{{Short description|Person's name related to their profession}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}} thumb|A butcher's shop in Leerdam owned by "C. van der Ham"<ref>{{cite news |title=Nomen est omen - De naam als voorteken |url=https://historiek.net/nomen-est-omen-betekenis-en-voorbeelden/147983/ |access-date=7 December 2025 |work=Historiek |date=16 July 2025 |language=nl-NL}}</ref> An '''aptronym''', '''aptonym''', or '''euonym''' is a personal name aptly or peculiarly suited to its owner (e.g. their occupation).<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8ktiAAAAMAAJ&q=aptonym | title=The Study of Names: A Guide to the Principles and Topics | isbn=9780313283567 | last1=Nuessel | first1=Frank | year=1992 | publisher=Bloomsbury Academic | access-date=18 March 2023 | archive-date=18 March 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318224600/https://books.google.com/books?id=8ktiAAAAMAAJ&q=aptonym | url-status=live }}</ref> The word '''"euonym"''' (eu- + -onym), dated to late 1800, is defined as "a name well suited to the person, place, or thing named".<ref name="mw" />
Gene Weingarten of ''The Washington Post'' coined the word '''inaptonym''' as an antonym for "aptonym".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |author=Gene Weingarten |date=18 July 2006 |title=Chatological Humor* (UPDATED 7.21.06) |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/07/11/DI2006071100616.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904213102/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2006/07/11/DI2006071100616.html |archive-date=4 September 2017 |access-date=20 September 2017 |newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref>
==History== The ''Encyclopædia Britannica'' says that the term was allegedly invented by columnist Franklin P. Adams, who coined the word "aptronym" as an anagram of ''patronym'', to emphasize "apt".<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |year=2008 |title=aptronym |url=http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/30911/aptronym |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |edition=Encyclopædia Britannica Online |publisher=Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. |access-date=2008-07-19 |archive-date=11 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090511032659/http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/30911/aptronym |url-status=live }}</ref> The ''Oxford English Dictionary'' reported that the word appeared in a Funk & Wagnall’s dictionary in 1921, defined as "a surname indicative of an occupation: as, Glass, the glazier".<ref name=mw>[https://www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/aptronym-slang-definition Aptronym: Usage and Examples], Merriam-Webster</ref><ref>''The Desk Standard Dictionary of the English Language'', Funk & Wagnalls, 1921, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NPEOAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA495 p. 21]</ref> Psychologist Carl Jung wrote in his 1960 book ''Synchronicity'' that there was a "sometimes quite grotesque coincidence between a man's name and his peculiarities".<ref name=dick/><ref name="Colls BBC">{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9664000/9664697.stm |first=Tom |last=Colls |date=20 December 2011 |title=When the name fits the job |work=BBC News|access-date=26 July 2013 |archive-date=27 March 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210327002843/http://news.bbc.co.uk/today/hi/today/newsid_9664000/9664697.stm |language=en-GB |url-status=live }}</ref>
In the 1966 book ''What's in a Name?'', Paul Dickson, among other peculiar types of surnames, has a section on aptronyms which includes a list of aptronyms selected from his large collection. The latter originated from the one received from professor Lewis P. Lipsitt of Brown University and further expanded with the help of Dickson's friends, mostly from newspapers and phone books. Some newspaper columnists collect aptronyms as well.<ref name=dick>{{cite book| last1=Dickson| first1=Paul| title=What's in a Name? Reflections of an Irrepressible Name Collector| date=1996| publisher=Merriam-Webster| location=Springfield, Mass.| isbn=0-87779-613-0|url-access= registration| url= https://archive.org/details/whatsinnamerefle00dick|pages=25–34}}</ref>
== Notable examples == <!-- This is not a list article. DO NOT ADD EXAMPLES WITHOUT A RELIABLE SOURCE STATING THAT IT IS AN APTRONYM, PER CONSENSUS. --> <!-- Alphabetical order, please, and no fictional examples because those are done deliberately.--> * Jules Angst, Swiss professor of psychiatry, who has published works about anxiety (angst)<ref name="guardian">{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2014/oct/31/mind-your-language-nominative-determinism |title= Reckless by name, reckless by nature? (But at least he's not called Rich White) |last= Nunn |first= Gary |website= TheGuardian.com |date= 31 October 2014 |access-date= 29 July 2016 |archive-date= 7 March 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210307103120/https://www.theguardian.com/media/mind-your-language/2014/oct/31/mind-your-language-nominative-determinism |url-status= live }}</ref> * Michael Ball, English footballer<ref name="macmillan" /> * Layne Beachley, Australian former world champion surfer<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wighton |first=Sue |date=June 18, 2012 |title=Apt names pause to ponder fate |url=https://www.couriermail.com.au/ipad/apt-names-pause-to-ponder-fate/news-story/0d1f19eebb21c65149c94532e9fb4da9 |access-date=21 March 2024 |work=The Courier-Mail}}</ref> * Matthew Alan Beat, American internet personality who publishes music videos on YouTube<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stern |first=Melissa |date=2015-02-16 |title=Local teacher and students petitioning to meet President Obama |url=https://fox4kc.com/news/local-teacher-and-students-petitioning-to-meet-president-obama/ |access-date=2024-08-01 |website=FOX4KC}}</ref> * Alexander Graham Bell, developer of the telephone<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/aptronyms-2014-are-descriptive-monikers-coincidence-or-fate/Content?oid=2488690|title=Aptronyms 2014: Are Descriptive Monikers Coincidence or Fate?|first=Ken|last=Picard|language=en-US|date=2014-12-24|access-date=2020-12-07|archive-date=25 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125062844/https://www.sevendaysvt.com/vermont/aptronyms-2014-are-descriptive-monikers-coincidence-or-fate/Content?oid=2488690|url-status=live}}</ref> * Bert "Tito" Beveridge, founder of beverage company Tito's Vodka<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kirsch |first1=Noah |title=Inside Tito's Vodka: How A Man Named 'Beveridge' Built A $2.5 Billion Fortune |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2017/10/17/inside-titos-vodka-how-a-man-named-beveridge-built-a-2-5-billion-fortune/ |website=Forbes|access-date=16 February 2021 |archive-date=19 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819202028/https://www.forbes.com/sites/noahkirsch/2017/10/17/inside-titos-vodka-how-a-man-named-beveridge-built-a-2-5-billion-fortune/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * Ian Bishop, Church of England bishop<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-06-15 |title=Thetford to have Bishop Bishop after royal approval |language=en-GB |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-norfolk-65908765 |access-date=2023-12-02}}</ref> * Doctor Willard Bliss, physician who treated President James A. Garfield<ref>Bliss