Month: May 2020

Expecting a baby and looking for a classic, retro name? As we begin the 2020’s, try taking a look back at the roaring 20’s for baby names and inspiration. Here are 200 common male and female names used throughout the 1920’s, listed in order of most to least popular, as recorded by the United States Social Security Administration.

1. Robert and Mary
2. John and Dorothy
3. James and Helen
4. William and Betty
5. Charles and Margaret
6. George and Ruth
7. Joseph and Virginia
8. Richard and Doris
9. Edward and Mildred
10. Donald and Frances
11. Thomas and Elizabeth
12. Frank and Evelyn
13. Harold and Anna
14. Paul and Marie
15. Raymond and Alice
16. Walter and Jean
17. Jack and Shirley
18. Henry and Barbara
19. Kenneth and Irene
20. Arthur and Marjorie
21. Albert and Florence
22. David and Lois
23. Harry and Martha
24. Eugene and Rose
25. Ralph and Lillian
26. Howard and Louise
27. Carl and Catherine
28. Willie and Ruby
29. Louis and Eleanor
30. Clarence and Patricia
31. Earl and Gladys
32. Roy and Annie
33. Fred and Josephine
34. Joe and Thelma
35. Francis and Edna
36. Lawrence and Norma
37. Herbert and Pauline
38. Leonard and Lucille
39. Ernest and Edith
40. Alfred and Gloria
41. Anthony and Ethel
42. Stanley and Phyllis
43. Norman and Grace
44. Gerald and Hazel
45. Daniel and June
46. Samuel and Bernice
47. Bernard and Marion
48. Billy and Dolores
49. Melvin and Rita
50. Marvin and Lorraine
51. Warren and Ann
52. Michael and Esther
53. Leroy and Beatrice
54. Russell and Juanita
55. Leo and Clara
56. Andrew and Jane
57. Edwin and Geraldine
58. Elmer and Sarah
59. Peter and Emma
60. Floyd and Joan
61. Lloyd and Joyce
62. Ray and Nancy
63. Frederick and Katherine
64. Theodore and Gertrude
65. Clifford and Elsie
66. Vernon and Julia
67. Herman and Agnes
68. Clyde and Wilma
69. Chester and Marian
70. Philip and Bertha
71. Alvin and Eva
72. Lester and Willie
73. Wayne and Audrey
74. Vincent and Theresa
75. Gordon and Vivian
76. Leon and Wanda
77. Lewis and Laura
78. Charlie and Charlotte
79. Glen and Ida
80. Calvin and Elaine
81. Martin and Anne
82. Milton and Marilyn
83. Lee and Kathryn
84. Jesse and Maxine
85. Dale and Kathleen
86. Cecil and Viola
87. Bill and Pearl
88. Harvel and Vera
89. Roger and Bessie
90. Victor and Myrtle
91. Benjamin and Alma
92. Wallace and Beverly
93. Ronald and Violet
94. Sam and Nellie
95. Allen and Ella
96. Arnold and Lillie
97. Willard and Jessie
98. Gilbert and Jeanne
99. Edgar and Eileen
100. Oscar and Ellen
101. Gene and Lucy
102. Jerry and Minnie
103. Douglas and Sylvia
104. Johnnie and Donna
105. Claude and Leona
106. Don and Rosemary
107. Eddie and Stella
108. Roland and Mattie
109. Everett and Margie
110. Maurice and Genevieve
111. Curtis and Mabel
112. Marion and Janet
113. Virgil and Geneva
114. Wilbur and Georgia
115. Manuel and Bonnie
116. Stephen and Carol
117. Jerome and Velma
118. Homer and Lena
119. Leslie and Carolyn
120. Glen and Mae
121. Jessie and Jennie
122. Hubert and MAria
123. Jose and Christine
124. Jimmie and Arlene
125. Sidney and Peggy
126. Morris and Marguerite
127. Hugh and Opal
128. Max and Sara
129. Bobby and Loretta
130. Bob and Harriet
131. Nicholas and Rosa
132. Luther and Muriel
133. Bruce and Eunice
134. Junior and Jeanette
135. Wesley and Blanche
136. Rudolph and Carrie
137. Alexander and Emily
138. Franklin and Beulah
139. Tom and Billie
140. Irving and Dora
141. Horace and Roberta
142. Willis and Hilda
143. Patrick and Naomi
144. Steve and Anita
145. Johnny and Jacqueline
146. Dean and Alberta
147. Julius and Inez
148. Keith and Delores
149. Oliver and Fannie
150. Earnest and Hattie
151. Ben and Lula
152. Jim and Verna
153. Tony and Cora
154. Edmund and Constance
155. Lyle and Madeline
156. Guy and Miriam
157. Salvatore and Ada
158. Orville and Claire
159. Delbert and Mamie
160. Billie and Lola
161. Phillip and Rosie
162. Clayton and Erma
163. Otis and Rachel
164. Archie and Mable
165. Alex and Flora
166. Angelo and Daisy
167. Mike and Sally
168. Jacob and Marcella
169. Clifton and Bette
170. Bennie and Olga
171. Duane and Caroline
172. Matthew and Laverne
173. Clinton and Sophie
174. Dennis and Nora
175. Wilbert and Rebecca
176. Dan and Estelle
177. Jay and Irma
178. Marshall and Susie
179. Leland and Eula
180. Merle and Winifred
181. Ira and Eloise
182. Nathaniel and Janice
183. Ivan and Maggie
184. Ervin and Antoinette
185. Jimmy and Nina
186. Irvin and Rosalie
187. Alton and Imogene
188. Lowell and Lorene
189. Dewey and Olive
190. Larry and Sadie
191. Emil and Regina
192. Antonio and Victoria
193. Wilfred and Henrietta
194. Elbert and Della
195. Juan and Bettie
196. Alan and Lila
197. Allan and Fern
198. Lonnie and Faye
199. Nelson and Johnnie
200. Forrest and Jeanette

