Other Names

Nicknames may be either descriptive terms or pet names. Descriptive terms, such as Happy and Ginger usually express a person’s prominent characteristics. Physical characteristics account for the largest group of nicknames. Sometimes they go by contraries, as when a big, strong person is called Tiny. Sometimes a nickname results from a child’s attempt to pronounce a word or name, as Lilibet for Elizabeth. A nickname may also be a translation of the person’s real name.

Pseudonyms are fictitious names assumed for anonymity or for effect. A pen name is the pseudonym of a writer. Many prominent authors have assumed pen names. For example, Voltaire was the pen name of François Marie Arouet.

An alias usually refers to the name taken by a criminal to disguise his or her identity. Incognito means the use of a fictitious name by a person, usually a celebrity, to avoid being recognized.

Stage names are names that some entertainers assume in their professions. The French actress Sarah Bernhardt’s original name was Rosine Bernard. Many film stars have also changed their names.

Task 4. Provide answers for the following questions.

1. How many names do people in most countries have?

2. What name is borne by all members of the family?

3. A person’s family name is their legal name, isn’t it?

4. What languages provided a source of most common Christian names?

5. What most common names were taken from:

1. the Bible?

2. Greek and Latin?

3. Teutonic (Germanic) languages?

6. How did people use to get their names in the past?

• Well, their names came from .....

7. What’s the most common family name in English? How did people use to get it?

8. What are typical prefixes and suffixes of Irish, Scottish, English and Scandinavian names?

9. What do the prefixes and suffixes in bold mean in the following names?

O’ Henry McCartney Johnson Jensen Petrovich Romanescu

10. What are nicknames/ pseudonyms/stages names?

11. What is an alias?

12. What Russian equivalents would you suggest for the following:

... James Peterson, alias John Brown...

13. How do you think their ancestors got their family names?

John Baker James Cook Herr Müller Herr Shcmidt Pan Jurek Vasay Kuznetsov

Task 5. Most people prefer to be called by their shortened first names. Below there are some names which are given in full. Can you work out their shortened equivalents? Write them in the spaces.

Alexander ......................................... Margaret ........................................... Samuel ............................................. Elizabeth .........................................

William ......................................... Philip ........................................... Stephen .......................................... Patricia ..........................................

These are all short forms of English names. Do you know what the original name is?

Chrissy/Chris

Bill/Willy

Jen

Dick/Rich

Dave

Bob/Bobby

Chuck/Chucky/Charley

Matt

Liz/Libby

Jim/Jimmy