was named for an esteemed local physician, and so given the forename "Doctor", see {{cite journal | author = NYT Staff | year = 1881 | title = How Dr. Bliss Got His Name; From the Elmira Advertiser, July 7 | journal = The New York Times | format = print | issue = July 9 | url = https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1881/07/09/98564242.pdf | access-date = 2 February 2016 }}</ref> (his given name was "Doctor") * Sara Blizzard, meteorologist and television weather presenter for the BBC<ref name="guardian" /> * Usain Bolt, Jamaican sprinter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-aptronym-names-1689129|title=Aptronym - Definitions and Examples in English|last=Nordquist|first=Richard|access-date=30 May 2018|archive-date=14 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414174644/https://www.thoughtco.com/what-is-aptronym-names-1689129|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Strong-2021" /> * Gary Bowser, game console hacker sued by Nintendo, whose ''Super Mario'' villain is also named Bowser<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zeff |first=Maxwell |date=2024-02-02 |title=Nintendo Turned Gary Bowser Into a Real-Life Villain |url=https://gizmodo.com/how-nintendo-turned-gary-bowser-into-real-life-villain-1851220075 |website=Gizmodo |language=en-US}}</ref> * Doug Bowser, Former President of Nintendo of America, again in reference to the Super Mario villain Bowser<ref>{{cite news |last1=Cantor |first1=Matthew |title=Urologist Adam Weiner, runner Usain Bolt: can a last name determine your job? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/sep/17/aptronym-job-normative-determinism |access-date=14 February 2026 |work=The Guardian |date=17 September 2024}}</ref> * Russell Brain, 1st Baron Brain, neurologist<ref>{{Cite web |date=1995-05-07 |title=A FIELD DAY WITH APTLY NAMED WORKERS |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1995-05-07-9505070022-story.html |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref> * Rosalind Brewer, executive at Starbucks and former director at Molson Coors Brewing Company<ref>{{cite news| last=Berman| first=Laura| date=6 September 2017| title=Starbucks Adds Fittingly Named Rosalind Brewer, Sam's Club Veteran, as COO| url=https://www.thestreet.com/story/14295568/1/starbucks-adds-fittingly-named-rosalind-brewer-sam-s-club-veteran-as-coo.html| work=The Street| access-date=2017-09-14| archive-date=14 September 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914125146/https://www.thestreet.com/story/14295568/1/starbucks-adds-fittingly-named-rosalind-brewer-sam-s-club-veteran-as-coo.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| last=Noah| first=Timothy| date=17 May 2006| title=Wayne Schmuck, Used-Car Distributor| url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2006/05/wayne-schmuck-used-car-distributor.html| work=Slate| access-date=9 May 2022| archive-date=14 September 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914082617/http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/chatterbox/2006/05/wayne_schmuck_usedcar_distributor.html| url-status=live}}</ref> * Leon Brittan, former Home Secretary of the United Kingdom<ref>{{cite news |title=Brittan returns to Parliament as peer |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/584119.stm |access-date=14 April 2025 |work=BBC News |date=31 December 1999}}</ref> * Rosalind Canter, British Olympic equestrienne (woman who rides horses professionally), winner of the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games<ref>{{cite web |url=https://horsesport.com/magazine/profiles/eventing-world-champion-rosalind-canter/ |last=Young |first=Pamela |title=New Eventing World Champion: Rosalind Canter |date=November 30, 2018 |website=Horse Sport |quote=Having led the idyllic childhood existence galloping around the family farm... Canter emerged into adulthood, not only with an appropriate surname, but also with a solid basis for her chosen career. |access-date=July 27, 2024}}</ref> * Christopher Coke and his father Lester Coke, Jamaican drug lords and cocaine traffickers<ref>{{cite news |last= Haberman |first= Clyde |date= 2011-09-01 |title= When a Person's Name Means What It Says |url= https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/when-a-persons-name-means-what-it-says/ |work=The New York Times |access-date= 2 December 2018 |archive-date= 3 December 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20181203060041/https://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/when-a-persons-name-means-what-it-says/ |url-status= live }}</ref> * Thomas Crapper, British sanitary engineer often erroneously referred to as the inventor of the flush toilet<ref name="macmillan">{{cite web| work=MacMillan Dictionary| title=BuzzWord: Aptronym| date=4 March 2008| last=Maxwell| first=Kerry| url=http://www.macmillandictionary.com/buzzword/entries/aptronym.html| access-date=26 January 2017| archive-date=2 February 2017| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202042913/http://www.macmillandictionary.com/buzzword/entries/aptronym.html| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book| author=Wilton, David| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QQovEeLHVl0C&pg=PA137| title=Word Myths: Debunking Linguistic Urban Legends| publisher=Oxford University Press| year=2008| page=137| isbn=9780195375572| access-date=19 September 2020| archive-date=19 August 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819202028/https://books.google.com/books?id=QQovEeLHVl0C&pg=PA137| url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.historyextra.com/period/victorian/the-legend-of-thomas-crapper/ | title=Thomas Crapper: Who Was the Man Who Didn't Invent the Flushing Toilet? | HistoryExtra }}</ref> * Ed Currie, a world-record holding breeder of chili peppers, a primary ingredient in curry.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Gould |first1=Kenny |title=A Cautious Man's Guide to Hot Peppers |url=https://www.gearpatrol.com/food/a97289/visual-guide-peppers/ |access-date=17 October 2023 |work=Gear Patrol |date=22 September 2014}}</ref> * Mark De Man, Belgian football defender (marking an opposing player)<ref name="Colls BBC" /> * Helen DeWitt, comic novelist<ref>{{cite magazine | last1=Wood | first1=James | title=Helen DeWitt Has Your Number | magazine=The New Yorker | date=28 May 2018 | url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/06/04/helen-dewitt-has-your-number }}</ref> * Creflo Dollar, American millionaire and megachurch pastor<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3260500/8-richest-pastors-and-televangelists-2024-net-worths-ranked-td-jakes-joel-osteen-and-kenneth|title=8 of the richest pastors and televangelists of 2024 |last=Farah|first=Lynn|date=27 April 2024|quote=The appropriately named Dollar has been widely criticised for his extravagant lifestyle.}}</ref> * David Dollar, American economist<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2006/05/aptronym-watch-sue-yoo-too.html|title=Aptronym Watch: Sue Yoo Too!|last=Timothy|first=Noah|website=Slate|date=2 May 2006|access-date=3 December 2020|archive-date=25 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025144757/https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2006/05/aptronym-watch-sue-yoo-too.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Noguchi |first=Yuki |date=January 7, 2016 |title=Global Stocks Plunge After China Halts Trading |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2016/01/07/462293328/global-stocks-plunge-after-china-halts-trading |quote=That view was backed up by another China economic policy expert, the aptly named David Dollar.