Give your child an old school name and contribute to a new wave of flappers and bootleggers!

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First and last names have obvious uses, but why do we use a middle name? Historically the reason why a person has a middle name is linked with how the middle name itself was chosen. The ancient Romans are believed to be the first to use three names, but it wasn’t the same as middle names today.

Roman “Middle” Names

Karen Stern, Historian at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, explains that initially Romans “used a praenomen or personal name; a nomen, or family name, which ‘has the same placement as a middle name but has a different function’; and a cognomen, which… was a nickname indicating an attribute or, eventually, what branch of a family you were from.” In other words, what we would consider our given name is what they used as their first name. Today’s last name would have been their middle, and their nickname was their used last.

So, if Tiger Woods had been Roman, he would have been “Eldrick Woods Tiger.” It doesn’t quite have the same ring, does it? This being said, not all Romans had three names. Women got two, and slaves had only one. As time went on, Roman aristocrats began using the nickname to detail the child’s lineage instead of their nickname.

Italian Middle Names

The use of middle names fell out of popularity until the late thirteen century, when the Italian elites brought back the practice of using a child’s name to spell out the child’s pedigree. Think of it as a type of medieval advertising: my daughter’s bloodlines are impeccable, choose her for your daughter-in-law.

This time however, rather than using a cognomen as the Romans did, they tucked those family names in between the child’s given and last names. And of course, once the popular kids do something, everyone else wants to do it as well. All social classes were using middle names by the end of fifteenth century. During this spread the how of a middle name also changed; after all, lower social classes were less concerned about bloodlines.

Their use of middle names was about protection, and people chose a saint’s name for their child in the hope that the name would provide a celestial shield. Who can blame them – who wouldn’t want a little bonus protection against the Black Death?

Modern Middle Names

A population explosion during the nineteenth century gave people a new reason to give their child a middle name – for differentiation. A middle name was used to not only set your son apart from all the other boys named “John Smith,” but also to express the parents’ ambitions, creativity, and curry a little favor with the relations.

Today middle names are chosen for many of the same reasons: to distinguish a child from parent (“George H.” and “George W.” Bush), to keep a family name alive, to express creativity – or act as a backup just in case the first name doesn’t appeal to the child as an adult (we see you Apple and Coco), to settle a naming disagreement between parents, or because it’s considered fashionable. As popular as middle names are, you might think that a middle name is required, but it’s not. In fact, some states like Connecticut, Michigan, and Nevada don’t require the child’s name to be listed on the birth certificate right away, and give the parents a couple of years to choose a name.

So then, what should we keep in mind when we choose our child’s name? Here are few thoughts:

How does it sound? Say it out loud. A lot. Does it roll off the tongue? There’s some old southern advice that recommends you stand on your front porch and shout your child’s name. Does the name carry? Think about the future when you’ll be shouting like an idiot to get your child’s attention.

Is it easy to pronounce? Write the name down and ask friends to read and say it. Can they do so easily? If not, maybe you’ve tried a little too hard to make the spelling unique.

Will the name fall out of fashion (again, Apple and Coco)? This could cause problems in the future. When asked about his name, former President Obama has said, “I got my first name from my father, and I got my middle name from someone who obviously didn’t think I’d ever run for president.”

When all’s said and done, how and why a name was chosen is beside the point. As W.C. Fields said, “It ain’t what they call you, it’s what you answer to.”

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Many Scottish surnames date all the way back to the Middle Ages. Medieval naming customs have shaped most of our present-day surnames, and the mingling and blending of families from all over the British Isles have spread and preserved the prominence of these names. 

This is a follow-up post to our Common Surnames in Scotland post that received so much attention last week – we hope you enjoy this one too!

