood is a type of golf club)

William Wordsworth, poet

Other ExamplesIn 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. A sampling from the list:

James Bugg, exterminator

Dan Druff, barber

Rev. James R. God, minister of the Baptist Church in Congress, South Carolina

Priscilla Flattery, Environmental Protection Agency publicist

Bill Headline, Washington, D.C. bureau chief for CNN

C. Sharpe Minor, an organist

U.S. Navey, member of the United States Marine Corps

Quentin Jammer NFL Corner back

Certain others of some amusement can also be found. One such is a one-time tower captain of St Paul's Cathedral, Dundee, whose surname was Bellchamber

Some aptronyms are ironic rather than descriptive. The former Archbishop of Manila, Jaime L. Sin known as "Cardinal Sin," is a notable example. Dickson's book also lists a Rev. Richard Sinner of Fargo, North Dakota. Other issuesAptronyms may be called "aptonyms" by other writers. San Francisco columnist Herb Caen used the term "namephreaks". Washington Post columnist Bob Levey prefers the term PFLNs, or Perfect Fit Last Names.

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[Saiyan]

And I.P.Knightly - Author of "Rusty bed springs"