}}</ref> * Carla Dove, American ornithologist who specializes in bird strikes<ref>{{cite news|last=Faeth|first=Stan|title=What's in a name? Maybe a career|url=https://greensboro.com/opinion/columns/whats-in-a-name-maybe-a-career/article_4fe148e8-f84d-11e2-8894-0019bb30f31a.html|url-status=live|date=29 July 2013|work=Greensboro News & Record|archive-url=https://archive.today/20230419161458/https://greensboro.com/opinion/columns/whats-in-a-name-maybe-a-career/article_4fe148e8-f84d-11e2-8894-0019bb30f31a.html|archive-date=19 April 2023|access-date=19 April 2023|quote=Although it was a fascinating story in itself, I was more captivated by the ornithologist’s name, which is aptly Carla Dove.}}</ref> * Storm Dunlop, British meteorologist and author of ''How to Identify'' ''Weather''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Storm Dunlop |url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg17523516-200-storm-dunlop/ |access-date=2025-12-08 |website=New Scientist |language=en-US}}</ref> * Josh Earnest, the third press secretary for the Obama administration<ref>{{cite news| last1=Topaz| first1=Jonathan| title=Stephen Colbert to 'quitter' Jay Carney: Man up!| url=https://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/jay-carney-stephen-colbert-quitter-comedy-central-108107.html| access-date=17 January 2015| work=Politico| date=24 June 2014| quote=What a name for a press secretary. Josh Earnest. His name literally means, 'Just kidding, but seriously.'| archive-date=14 July 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714120917/http://www.politico.com/story/2014/06/jay-carney-stephen-colbert-quitter-comedy-central-108107.html| url-status=live}}</ref> * Norm Eisen, special council for ethics in the Obama administration, with a focus on norms in government<ref>{{Cite news |last=Liasson |first=Mara |date=2025-07-29 |title=President Trump is breaking or ignoring all sorts of presidential norms |url=https://www.npr.org/2025/07/29/nx-s1-5453777/president-trump-is-breaking-or-ignoring-all-sorts-of-presidential-norms |access-date=2025-07-30 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> * Rich Fairbank, American billionaire and CEO of the Capital One bank, which holds the Fairbanking Mark for offering fair banking products<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://fairbanking.org.uk/current-mark-holders-2018/|title=Historic Mark Holders|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=30 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200530114354/http://fairbanking.org.uk/current-mark-holders-2018/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=Lora Starling|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=LrMuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT45|title=Identify Yourself: The Logo for Your Life|date=11 July 2017|publisher=Balboa Press AU|isbn=978-1-5043-7658-7|pages=45–|access-date=3 September 2020|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819202029/https://books.google.com/books?id=LrMuDwAAQBAJ&pg=PT45|url-status=live}}</ref> * Cecil Fielder and Prince Fielder, father-and-son baseball players (fielder)<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-people-with-literal-names/jordan-love| title=Famous People with Literal Names| last=Love| first=Jordan| access-date=30 May 2018| archive-date=27 January 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180127182350/https://www.ranker.com/list/famous-people-with-literal-names/jordan-love| url-status=live}}</ref> * Jeff Float, American swimmer<ref>{{Cite news |title=Caulkins gave 'em five |language=en-us |work=Sports Illustrated Vault {{!}} SI.com |url=https://vault.si.com/vault/1979/04/23/caulkins-gave-em-five-although-weakened-by-a-virus-tracy-caulkins-americas-leading-female-swimmer-didnt-come-up-short-at-the-short-course-nationals-establishing-five-us-records |access-date=2023-10-31}}</ref> *Bob Flowerdew, British gardener and TV/radio presenter<ref name="Colls BBC" /> * Amy Freeze, American meteorologist<ref name="slate">{{cite web|url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/03/how-trump-s-name-is-an-aptronym.html|title=Do Our Names Shape Our Destinies? Trump's Might.|last=Johnson|first=Theodore R.|work=Slate|date=14 March 2016|access-date=17 October 2016|archive-date=18 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161018234226/http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2016/03/14/how_trump_s_name_is_an_aptronym.html|url-status=live}}</ref> * Learned Hand, American judge, considered a "craftsman" of the law.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Noonan |first=John T. |author-link=John T. Noonan Jr. |date=1994-05-01 |title=Master of Restraint |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/05/01/books/master-of-restraint.html |access-date=2025-07-31 |work=The New York Times |department=Book Review |pages=7 |language=en}}</ref> * William Headline, former Washington bureau chief for CNN<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wiseman |first1=Lauren |title=WILLIAM HEADLINE: 1931 - 2008 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2008-10-23-0810220805-story.html |access-date=1 September 2019 |work=Chicago Tribune |date=23 October 2008 |quote=CNN anchor Wolf Blitzer said Mr. Headline was 'a decent person who understood the problems that journalists have and dealt with them in a compassionate way. As we used to say it, the best name in news.'... ...Mr. Headline, whose fitting name was Americanized by a Swedish ancestor, was born in Cleveland and raised in East Aurora, N.Y. |archive-date=2 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902052452/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2008-10-23-0810220805-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref> * Sunny Hostin, American television host<ref>{{Cite web |title='The View's Sunny Hostin Says Jesus Would Attend a Pride Parade |url=https://www.out.com/television/2019/6/04/views-sunny-hostin-says-jesus-would-attend-pride-parade |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=www.out.com |language=en}}</ref> * John Hunter, Scottish hunter and writer<ref>{{cite book |last=Hunter |first=J.A. |author-link=J.A. Hunter |date=1952 |title=Hunter |url=https://archive.org/details/hunter0000jahu/page/12/mode/2up |location=New York |publisher=Harper & Brothers |page=13}}</ref> * Selwyn Image, English artist and designer<ref>{{cite book |last=Adams |first=Steven |date=1996 |title=The Arts & Crafts Movement |location=North Dighton, Massachusetts |publisher=JG Press |page=60}}</ref> * Fielder Jones, baseball center fielder<ref>{{cite news |title=Names Figure in Sports Careers |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113311883/names-figure-in-sports-careers/ |access-date=19 November 2022 |work=The Spokesman-Review |date=7 January 1912 |pages=28 |archive-date=18 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230318224603/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/113311883/names-figure-in-sports-careers/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * Igor Judge, English judge and Lord Chief Justice<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10218954/Farewell-to-a-doughty-champion-of-liberty-and-the-public-interest.html|title=Farewell to a doughty champion of liberty and the public interest|last=Johnston|first=Philip|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=2013-08-02|access-date=2018-01-06|language=en-GB|issn=0307-1235|archive-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106173311/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/10218954/Farewell-to-a-doughty-champion-of-liberty-and-the-public-interest.