Parts of Scottish Names

During the Middle Ages, patronymic names (a name given after the father) were popular the world over, and in Europe especially. Often these names had some form of the meaning “son of” attached to them. The extremely prevalent surname Johnson, for example, means “son of John”, which dispersed like wildfire after the popularization of Christianity, and with it the given name John (or Johanan in Hebrew). 

In Scottish Gaelic and Irish, the prefixes “Mac” or “Mc” were used to denote the meaning of son, such as McCormick or MacPherson. Several Gaelic names were often anglicized, contributing to the version we hear today. 

Other types of surnames were bestowed upon the bearer depending on their profession. Baker, Potter, Mason, and Fisher all fall under the umbrella of occupational names. While not the most creative manner of name-giving, in medieval times it was certainly useful to label the various townspeople with their trades. However, this is indeed why there are so many of these sorts of surnames still floating around, as every town ended up having its own baker, potter, etc. 

Scottish Surnames

Every year Scotland keeps records of the most common surnames based on the registered births, deaths, and marriages. According to the most recent record of 2019, here are the top 10 most common Scottish surnames: 

1. Murray

The surname Murray is thought to derive from the county of Moray, where the clan lived. They are considered to be descended from MacAngus de Moravia, who was the first Earl of Murray. 

2. Taylor

An example of an occupational surname, Taylor, as you might expect, was the name for a tailor. However, it actually originated from the Norman French word taillour, and was most likely brought to Scotland after the Norman invasion of England in the 11th century. 

3. Anderson

The history of the name Anderson is an entirely fascinating one, as the Andersons were born amongst the ancient Dalriadan clans on the western coast of Scotland. The name comes from the given name Andrew, and shows that the Andersons are descended from Mac Ghille Andreis, who was the servant of St. Andrew, the Patron Saint of Scotland. 

4. Robertson

Like Anderson, Robertson is a patronymic name meaning “son of Robert”, and recurrently, the Robertsons also come from the ancient Dalriadan kingdom in the west. Yet their history might even be more compelling than that of the Andersons. Initially they were the abbots of Dunkeld; Abbot Crinan, the grandson of the first Robertson abbot, married the king’s daughter, who gave birth to King Duncan I of Scotland, (who was later killed by the infamous MacBeth). 

5. Thomson

The Thomson family originates from the border between Scotland and England. The first written record of a Thomson was in the early 1300s, in the historic county of Ayrshire. The name itself derives from the personal name Thomas. 

6. Campbell

This surname probably has the most amusing history of any on this list, as it evolved from two Gaelic words; cam, meaning “crooked” and beul, meaning “mouth”. Therefore a Campbell was a nickname for someone with a crooked mouth or smile. 

7. Stewart

This indubitably royal name began as an occupational label, signifying a steward who was in charge of a noble household, and later developing into the highly eminent Clan Stewart of the Highlands, which eventually ruled as famous Scottish and British monarchs. 

8. Wilson

Another patronymic name, the Vikings brought this surname to medieval Scotland, where it first surfaced on written record in the early 1400s. 

9. Brown 

An English, Irish, and Scottish name, Brown derives from the Old English or Old French brun, meaning someone with brown features such as hair or eyes. It has also been thought to be a translated version of the Gaelic donn.

10. Smith

Smith is not only the most common surname in Scotland, but also in the entire United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia as well, speaking to the true pervasiveness of this name. The main reason for the fact that there are so many Smiths nowadays is that during the Middle Ages, in each town there were often several kinds of smiths, as a smith was someone who worked with metal. Therefore blacksmiths, goldsmiths, arrowsmiths, tinsmiths, and more might have all been present within one village. 

Although none of the typical “Mac” or “Mc” names made it on to the Top 10 list for 2019, MacDonald was number 11, and has indeed been one of the top 10 in other recent years. 

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A person’s lineage can often be determined by their last names. They help people find out their ancestors’ profession, languages they knew, the number of years they lived, the education they had, and the place where they resided. This has been proven by tracing the lineages of people with rare surnames through public records, like genealogical records. Furthermore, a family name can be used to determine a family’s position in the social hierarchy. Below is a rundown of 10 last names that suggest a history of wealth.

Cash

The Cash last name has a Scottish origin and is derived from Caschel, which means castle in Gaelic language. In the 13th century, its variation Casche was adopted by a Scottish earldom. Cash became a common name by the late 16th and early 17th centuries. The name became popular in the 20th century because of the singer Johnny Cash.  

Franc 

Franc is a popular European surname that is associated with wealth. One of the strongest legal tenders in the world is the Swiss Franc. Swiss banks are renowned for their banking policies. Countries such as Belgium, France, and Luxembourg also had their respective Franc currencies before they were replaced by the Euro. Franc is sometimes spelled as Frank. The last name Franc precisely means free in the French language. 

