New Scientist magazine coined the terms "nominative determinism" or "aptonyms" to describe the phenomenon of people whose names reflect their jobs - or rather, who end up working in areas that reflect their names (hence the "determinism"!).
An example might be a plumber called Pipe. Real life instances abound.
A great one recently included in New Scientist's 12 February 2005 Feedback section: the noise and vibrations engineer for the Queensland Electricity Commission, Australia used to be someone called Ron Rumble.
Ones I've come across myself - there's a finance director called Stephen Purse. And an RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds) warden called Partridge.
Added on 17 February 2005: In London there's a dentist called Blood-Smyth. And a surgeon named Hack! More of a homonym for an almost aptonym, but have you heard of the sexologist and author whose surname is Heiman?
Contributions from others to add to the list would be welcome, and will be duly credited - just email me (link in the footer) or post a comment!
Update: for more examples of nominative determinism and other funnies see
- Interesting names
- Another great name
- Nominative determinism 4
- Nominative determinism 5 and similar stuff
- Nominative determinism 6
- Nominative determinism 7 and other funnies
- Nominative determinism 8
- Nominative determinism 9
- Nominative determinism 10: dogs lead in Barking, woof woof!
- Funny cut-off name
- Funny food name
- Funny food name 2
- Funny patent decision: soul power, maaaan!
- Silly names - Cornwall Records Office
Technorati Tags: Humour, Humor, Funny, Aptonyms, Nominative Determinism
17 comments:
When I was young enough to be dragged to church by my parents, the pastor there was named Reverend Lord.
Good lord, no!
I know a Gynecologist whose name is Dr. Fred S. Grabiner. I kid you not.
That's hilarious, psychic pilot! Wouldn't go to him, I don't think...
There's a cosmetic surgeon in America called Dr. Alter.
Indeed, Jim, Though hopefuly the Berliner Philharmoniker (I like that, "moniker"!) make a better sound than a rattle...
I thought I'd seen a word coined for doing the opposite of your name, like your Cardinal Sin example (though I love the combo of "Cardinal" and "Sin" making up that standard phrase too). I saw it in New Scientist. But I really can't remember what it is! Though I do recall another term New Scientist suggested for "nominative determinism" is "axionyms" or "axionymy" (rather than the more common "aptonym" or "aptronym").
Anti-aptronym? Anti-aptonym?
The new weather chick in Chicago on Fox is Amy Freeze; her first day on the job it was like 15 below 0...
Thanks anon, great one, very apt indeed - both the name and the circumstances!
There's the footballer Robbie Fowler ...
David Dollar, the World Bank's country director for China
http://www.mg.co.za/article/2008-12-02-chinas-growth-to-hit-19year-low
An excellent example must be Lord Judge (formerly Igor Judge) who is now Lord Chief Justice (you don't get much more judgey than that).
I once read a case report with a Sergeant Constable in it.
Excellent indeed, thanks crowcity, Gerard and Francis!
The groundskeeper of King's College Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia, When I attended, was a Mr Gardener.
I know a journalist in Spain caled Dave Bull, which i think is a double bubble...if ya think of it..
According to a NY Times article (Councilman Charged With Money Laundering, Feb 9, 2010), a NY councilman has retained a lawyer named Murray Richman. Definitely an appropriate name for a lawyer.
In high school I had a dentist named Dr Payne, and I once worked with a girl whose gynecologist was named Dr Rape. Currently there is a Veterinarian here in Tampa, FL name Dani McVety. You can google her. It's sing-songy like Dr McDreamy from Greys Anatomy.
Ih finchley north London there is a dentist named Dr Fang.
While in the SF Bay area there is a urologist named Dr Dong!
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