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Parkinson |first=Hannah Jane |date=2018-12-15 |title=Can our names inspire our choices in life? |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2018/dec/15/hannah-jane-parkinson-names-inspire-choices-life |access-date=2023-11-08 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> * John Laws, English judge and Lord Justice of Appeal<ref>{{cite news|title=Barclays scandal: a case of nominative determinism?|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9372754/Barclays-scandal-a-case-of-nominative-determinism.html|url-status=live|date=2012-07-03|access-date=2020-12-29|archive-date=2020-10-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028200446/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/9372754/Barclays-scandal-a-case-of-nominative-determinism.html|last=Furness|first=Hannah|work=The Telegraph|quotation=Likewise, Igor Judge, the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, and John Laws, the Lord Justice of Appeal, may have felt a calling.}}</ref> * Jonatan Leandoer, Swedish rapper (known professionally as ''Yung Lean'') and former drug addict who frequently consumed the opioid-based drink lean<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yung Lean's Second Chance |url=https://www.thefader.com/2016/06/16/yung-lean-warlord-interview |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=The FADER |language=en}}</ref> * Amy Lloyd, British neuroscientist who studied amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease<ref>{{cite web | title=Dr Amy Lloyd | access-date=June 17, 2025 | url=https://www.dundee.ac.uk/people/amy-lloyd | work=dundee.ac.uk }}</ref><ref>{{cite tweet |last=Dattani |first=Saloni |user=salonium |number=1934891277126144021 |date=June 17, 2025 |title=Has nominative determinism gone too far }}</ref> * Michael Lord, British member of the House of Lords.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.eadt.co.uk/news/21783593.suffolk-ex-mp-lord-lord-decision-make/ | title=Suffolk: Ex-MP 'Lord Lord' has a decision to make | date=23 November 2010 }}</ref> * Richard and Mildred Loving, plaintiffs in ''Loving v. Virginia'', which legalized interracial marriage throughout the United States<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1996/03/31/mr-and-mrs-loving/516969d3-69a3-41a4-8c2d-8535c3adce7c/|title=MR. AND MRS. LOVING'|last=Brennan|first=Patricia|date=1996-03-31|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=2019-12-31|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286|archive-date=11 November 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191111145132/https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/tv/1996/03/31/mr-and-mrs-loving/516969d3-69a3-41a4-8c2d-8535c3adce7c/|url-status=live}}</ref> *George McGovern, American politician and senator in the federal government<ref>{{Cite web |last=Madsen|first=Peter|date=2017-06-03 |title=Ever meet someone with a name that matches their career? |url=https://www.bendbulletin.com/lifestyle/ever-meet-someone-with-a-name-that-matches-their-career/article_f68cb747-042a-564b-aa4a-94e8ed42e6e9.html |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=The Bulletin |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Malamud |first=Randy |date=2016-01-23 |title=The secret meanings of "Trump": Why it's time to give Donald the "Rick Santorum" treatment |url=https://www.salon.com/2016/01/23/the_secret_meanings_of_trump_why_its_time_to_give_donald_the_rick_santorum_treatment/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Salon |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Schneider |first=Andrew |date=2012-02-13 |title=Waterworth Takes Helm At Port Of Houston |url=https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2012/02/13/33031/waterworth-takes-helm-at-port-of-houston/ |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Houston Public Media |language=en-US}}</ref> *Péter Magyar, prime minister of Hungary (“magyar” is the Hungarian word for “Hungarian”) *Robin Mahfood, former president and CEO of nonprofit organization Food For The Poor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://foodforthepoor.org/news/food-poor-president-ceo-robin-mahfood-retires-022620|title=Food For The Poor Inc. President/CEO Robin Mahfood Retires|website=Food For The Poor Inc.|date=2020-02-26}}</ref> *Nicolae Militaru, Romanian military officer and Minister of National Defense<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Lévesque |first1=Jacques |url=https://publishing.cdlib.org/ucpressebooks/view?docId=ft4q2nb3h6&chunk.id=d0e6638&toc.depth=1&brand=ucpress |title=The Enigma of 1989: the USSR and the Liberation of Eastern Europe |last2=Martin |first2=Keith |date=1997 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-33893-7 |edition=Reprint 2019 |location=Berkeley, CA |pages=196 |chapter=11 |quote=It was also Stanculescu who organized the incredible "trial" of the dictator several days later, and who became, at the beginning of 1990, after the (aptly named) General Militaru, the new regime's defense minister.}}</ref> * Lloyd Mints, American economist known for writings on money supply<ref>{{cite web |last1=Tavlas |first1=George |last2=Devlas |first2=Harris |title=The dog that didn’t bark: The curious case of Lloyd Mints, Milton Friedman, and the emergence of monetarism |url=https://cepr.org/voxeu/columns/dog-didnt-bark-curious-case-lloyd-mints-milton-friedman-and-emergence-monetarism |website=VoxEU |publisher=Centre for Economic Policy Research |access-date=31 May 2026 |date=5 Sep 2019}}</ref> * Chris Moneymaker, American poker player and 2003 World Series of Poker champion<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/25/us/a-player-called-money-wins-world-poker-title.html |title=A Player Called 'Money' Wins World Poker Title |last=Wilgoren |first=Jodi |date=2003-05-25 |work=The New York Times |access-date=2018-01-06 |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=6 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106174927/http://www.nytimes.com/2003/05/25/us/a-player-called-money-wins-world-poker-title.html |url-status=live }}</ref> * Sina Movahed, youngest Iranian chess Grandmaster ever (reads as "seen a move ahead")<ref>{{Cite news |last=Wighton |first=Sue |date=10 March 2026|title=Dominant Movahed Wins Titled Tuesday On 10.5 Points |url=https://www.chess.com/news/view/movahed-wins-titled-tuesday-march-10-2026 |access-date=12 March 2026 |work=Chess.com}}</ref> * David W. Music, American composer of church music<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hymnology |url=http://hymnology.hymnsam.co.uk/d/david-w-music |access-date=2024-06-29 |website=hymnology.hymnsam.co.uk}}</ref> * Eugenius Outerbridge, inaugural chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; namesake of the Outerbridge Crossing, the outermost bridge between New York (Staten Island) and New Jersey<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Gregory |date=2015-10-22 |title=What's In A Name: Eugenius Harvey Outerbridge |url=https://portfolio.panynj.gov/2015/10/22/whats-in-a-name-eugenius-harvey-outerbridge/ |access-date=2022-06-20 |website=PANYNJ PORTfolio |language=English |archive-date=13 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713092055/https://portfolio.panynj.gov/2015/10/22/whats-in-a-name-eugenius-harvey-outerbridge/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * Gabe