Yen

Yen is the currency used in Japan, which means craving for something. Many people have Yen as their last name in China. Donnie Yen is a popular Hong Kong actor with this surname. Yen is also common in Asian countries like Vietnam and Cambodia. On the other hand, Yen means calm in Vietnamese. In Vietnamese culture, swiftlets are known as chim yen, where chim stands for a bird.

Banks

Banks is a popular last name that is linked with wealth. It was the last name of the teen character in the spy comedy film Agent Cody Banks. The story of Mary Poppins revolves around the Banks family. Banks is the name of the affluent family in the 1990’s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Apart from fictional characters, many notable people also have this surname.

Jackson

The 20 dollar bill of the United States features Andrew Jackson, the 7th president of the country. This is one of the reasons why so many parents are willing to give their children this as a first name as well. Furthermore, the name is also adopted by many as it was shared by the king of pop Michael Jackson. The last name is linked with aristocracy as the literal meaning corresponds to the son of Jack.

Hamilton 

The last name originates from a village called Hamilton in England, where people adopted it as their family name. On the other hand, some have descended from the aristocratic Hamilton family. Alexander Hamilton Is featured on the 10 dollar bill of the United States, who was one of the founding fathers of the nation. Moreover, he was the first secretary of the treasury. This is why Hamilton is linked with wealth.

Phoenix 

Phoenix is a popular family name that is associated with affluence. It was the currency used in Greece during the 19th century. The name symbolizes a special bird in the Greek mythology that lives, then burns to death, and finally comes back to life from the ashes. The name has a growing popularity, thanks to the award-winning actor Joaquin Phoenix.

Bond

Bond is an Old Norse name that was brought to England by the descendants of the Vikings known as the Normans during the 11th century. The name Bond stands for a farmer or a husbandman. Ruskin Bond is a prominent Indian author who has this surname. Bond is regarded as a classy surname, thanks to the fictional spy named James Bond. It is a financial jargon as well, which is a form of debt security similar to stocks.

Mark 

This last name has been popular throughout time as it is one of the first four gospels of the New Testament. The surname was a prominent family name in the German state of Prussia during the 16th century. It is also linked with money because marks were the currencies in countries such as Germany, Sweden, Finland, and Poland at different time-periods. At present, the mark currency is only used in Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Penny 

Penny is a famous last name in North America that is associated with prosperity. All know it as the lowest denomination of the U.S. currency, where hundred pennies will be equal to one dollar. This currency unit is also used in several other English speaking nations. Penny is one of the main characters of the sitcom The Big Bang Theory. This name has been derived from Penig, which means coin in Old English.

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Have you ever wondered what the most common last names in your state are? You might be surprised to find that the answer often has a lot to do with the history of the state.

The states of New England have an incredibly rich history, seeing as they were among the first states to exist in the United States. In fact, they were English colonies far before they even became states. Colonized by Britain in the early 17th century, the colonies’ inhabitants mostly consisted of Puritans and Pilgrims that immigrated to escape religious persecution. 

There are 6 recognized states that comprise New England: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island. Vermont and Maine were not technically included in the original 13 colonies, however their territories were.

Most Common New England Surnames

Many of the most common last names of New England date all the way back to this colonial time. Indeed, even as far as medieval England. Let’s explore the 10 most common surnames in New England and where they come from. 

1. Sullivan

The first name on the list comes directly from the Emerald Isle. This Irish surname evolved from the O’Sullivan clan and before that, from the Irish Gaelic O’Suileabhain. Sullivan is actually the 3rd most common name in Massachusetts specifically, thanks to the huge influx of Irish immigrants starting in the early 1800s. They formed what is currently the largest ethnic group in Boston, and contributed to the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day all over the country. 

2. White

Although the Normans from Normandy (today part of France) did not yet have crepes suzette and croissants to contribute when they invaded England in the 11th century, they did bring along the name Le Blanc, which then translated into the current term. 

3. Wilson 

Wilson is a name brought by Vikings to medieval Scotland. Several Wilsons arrived to the American colonies, including an Andrew Wilson, who landed in Boston in 1651. Last names ending with the suffix “son” usually always meant that the person was the son of (the prefixed name). Wilson therefore means “son of William,” or “son of Wil.”

4. Miller

Miller was one of many surnames bestowed upon the person due to the profession they had, as was the custom in the time of the Anglo-Saxons. A miller was someone who worked in a mill. These millworkers spread through Scotland and England and then brought their trade skills and nomenclature to the New World. 

5. Davis

A Welsh patronymic name meaning “the son of David,” the surname increased in popularity in England. Then, many bearers of the name made the jump across the pond to colonial America, where it continued to spread. 

6. Jones

As the 5th most common last name in New England, it seems that the Joneses are rather keeping up with themselves. In fact, the name Jones sailed in on one of the world’s most influential tidal waves: Christianity. It originates from the name John, of bible eminence. 

