Aptronym, a word allegedly coined by US 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 people can also have aptronyms. The astronaut Sally Ride is one familiar example. The poet William Wordsworth and tennis player Margaret Court are other famous aptronym-holders.
In 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:
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.
Aptronyms may be called "aptonyms" by other writers. Washington Post columnist Bob Levey prefers the term PFLNs, or Perfect Fit Last Names. There does not yet seem to be a standard terminology for this linguistic curiosity.
References
- "aptronym." Encyclopędia Britannica. 2005. Encyclopędia Britannica Premium Service. 30 Mar. 2005. [1]
- Dickson, Paul. What's in a Name? Reflections of an Irrepressible Name Collector. Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996. ISBN 0877796130
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