Pressman, American journalist<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aronheller.com/articles/wnbc-legend-gabe-pressman-turns-80/|title=WNBC legend Gabe Pressman turns 80|date=17 February 2004|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=28 December 2023}}</ref> * Francine Prose, American novelist<ref>{{cite book| last1=Sánchez Canales| first1=Gustavo| editor1-last=Aarons| editor1-first=Victoria| editor2-last=Sánchez Canales| editor2-first=Gustavo| title=Bernard Malamud: A Centennial Tribute| date=2016| publisher=Wayne State University Press| location=Detroit, Michigan| isbn=9780814341148| chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3qohDgAAQBAJ&q=francine+prose+aptronym&pg=PT89| access-date=27 June 2017| chapter="What's in a Name?": Aptronyms and Archetypes in Bernard Malamud's ''The Assistant'' and ''The Fixer''| archive-date=19 August 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819202031/https://books.google.com/books?id=3qohDgAAQBAJ&q=francine%20prose%20aptronym&pg=PT89| url-status=live}}</ref> *Ocean Ramsey, shark conservationist *Rich Ricci, American-British banker<ref name="Strong-2021" /> *Corona Rintawan, Indonesian physician who led Muhammadiyah's command center for the COVID-19 pandemic<ref>{{cite news |last1=Swaragita |first1=Gisela |title=Dr. Corona vs. coronavirus: Muhammadiyah special center fighting COVID-19 in Indonesia |url=https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/03/11/dr-corona-vs-coronavirus-muhammadiyah-special-center-fighting-covid-19-in-indonesia.html |access-date=20 March 2020 |work=The Jakarta Post |date=11 March 2020 |quote=Indonesia's second-largest Islamic organization has officially entered the national battle against the coronavirus by establishing the Muhammadiyah COVID-19 Command Center (MCCC) and putting an aptly named physician, Corona Rintawan, in charge. |archive-date=20 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200320163644/https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/03/11/dr-corona-vs-coronavirus-muhammadiyah-special-center-fighting-covid-19-in-indonesia.html |url-status=live }}</ref> * Bob Rock, Canadian music producer best known for his works with rock acts such as Metallica and Aerosmith<ref>{{Cite news| url= https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/bowser-vs.-bowser-new-nintendo-boss-shares-name-with-villain| title= Bowser vs. Bowser: New Nintendo boss shares name with villain| date= 2019-03-04| work= Canadian Broadcasting Corporation| access-date= 2019-10-22| language= en-CA| archive-date= 29 March 2020| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200329023144/https://www.cbc.ca/kidsnews/post/bowser-vs.-bowser-new-nintendo-boss-shares-name-with-villain| url-status= live}}</ref> * Philander Rodman, father of Dennis Rodman, who fathered 29 children by 16 mothers<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sjoerdsma |first=Ann G. |date=June 16, 1996 |title=Behind "Bad" Rodman Lies A Longing For Father |url=https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/VA-Pilot/issues/1996/vp960616/06140087.htm |access-date= |website=The Virginian-Pilot |quote=Philander Rodman Jr., U.S. Air Force, began living up to his name during wife Shirley's pregnancy with Dennis and continued his infidelities through the births of two daughters, Debra and Kim.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Amira |first=Dan |date=2012-07-19 |title=Dennis Rodman’s Dad Really Owned His Name |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2012/07/dennis-rodmans-dad-really-owned-his-name.html |access-date= |website=Intelligencer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mahon |first=Tom |date=2012-07-20 |title=Rodman's father the original worm |url=https://www.inquirer.com/philly/sports/sixers/20120720_Rodman_s_father_the_original_worm.html |access-date= |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |language=en |quote=Philander? Add an "er" after his name and you get an apt description of the man who reportedly has fathered 29 children by 16 mothers.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Mata |first=Paul |date=2020-04-26 |title=Rodman reunion: When Dennis met Philander |url=https://www.rappler.com/sports/nba/259081-rodman-reunion-when-dennis-met-philander/ |access-date= |website=Rappler |language=en-US |quote=But true to his name, Philander had acknowledged fathering 29 children by 16 mothers.}}</ref> * Mat Sadler, English football manager who played for and managed Walsall, nicknamed "The Saddlers"<ref>{{Cite web |last=O'Connor-Simpson |first=Matt |date=21 March 2024 |title=Crunch time for Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney! Meet the teams trying to stop Wrexham's historic promotion from League Two |url=https://www.goal.com/en/lists/crunch-time-ryan-reynolds-rob-mcelhenney-teams-stop-wrexham-promotion-league-two |website=Goal.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-01-12 |title=Match Preview: County v Walsall |url=https://www.stockportcounty.com/match-preview-county-v-walsall-2/ |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=Stockport County |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Carter |date=2023-08-06 |title=Preview: Blackburn vs. Walsall - prediction, team news |url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/blackburn-rovers/league-cup/preview/preview-blackburn-vs-walsall-prediction-team-news-lineups_520527.html |access-date=2024-04-21 |website=Sports Mole |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-03-11 |title=Mat Sadler: Walsall sack head coach after Salford defeat |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn0exygeryko |access-date=2026-04-02 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> * Tennys Sandgren, American tennis player<ref>{{Cite news| url= https://sports.yahoo.com/tokyo-2020-first-medalist-unique-061636968.html| title= The Rush: Tokyo 2020's first medalist, unique athlete names and behind the scenes in Olympic Village| date= 2021-07-24| work= Yahoo! Sports| access-date= 2022-01-05| language= en-US| archive-date= 5 January 2022| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220105161343/https://sports.yahoo.com/tokyo-2020-first-medalist-unique-061636968.html| url-status= live}}</ref> * Marilyn vos Savant, American columnist who has been cited for having the world's highest-recorded IQ (savant)<ref>{{cite book |last= Elster |first= Charles Harrington |title= What in the Word? |url= https://archive.org/details/whatinwordwordpl0000elst |url-access= limited |location= Orlando, FL |publisher= Harcourt |year= 2005 |page= [https://archive.org/details/whatinwordwordpl0000elst/page/109 109] }}</ref> * Toby Savin, English football goalkeeper (saving)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phelps |first=Luke |date=2022-01-23 |title=Tottenham Hotspur looking into deal for Accrington Stanley goalkeeper Toby Savin |url=https://the72.co.uk/2022/01/23/tottenham-hotspur-looking-into-deal-for-accrington-stanley-goalkeeper-toby-savin/ |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=The72 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Talking points from Boxing Day draw |url=https://www.barnsleychronicle.com/article/24365/talking-points-from-boxing-day-draw |access-date=2023-12-02 |website=Barnsley Chronicle |language=en}}</ref> * Max Schreck, German actor known for portraying Count Orlok in the 1922 horror film ''Nosferatu'' ("Schreck" translates to "fright" or "scare" in German)<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Breznican |first=Anthony |date=2024-10-31 |title=The Undying Mystery of Max Schreck—the First Nosferatu |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/halloween-2024-max-schreck-nosferatu |access-date= |magazine=Vanity Fair |language=en-US |quote=His name itself might have been part of the problem. Schreck is a German word for “fright,” and over the years some fans who were unfamiliar with the Munich stage actor came to believe the credit was a kind of in-joke. A horror film with a lead performer called “Max Scare”? It couldn’t be real.