7. Williams

Yet another medieval name, and yet another name meaning “the son of William.” There surely were a lot of Williams who had a lot of sons, and continue to do so, in fact. 

8. Johnson

You can probably guess by now that Johnson means “son of John.” It hails from England, Ireland, and Scotland, but has many foreign counterparts, like the Swedish “Johansson” and the Italian “Di Giovanni”. There are several records of Johnsons arriving to colonial New England, such as Davy Johnson to Massachusetts in 1630, Edmond Johnson in 1635, and Adam Johnson in 1738. 

9. Brown

The origins of this name aren’t quite as exhilarating as one might hope; from Norman roots, it means “a person who has brown hair or brown eyes”. Names back then were not nearly as imaginative as they’ve become today. Nevertheless, it holds the second-place slot in New England for most common. While Johnson is more prevailing in 33 other states in the rest of the country, Brown takes the silver for New England. 

10. Smith

Smith is not only the most common last name in New England, but also the most common in the entire U.S.A. Originating from England, it means exactly what you might think: someone who works with metal. It is yet another of the many professions attributed to people as a surname, but according to today’s prevalence, it seems like there was either once an extraordinary boom of metalsmith workers, or the Smiths certainly knew how to reproduce. Of course, many people are familiar with the famous John Smith of Pocahontas fame. While the real story wasn’t quite as cheery as the Disney version, Captain John Smith certainly was a notable figure in the American colonies and just one representative of the ever-frequent last name. 

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Are your ancestors from Scotland?  Is MacBeth your favorite play by Shakespeare?  Have you ever wondered whether everyone wearing a kilt really has a last name starting with “Mac”?  A recent census showed that surnames in Scotland haven’t changed too much in the last century and a half.  Which names are the most common?

Patterns in Scottish Surnames

Most of the family names in Scotland aren’t that different than last names in the rest of the U.K. or, for that matter, most of America.  However, there are strong geographical trends — for instance, close to the border with Ireland, more and more families unsurprisingly have Irish names like McLaughlin, Kelly, or O’Donnel.  Another strong trend is that names like Macleod are common in the Western Isles, while Macdonald is the most popular family name in the Highlands.  The stereotype does hold across most of the land, as about 12% of the people in Scotland have a last name that starts with some form of Mc or Mac.  In Orkney, meanwhile, the more popular names are Sinclair and Rendall.

Overall numbers for MacDonald

Taking all of Scotland into account and not just the Highlands, MacDonald is actually only the 9th most popular name.  This name is derived from Gaelic and once meant “son of Domhnall”, but was changed when turned into English.  Today, the Donald Clan is one of the largest in Scotland, and has many branches.  In Ireland (and America), the name is more commonly written as McDonald, but the origins are the same.  The motto of Clan Donald is “By sea and by land”, and their historic seat is Finlaggan Castle.

Of the Clan MacLeod

For all you Highlander fans, it sadly turns out that MacLeod is not particularly common when taken in Scotland as a whole (as mentioned earlier, though, it’s the #1 name in the Western Isles).  Literally meaning “Son of Leod”, this name goes all the way back to the 1200s.  The motto of Clan MacLeod is “Hold fast” and their historic seat is Castle Dunvegan.  Curiously, there are also a lot of Canadians with indigenous Cree blood who go by this surname; it turns out that it was used as an Anglicization of Mahkiyoc, which just means “big one” in Cree.

The History of Stewart

Fifth most common name in all of Scotland and first most common name in the regions of Kinross, Perth, and Sterling, this is one of the oldest names on the list — possibly predating the 7th century.  The surname Stewart is believed to derive from Walter fitz Alan, who relocated to Scotland during a time of troubles known as “The Anarchy”, and ended up becoming the “High Steward”, or guardian, of all Scotland.  The motto of Clan Stewart is “Courage grows strong at a wound”.  Clan Stewart has no clan chief, but their principal branch is the Earls of Galloway, whose seat is Cumloden House.

The Clan of Campbell

The fourth most common name across all of Scotland and one of the most powerful clans, the chief of the Campbell clan eventually became the Earl and later the Duke of Argyll.  Their clan motto is “Forget not” and their historic seat is Castle Campbell.  The Campbell clan dates back to the 13th century and is connected to the legendary Celtic hero, Diarmuid “the Boar”.  Their early lands were in East and Central Scotland, but spread wider over the years.  At one point they were dominated by the MacDougal clan, who killed their chief in battle; all Cambell chiefs since that time have memorialized their fallen chief, Colin, in their patronymic.  

Smith, Brown, and Wilson

The actual most common names in all of Scotland are these somewhat common-sounding English names.  Smith, the actual most popular name in the whole place, once denoted someone as being a blacksmith by trade.  Brown, the most common name in southern Scotland, was originally just used to refer to brunettes.  Wilson, meaning “son of Will”, is another very common name in Scotland and everywhere else in the English world.  Will, often short for William, in turn comes from the German word for “desire”.  Wilson is also quite common as a last name in some regions of Ireland where Scottish immigration has historically been higher.

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Given the fact that most of us Americans have a European background, it is no surprise that many of our last names are European. But why is it that people from other backgrounds have these names as well? History can be strange and intriguing, as shown by these 6 historical last names in American history.

Jackson

The name Jackson is heard all the time. Andrew Jackson was a president whose face is on the $20 bill, so many Americans see his face everyday. Michael Jackson was the ‘’King of Pop’’ who passed away over 10 years ago. A couple of little-known facts about the last name Jackson:

• It was common among African-American soldiers in Australia during WWII. As a result, it quickly became a slang term used by the Australians.
• Slave masters weren’t particularly imaginative in giving their slaves new names, so a lot of them were named after Andrew Jackson, who himself was a slave owner.

Kennedy and Lincoln

Kennedy and Lincoln will forever be linked in the American psyche. The man who freed the slaves was of course Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln had a secretary named Kennedy. President Kennedy had a secretary named Lincoln. Both were elected to congress in years ending in 46, and both were president in years ending in 60.

Both were shot by men who were born in the year ending in 39. Lincoln was shot in a theatre and his assassin was caught in a storehouse. Kennedy was shot by a man in a storehouse and his assassin was caught in a theatre. The number of strange coincidences is one of America’s weirdest tales – read more about it here.

Washington

The most famous name in all of American history is Washington, which of course refers to George Washington. Newly-independent nations like to honor their founding fathers, and we in America really did go all the way when it came to naming places after him. There is the capital, and then there is the state, which always confuses foreigners. There are 29 cities named after Washington, 24 post offices, and much more!

Muhammed Ali

Muhammed Ali is recognized as being one of the greatest boxers of all time, having won the title on 3 separate occasions. He was known just as much for his talking as his boxing and was one of the most famous people on the planet at his peak. His original name was Cassius Clay, which he changed because he thought it was a ‘’slave name’’ which is interesting since Cassius Clay was a Kentucky politician who worked for the abolition of slavery in the 19th century. And the Muhammed Ali of Egypt was an Albanian Ottoman who was regarded as the founder of modern Egypt in the early 19th century who captured slaves and exploited them. So… Muhammed Ali the boxer is recognized as a great boxer, but as a historian, well, we just don’t understand some of his perspectives I suppose.

John Henry

John Henry is part of the American folk tradition, having reputed to be a railroad worker whose job it was to make holes for explosives inside of railroad tunnels. He is reckoned to be an African-American who worked in West Virginia from 1870 to 1872. A ballad was composed in his honor as a result of him competing against a machine to drill holes, after which he died from exhaustion. Dwayne Johnson recently played him in a film called John Henry and the Statesmen. A very famous racehorse called John Henry raced in the early 1980’s and became famous for his late finishes. Patrick Henry was a governor of Virginia who is famous for uttering the line ‘’Give me liberty, or give me death’’. He certainly didn’t provide any liberty for his slaves!

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A wide variety of fascinating and mind-boggling things have happened throughout history, some so bizarre that you might not believe them to be real. Stories of complete strangers with an astonishing connection, predictions that came true, uncanny patterns… coincidences in this world are everywhere, and most seem as though they come from a story or movie, rather than straight out of real life. 

Here are 6 strange name coincidences that have happened in history, all of which are absolutely true. 

1. Edgar Allen Poe’s Eerie Prediction

In 1838, the famous writer and poet Edgar Allen Poe wrote a book called The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Nym of Nantucket. In the story, 4 sailors get shipwrecked and decide to kill and eat the cabin boy, whose name is Richard Parker. 46 years later, a real-life shipwreck occurred on a yacht called Mignonette. The 4 men also decided to kill and eat one amongst them: the cabin boy. His name? Well of course, Richard Parker. 

2. The Twins that Lived Parallel Lives

In 1979, two twins who had been separated at only 4 weeks of age and adopted by separate families reunited when they were 39-years-old. But this reunion was struck with more than just excitement. They discovered that both twins had been separately named James by their adoptive families. Both had had childhood dogs named Toy. Both had similar interests in carpentry and math, and both had pursued careers in security. Stranger still, both had married a woman named Linda, gotten divorced, and gotten remarried to a woman named Betty. Their sons were named James Alan and James Allan. They even vacationed with their families at the same Florida beach. 

3. The Loch Ness Monster’s Fan is Foiled

British naturalist Sir Peter Scott was so convinced of the existence of the Loch Ness monster, that he gave it a scientific name: Nessiteras Rhombopteryx. He was very proud and excited by his name invention until a London journalist discovered that one anagram of the name is actually: “monster hoax by Sir Peter S”.