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Robey |first=Tim |date=2024-12-29 |title=The strange afterlife of the 'real vampire' who played Nosferatu |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/0/max-schreck-nosferatu-robert-eggers/ |access-date= |work=The Telegraph |language=en-GB |issn=0307-1235 |quote=Everyone's first assumption was that no such person as “Max Schreck” could have existed. His surname in German means “fright” or “scare”.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=May 9, 2008 |title=Book lifts lid on star of eerie first Dracula film |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/lifestyle/book-lifts-lid-on-star-of-eerie-first-dracula-film-idUSL09837797/ |website=Reuters |quote="Nosferatu" failed to make its lead a star, but achieved such cult status that some film scholars speculated his name -- Schreck means "fear" or "fright" in German -- was a pseudonym.}}</ref> * Offer Shlomi, better known as Vince Offer, Israeli-American TV infomercial pitchman<ref>{{Cite web |title=Uncle John's New & Improved Funniest Ever |url=https://www.everand.com/book/612814364/Uncle-John-s-New-Improved-Funniest-Ever |access-date=2025-04-09}}</ref> * Kayla Sims, American YouTuber and Twitch streamer, best known for playing ''The Sims 4''<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Gault|first=Matthew|date=March 18, 2020|title='It Nearly Brings Me to Tears.' 20 Years On, The Sims' Diehard Fans Could Never Let Go|magazine=Time|url=https://time.com/5802709/sims/|access-date=March 19, 2020}}</ref> * Daniel Snowman, British historian and author of book on polar explorations<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-04-19 |title=Brief history of names that sound like jobs |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/nominative-determinism-brief-history-of-names-that-sound-like-jobs/ |access-date=2023-10-14 |website=POLITICO |language=en}}</ref> * Larry Speakes, former acting White House Press Secretary * Scott Speed, American racecar driver who has raced in a variety of motorsport, including Formula One and Formula E<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-12-sp-speed12-story.html|title=Now, That's a Proper Name|date=2006-03-12|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=2019-07-12|issn=0458-3035|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713121657/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2006-mar-12-sp-speed12-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://us.motorsport.com/a1gp/news/speed-is-the-name-and-the-game/2071185/|title=Speed is the name and the game|website=Motorsport|access-date=2019-07-12|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712231015/https://us.motorsport.com/a1gp/news/speed-is-the-name-and-the-game/2071185/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://jalopnik.com/ask-formula-one-driver-and-nascar-racer-scott-speed-any-486073598|title=Ask Formula One Driver And NASCAR Racer Scott Speed Anything You Want|last=Okulski|first=Travis|website=Jalopnik|date=30 April 2013 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-07-12|archive-date=12 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712231116/https://jalopnik.com/ask-formula-one-driver-and-nascar-racer-scott-speed-any-486073598|url-status=live}}</ref> * Marina Stepanova, Russian hurdler<ref>{{cite news | last=Dent | first=Susie | title=Susie Dent on nominative determinism | date=June 25, 2024 | url=https://www.saga.co.uk/magazine/life/susie-dent-on-nominative-determinism | work=saga.co.uk }}</ref> * Dávid Strelec, Slovak football forward ("Strelec" is the Slovak word for "shooter" or "striker")<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-07-24 |title=Keď Thiago Motta synovi na tréningu niečo hovoril, nič nerozumel, ale len kýval hlavou, "si, si". Na druhý deň už bol na vedľajšom ihrisku |url=https://sportweb.pravda.sk/futbal/europske-pohare/clanok/718177-milan-strelec-david-strelec-slovan-bratislava-vladimir-weiss/ |access-date=2024-11-18 |website=Športweb.sk |language=sk-SK}}</ref> *Eugène Terre'Blanche, South African white nationalist (Terre'Blanche translates to "white land" in French)<ref>{{Cite news |last=van der Vat |first=Dan |date=2010-04-04 |title=Eugene Terre'Blanche obituary |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/apr/04/eugene-terreblanche-obituary |access-date= |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=April 5, 2010 |title=Eugene Terre'Blanche: South African white supremacist leader |url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/eugene-terreblanche-south-african-white-supremacist-leader-35n2vxss78h |access-date= |website=The Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2010-04-06 |title=White diehard was part killer thug, part buffoon |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/white-diehard-was-part-killer-thug-part-buffoon-20100405-rmze.html |access-date= |website=The Sydney Morning Herald |language=en}}</ref> *Juan Trippe, founder of Pan American Airways<ref>{{Cite web |title=The China Clipper: Pan Am flies to Macau and Hong Kong, 1937-1941 {{!}} Gwulo |url=https://gwulo.com/node/61560 |access-date=2025-08-05 |website=gwulo.com}}</ref> *George Francis Train, entrepreneur who was heavily involved in the construction of the eastern portion of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States<ref name="Strong-2021">{{Cite web|date=2021-03-10|title=What's In A Name? For These Famous Texans, Everything.|url=https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/whats-in-a-name-for-these-famous-texans-everything/|access-date=2021-09-26|website=Texas Standard|language=en-US|first=W.F.|last=Strong|archive-date=18 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210918211413/https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/whats-in-a-name-for-these-famous-texans-everything/|url-status=live}}</ref> *Donald Trump, United States president and businessman known for an emphasis on "winning" (trump card).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Johnson |first=Theodore R. |title=Do Our Names Shape Our Destinies? Trump's Might. |url=https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/03/how-trump-s-name-is-an-aptronym.html |access-date=2025-07-31 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Peterson |first=Britt |date=2015-09-09 |title=Why Donald Trump trumps Donald Drumpf |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2015/09/09/why-donald-trump-better-than-donald-drumpf/7ltKCyRasCa5TY2l1Tr4HP/story.