4. The Reincarnated Survivor

On December 5, 1664 in the Menai Strait off the coast of Wales, a boat with 81 passengers was shipwrecked. There was only one survivor: a man named Hugh Williams. A little over a century later, on December 5, 1785, another ship capsized in the Menai Strait, this time with 60 people. Again there was one lone survivor: Hugh Williams. Finally, on August 5, 1820, a small boat of 25 people was run down on the Thames, yet again with only one surviving person. You guessed it- Hugh Williams. 

5. The Titanic and a Time Machine?

In yet another case of an author predicting a shipwreck, in 1898, 14 years before the famous Titanic sinking, Morgan Robertson penned a novel called The Wreck of the Titan: or, Futility. The plot focuses on an ocean liner named the Titan, which is described as “unsinkable”, and which hits an iceberg in the North Atlantic and sinks. But the similarities don’t end there. Both ships were about the same length, both were traveling at about the same speed (25 knots), both held about the same number of passengers, and both sunk exactly 400 nautical miles from Newfoundland. 

6. U.S. Presidents and their Assassins

Many unbelievable parallels have been drawn between the circumstances surrounding the assassinations of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy, and the findings are so odd, it’s no wonder many believe it was some kind of conspiracy. The following is a list of coincidences between the lives and deaths of Lincoln and Kennedy:

• Abraham Lincoln was elected to Congress in 1846. John F. Kennedy was elected to Congress in 1946. 
• Lincoln was elected to the presidency in 1860. Kennedy was elected in 1960.
• Both presidents were shot in the back of the head, in the presence of their wives, on a Friday, the weekend before a major holiday. 
• Both of the names Lincoln and Kennedy contain 7 letters.
• Both of the names Lee Harvey Oswald and John Wilkes Booth contain 15 letters. 
• Both assassins performed the assassinations from their places of work (John Wilkes Booth was an actor at Ford’s Theater; Lee Harvey Oswald worked at the Texas School Book Depository.)
• Both presidents died at a location with the initials P.H. (Lincoln at Petersen House, Kennedy at Parkland Hospital).

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Sometimes parents make choices for their kids’ names that just seem odd to everyone else.  Of course, one person’s “strange” is another person’s “normal.” This is especially true in other languages. When I visited China, I learned that my given name can be translated there as “Big Noodle,” and you can bet that made the locals laugh. Here are twelve odd names, or at least oddly long names, to be found in the Western world:

1.  Maximilianus

As if the name “Maximilian” wasn’t already long enough, this variant adds two more letters to the end.  It’s a pretty bold thing to name your kid, since it translates from the original Latin as “the greatest.” You probably don’t think you know anybody who goes by this. But have you tried asking your friend Max what’s on their birth certificate?

2.  Named after a Light Fixture

The name Crystal isn’t that odd, although snobs will sometimes associate it with lower-class Americans.  However, one of the fanciest examples of this name ever was in the 1940’s when Bill, the founder of the Lear Jet company, named his daughter “Crystal Shanda”.  This is one of those times where you have to say her full name out loud to get the joke.  

3.  Bartholomew

This name means “son of Talmai”, which probably doesn’t really make you feel any more informed than you were five minutes ago. It turns out that Talmai is a lesser-known name from the Bible and was used to address one of the giant Nephilim. If you decide on Bartholomew for your own child, I urge you to try to get “Barth” to stick as a nickname, rather than “Bart.” It’s an acceptable variant, I swear!

4.  Ah, the 60’s

Anybody familiar with Frank Zappa could have guessed he was going to name his kids something strange. Zappa is already a weird surname to build off of. Well, his daughter, born before America won the Space Race by putting Neil Armstrong on the Moon, was named “Moon Unit” Zappa.  I would have assumed she had to go through some therapy over that, but apparently she’s an accomplished actress and singer, and has now started to release space-themed albums, so I guess she’s cool with it.

5. Round Table Names

Aballach is an odd-sounding name that comes from a somewhat obscure character in the tales of King Arthur and his knights.  The literal meaning is “orchard,” but in this case it probably referred to the mythical island of Avalon.

6.  What’s Your Job Again?

The actor Jason Lee named his son “Pilot Inspektor” Lee.  You’re going to have a hard time finding something stranger than that.

7.  A Memorable Location

In New Zealand, a baby was given the legal name “Number 16 Bus Shelter.” Does that sound male or female to you?  I’m more interested in finding out the story of what happened to make that particular bus shelter so memorable for the parents.

8.  A Hot One

The name Ignatius, related to “fire,” will have people wondering how to pronounce your son’s name.  Apparently it’s becoming quite popular with celebrities.

9.  Another Biblical Name

Sure to get your child called last during class roll call, Zachariah means “God has remembered.” He’ll probably end up going by Zach, which isn’t too bad.