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303012618/https://www.bostonglobe.com/ideas/2015/09/09/why-donald-trump-better-than-donald-drumpf/7ltKCyRasCa5TY2l1Tr4HP/story.html |archive-date=2016-03-03 |access-date=2025-07-31 |work=The Boston Globe}}</ref> * Katie Volynets, American tennis player<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.tennismajors.com/australian-open-news/introducing-the-new-best-name-in-tennis-katie-volynets-call-her-volley-nets-655739.html |first=Simon |last=Cambers |title=Introducing the new best name in tennis: Katie Volynets (call her Volley Nets) |date=2023-01-19}}</ref> * Jeremy Wade, British angler * Alexander Burns Wallace, creator of the rule of nines, a system for estimating bodily surface area affected by burns * Keith Weed, president of the Royal Horticultural Society<ref>{{Cite news |last=Karim |first=Fariha |date=2024-02-28 |title=Keith Weed shoots to top of gardening world |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/environment/article/keith-weed-shoots-to-top-of-gardening-world-27qbwncqn |access-date=2024-02-28 |work=The Times |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}</ref> * Anthony Weiner, American politician involved in sexting scandals<ref name="slate" /><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-names/having-the-right-name-at-the-right-or-sometimes-wrong-time-idUSKCN1C425Q |first=Barbara |last=Goldberg |title=Having the right name at the right, or sometimes wrong, time |work=Reuters|date= |access-date=20 December 2018 |archive-date=21 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221041408/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-names/having-the-right-name-at-the-right-or-sometimes-wrong-time-idUSKCN1C425Q |url-status=live }}</ref> * Amy Winehouse, British singer-songwriter who died from alcohol poisoning in her home<ref>{{Cite web |title=Celebrity Aptronyms |url=https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/celebrity-aptronyms}}</ref> * Emily Wines, American wine professional and board chair of the Court of Master Sommeliers<ref>{{Cite web |title=She's rebuilding one of America's elite wine organizations |url=https://fortune.com/2022/04/22/wine-court-of-master-sommeliers-sexual-harassment-board-leadership-rebuilding/ |access-date=2023-11-10 |website=Fortune |language=en}}</ref> * Wolfgang Wolf, German football manager, managed VfL Wolfsburg from 1998 to 2003<ref>{{Cite web| url = https://www.kicker.de/wolfgang-wolf/trainer | title = Wolfgang Wolf | language = de | publisher = Kicker | access-date = 31 May 2026}}</ref> * William Wordsworth, English poet and advocate for the extension of British copyright law<ref>{{Cite book| author=Wordsworth, William |url= https://archive.org/details/proseworkswilli02wordgoog| title=The Prose Works of William Wordsworth| editor= Alexander B. Grosart| location=London| publisher=Edward Moxon, Son and Co.| year=1876| page=[https://archive.org/details/proseworkswilli02wordgoog/page/n67 21]}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| author=Swartz, Richard G.| jstor=438162| title=Wordsworth, Copyright, and the Commodities of Genius| journal= Modern Philology |volume=89| issue=4| year=1992| pages=482–509| doi=10.1086/392000| s2cid=162203888}}</ref><ref name="macmillan" /> * Early Wynn, baseball pitcher, member of the 300 win club<ref>{{Cite book| author=Lederer, Richard| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tnxQCgAAQBAJ&q=early+wynn+aptronym&pg=PT37| title=Amazing Words: An Alphabetical Anthology of Alluring, Astonishing, Astounding, Bedazzling, Beguiling, Bewitching, Enchanting, Enthralling, Entrancing, Magical, Mesmerizing, Miraculous, Tantalizing, Tempting, and Transfixing Words| publisher=Marion Street Press, LLC| year=2012| isbn=9781936863310| access-date=14 October 2020| archive-date=19 August 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819202028/https://books.google.com/books?id=tnxQCgAAQBAJ&q=early+wynn+aptronym&pg=PT37| url-status=live}}</ref> * David Møller Wolfe, Norwegian footballer who plays for Wolverhampton Wanderers (known as Wolves).<ref>{{cite web | last1=Spiers | first1=Tim | title=Arsenal Wenger, James Trafford and the players and managers destined for clubs… because of their names | work=The New York Times | date=4 August 2025 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6524643/2025/08/04/football-names-clubs-managers-arsenal-wenger/ }}</ref> * Tiger Woods, American professional golfer; a wood is a type of golf club<ref name="macmillan" /> * Mary Yu, associate justice of the Washington Supreme Court who officiated the state's first same-sex marriage<ref>{{cite web|url = http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2012/12/08/whos-marrying-the-first-gay-couple-judge-mary-yu|title = Who's Marrying the First Gay Couple? Judge Mary Yu|author = Dominic Holden|publisher = The Stranger|date = Dec 8, 2012}}</ref> <!-- This is not a list article. DO NOT ADD EXAMPLES WITHOUT A RELIABLE SOURCE STATING THAT IT IS AN APTRONYM, PER CONSENSUS. -->
===Inaptonyms=== <!-- This is not a list article. DO NOT ADD EXAMPLES WITHOUT A RELIABLE SOURCE STATING THAT IT IS AN INAPTRONYM, PER CONSENSUS. --> * Kevin Admiral, United States Army general<ref name="Pergram Admiral">{{cite news |last1=Pergram |first1=Chad |title=The Speaker's Lobby: General Admiral |url=https://radio.foxnews.com/2018/12/28/the-speakers-lobby-general-admiral/ |access-date=April 3, 2026 |publisher=Fox News Radio |date=December 28, 2018 |quote="Among those up for a new gig? Army Col. Kevin Admiral. Admiral's new position? Army Brigadier General. In other words, the Army now has a General Admiral. The U.S. military doesn't have field marshals. But Congress made General George Marshall a five star general back in the 1940's. It was suggested at the time that soldiers should address Marshall as Marshal Marshall."}}</ref> * Rob Banks, British police officer<ref name="Ng-2019">{{Cite news|last=Ng|first=Huiwen|date=2019-01-19|title=British police officer Rob Banks becomes unlikely Internet star for his ironic name|language=en|work=The Straits Times|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/british-police-officer-rob-banks-becomes-unlikely-internet-star-for-his-ironic-name|access-date=2021-09-26|issn=0585-3923|archive-date=26 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926150612/https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/british-police-officer-rob-banks-becomes-unlikely-internet-star-for-his-ironic-name|url-status=live}}</ref> * Grant Balfour, baseball pitcher ("ball four")<ref>{{cite news |url=https://andrewjkahn.com/2012/07/13/josh-outman-homer-bailey-grant-balfour/ |title=Josh Outman? Not Quite |first=Andrew |last=Kahn |date=2021-07-13 |work=andrewjkahn.com |access-date=20 December 2018 |archive-date=21 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221041514/https://andrewjkahn.com/2012/07/13/josh-outman-homer-bailey-grant-balfour/ |url-status=live }}</ref> * Frank Beard, American musician who, until {{Circa|2013}}, was the only member of rock band ZZ Top without a beard<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://kmhk.com/zz-top-drummer-frank-beard-finally-grows-one/|title=ZZ Top Drummer Frank Beard Finally Grows One|website=103.7 The Hawk|date=31 December 2013 |access-date=2018-01-06|archive-date=6 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180106120421/http://kmhk.com/zz-top-drummer-frank-beard-finally-grows-one/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Don Black, white supremacist<ref name="guardian"/> * Peter Bowler, cricketer (in fact, primarily a batsman)<ref name="guardian"/> * Jimmy Doolittle, U.S. Army Air Corps pilot who led the first major bombing raid on Japan during World War II, was referred to as "...a man whose exploits utterly belie his name" by the ''Baltimore Sun'', and according to the ''New York Times'' "...should be named Doomuch". However, the chief of the Japanese Army's press section, trying to downplay the raid, stated "We have the pleasure of conferring upon him the title 'Did Little'... ...We may expect the next commander which Roosevelt is likely to appoint as his successor will be Colonel 'Do Nothing'."<ref name="Scott Doolittle">{{cite book |last1=Scott |first1=James M. |authorlink=James M. Scott (historian) |title=Target Tokyo: Jimmy Doolittle and the Raid That Avenged Pearl Harbor |date=2015 |publisher=W.W. Norton and Company |isbn=9780393089622 |pages=361, 414-415}}</ref> * Samuel Foote, British actor who lost a leg in a horseriding accident in 1766, and made jokes on stage about "Foote and leg, and leg and foot"<ref>{{cite news|last1=Clarke|first1=Norma|title=Samuel Foote, the one-legged wonder|url=http://www.the-tls.co.uk/tls/public/article1179826.ece|access-date=14 December 2015|publisher=The Times Literary Supplement|date=28 December 2014|archive-date=22 December 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222090706/http://www.the-tls.co.uk/tls/public/article1179826.ece|url-status=live}}</ref> * Claudio Gentile, Italian footballer known for his strength<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-10-28 |title=Hand of God fails to come to the rescue for plucky Argentina |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/hand-of-god-fails-to-come-to-the-rescue-for-plucky-argentina/34147862.html |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Independent.ie |language=en |quote=During the 1982 FIFA World Cup an Italian defender, ironically named Claudio Gentile [...]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-10-10 |title=Toe Poke Daily: Mark de Man, Wolfgang Wolf and the most ironic names in football |url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37577543/mark-de-man-wolfgang-wolf-most-ironic-names-football |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jiang |first=Allan |title=The 10 Most Underrated Soccer Players in History |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/886935-the-10-most-underrated-players-in-soccer-history |access-date=2023-09-19 |website=Bleacher Report |language=en |quote=Claudio Gentile is the archetypal hard man, which was ironic considering his last name translates to gentle.}}</ref> * Matt Gobush, spokesperson for Al Gore during his campaign for the 2000 presidential election, which Gore eventually lost to rival George W. Bush<ref>{{Cite news |title=An Irishman's Diary |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/an-irishman-s-diary-1.910583 |access-date=2023-11-17 |newspaper=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Noah |first=Timothy |date=2003-07-08 |title=Matt Gobush, Democrat |language=en-US |work=Slate |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2003/07/matt-gobush-democrat.html |access-date=2023-11-17 |issn=1091-2339}}</ref> * Ciro Immobile, Italian footballer known for eluding defenders<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dunn |first=Matthew |date=2018-03-28 |title=England 1 - Italy 1: Lorenzo Insigne denies Three Lions Wembley win |url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/937944/England-1-Italy-1-Lorenzo-Insigne-Jamie-Vardy-International-Friendly-Wembley |access-date=2023-12-06 |website=Express.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> * Colleen Lawless, American lawyer and judge<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tully-Mcmanus |first=Katherine |date=2 March 2023 |title=Biden drops by: today in Congress |url=https://www.politico.com/newsletters/huddle/2023/03/02/biden-drops-by-00085154 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Politico |series=Huddle (newsletter) |language=en |archive-date=3 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303212924/https://www.politico.com/newsletters/huddle/2023/03/02/biden-drops-by-00085154 |url-status=live }}</ref> * Gouverneur Morris, American senator<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ironic Name|url=https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/IronicName}}</ref> * Neversink, a town in New York state that was submerged by the Neversink Reservoir in 1953<ref>{{Cite web |last=Taylor |first=Traci|date=2022-08-03 |title=Neversink – The Town in New York That Literally Sank |url=https://981thehawk.com/neversink-new-york/ |access-date=2025-02-15 |website=98.1 The Hawk |language=en}}</ref> * Danielle Outlaw, former Philadelphia Police Commissioner<ref>{{cite web|title=What's in a name? From criminal to elite, the history of 'Outlaw'|url=https://billypenn.com/2020/01/09/whats-in-a-name-from-criminal-to-elite-the-history-of-outlaw/|author=Layla A. Jones|website=Billy Penn|date=9 January 2020|access-date=8 April 2020|archive-date=26 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200226130314/https://billypenn.com/2020/01/09/whats-in-a-name-from-criminal-to-elite-the-history-of-outlaw/|url-status=live}}</ref> * Larry Playfair, ice hockey player known for fighting<ref>{{cite web|url=https://99percentinvisible.org/article/outerbridge-crossing-exploring-the-world-of-aptonyms-redundant-place-names/|title=Outerbridge Crossing: Exploring the World of Aptonyms & Redundant Place Names|author=Kohlstedt, Kurt |publisher=99% Invisible|date=23 April 2018|access-date=8 April 2020}}</ref> * Jaime Sin, Catholic prelate; upon being made a cardinal in 1976, he gained the further inaptronymic title of "Cardinal Sin"<ref name="guardian"/><ref name="Ng-2019" /> * Sam Sung, Apple Inc. employee.<ref>{{cite web | title=Former Scottish Apple employee Sam Sung auctions off ID card |publisher=STV | date=21 August 2022 | url=https://news.stv.tv/west-central/former-glasgow-apple-employee-sam-sung-set-to-auction-off-collectors-item-id-card-for-charity }}</ref> * Batman bin Suparman, Indonesian man who was imprisoned in 2013 on theft and drug possession charges (Batman and Superman both being crime-fighting superheroes)<ref>{{Cite news |title=Batman bin Suparman jailed after he turns out to be a villain |url=https://metro.co.uk/2013/11/12/batman-bin-suparman-jailed-after-he-turns-out-to-be-a-villain-4183474/ |access-date=27 May 2026 |newspaper=Metro |language=en}}</ref> * Bob Walk, baseball pitcher<ref>{{Cite web |last=Grosnick |first=Bryan |date=2012-08-27 |title=When The Stats Match The Name |url=https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2012/8/27/3268541/when-the-stats-match-the-name |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819202029/https://www.beyondtheboxscore.com/2012/8/27/3268541/when-the-stats-match-the-name/ |archive-date=19 August 2021 |access-date=2023-03-03 |website=Beyond the Box Score |language=en}}</ref> <!-- This is not a list article. DO NOT ADD EXAMPLES WITHOUT A RELIABLE SOURCE STATING THAT IT IS AN INAPTRONYM, PER CONSENSUS. -->
==See also== * Autological word * -onym * Nominative determinism, the hypothesis that a person's name can have a significant role in determining key aspects of their job, profession or even character * Occupational surname
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Wiktionary|aptronym|aptonym|euonym}} * [http://aptonyms-wiki.wikispaces.com/ Aptonyms-wiki] (based on the extinct ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20090911085713/http://homepage.mac.com/chapmandave/aptonyms/ Canadian Aptonym Centre]'') * {{cite news |url=https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2005/12/charol-shakeshaft-topped.html |title=Charol Shakeshaft, Topped! A Yellow Pages of aptronyms |work=Slate |first=Timothy |last=Noah |authorlink=Timothy Noah |accessdate=April 12, 2021 }}
{{Personal names}}
Category:Names Category:Semantics Category:Types of words Category:Wordplay