10.  High expectations

Sarcastic C-list celebrity, Seanbaby, finally got around to having kids. He did not disappoint. He’s proudly named his daughter Rebel Timecop.  I’m assuming she’s going to have to start early with the kickboxing lessons if she’s going to live up to that one.

11.  Anastasia

We might think this name is a little too long in America, but it’s quite common in Russia.  You might have seen the animated movie about the long-lost heiress with this given name, which they often shorten to the also odd-sounding “Nastya.”

12.  That’s Long for “Mud”

Fans of the odd band, Primus, may remember a character going by the unlikely moniker “Alowishus Devadander Abercrombie.” Alowishus is actually more common than you might think, especially since you might think Les Claypool just made it up.  Speaking of weird, what kind of a name is Les Claypool anyway?

These extra long and crazy names are different for sure. But, at least for the entertainment value, we’re sure glad they’re around. 

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Most common names find their origins from languages like Arabic, Greek, Hebrew, Latin, and Persian. But what about… cars?! Some creative car enthusiasts have named their children after cars, and although it may seem a little eccentric, it’s not a new trend.

Also, consider that there are few car brands that have been named after their founder or historical figures, so you can’t always tell if a person has been named after the car or the car’s namesake without asking the parents. Nevertheless, it is fun to take a look at how many names may have been influenced by car brands. The following are some of the most common first names that match car brands:

Cooper

Cooper is one of the most common first names that go beyond cars. The history of the name goes back to the 1960s when a British company known as the British Motor Corporation (BMC) produced the performance versions of the Mini: the Mini Cooper and Cooper S. The Mini was a small compact car that catered to the masses, owing to its low price, operation, and maintenance. This is why there are so many individuals named Cooper, especially men. It was later owned by British Leyland and Rover Group. At present, it is owned by the German automotive company BMW.

Lincoln

Lincoln is a luxury car brand of the American automobile giant Ford. The car brand was established in 1917, named after Abraham Lincoln, the 16th American President. There are various products manufactured by Lincoln, such as SUVs, sedans, and crossovers. Lincoln’s limousine versions are used as official state cars for American presidents. Apart from North America, the car is widely sold in the Asian markets. Mostly baby boys are named Lincoln.

Mercedes

Mercedes is a name for girls, which has been influenced by Mercedes-Benz, an automobile company that manufactures luxury cars, buses, trucks, ambulances, and coaches. Between 1970 and 1990, there was an explosion in the number of baby girls given this name. This is one such name that is remembered by all. Mercedes was a brand of the German automobile manufacturer – DMG, which began its production in 1900.

Ford

Ford is a robust single-syllable name, which gives the aura of a brawny personality or car. The Ford Motor Company, more popularly known as Ford, is an automaker that manufactures sedans, SUVs, pickup trucks, and tractors. The company was established around 1903 by Henry Ford. The car brand is renowned for its muscle cars, such as Ford Mustang and pickup trucks such as the F150 and Ranger. These powerful vehicles inspire many to give their baby boys this name.

Royce

Royce is a common name given to males by many parents as it symbolizes the zenith of luxury and classy preference. The name is inspired by the British luxury automobile manufacturer Rolls-Royce, which was established by Henry Royce and Charles Rolls in 1906. This car brand also manufactured aircraft engines apart from luxury cars. The striking feature of the Rolls-Royce fleet of cars is that their manufacturing involves more of human craftsmanship and less robotics.

Genesis

Genesis is one of the top names for girls, although it is a unisex name. Genesis was created in 2015 as the luxury brand of the South Korean automotive manufacturer Hyundai Motor Company. The name generally denotes the first book of the Torah. The intriguing fact about this car is that it took three years for development with a whopping cost of half a billion dollars for the whole program. Furthermore, the car is aesthetic and resilient (great crash-test results). This is why many consider this to be a good name.

Bentley

Bentley is one of the most common first names for boys as well as girls. The name comes from the British manufacturing company – Bentley Motors Limited, which manufactures luxury SUVs and cars. This car brand was founded in 1919 by the Bentley brothers. Bentley is associated with royalty because it is manufactured from expensive materials and assembled manually.

Lexus

Lexus is a fairly common female name inspired by the car brand. It was launched as the luxury brand of the Japanese automotive manufacturer Toyota in 1989, after which the name soared in popularity. Lexus is one of the bestselling luxury cars around the globe. The company manufactures both sedans and SUVs. The secret to the success of this luxury brand is its high resale value, reliability, dependability, and durability. Lexus also scores well in the aesthetics department, thanks to its amazing lamplight along with the cool spindle grille. Many people choose this name due to the versatility of the car.

While these names have an automotive origin, they seem to be able to stand the test of time, and any of them would make a great name, whether you’re are a car enthusiast or not.