Nominative determinism

[Flosshilde]

From today's Radio 3 schedule -

New Generation Artists

Ben Johnson Part 1

Tenor Ben Johnson gets Elizabethan in a programme of John Dowland lute songs

[LeMartinPecheur]

Nominative determinism?

Ben's surname was 'Jonson'.

Johnson's christian name was 'Doctor'

[Flosshilde]

Ah, but spelling was variable back then - look at Shakespeare (or was it Shakespear?) http://shaksper.net/archive/2001/177...kespeares-name

[Nick Armstrong]

This topic was covered by way of a tangent recently on another thread, introduced by teamsaint's reference to his stint of jury service, during which a forensic witness appeared named Dr Dabbs

I then piched in....

Classic!

There's a phrase for this: Nominative Determinism.

Other examples:

The maintenance manager at British Waterways is called Lee King.

The CEO of the UK Border Agency is called Rob Whiteman.

A sommelier with Kimpton Hotel Group is called Emily Wines.

And one for history buffs:

The expert sent by the Lord Chamberlain's office to police the nude revue at the Windmill Theatre, Soho, in the 1930s was called George Titman.

[kernelbogey]

A friend attended a dentist called J.A.W. Smith. Honest.

[Serial_Apologist]

I always liked Private Eye's apocryphal libel lawyers: Sue, Grabbit & Runne

[LeMartinPecheur]

Ah, but spelling was variable back then - look at Shakespeare (or was it Shakespear?) http://shaksper.net/archive/2001/177...kespeares-name

Flosshilde: I was expecting this come-back!

[umslopogaas]

Shakespeare (or was it Shakespear?)

Or Shagsbeer? Depends on the quality and availability of the serving wenches, I suppose. Hey darling, fancy a wiggle? Nah, seen better on a dormouse, go shake it at Annie, she'd put out for a toad if the pond was warm. I've got pints to serve.

[Nick Armstrong]

I always liked Private Eye's apocryphal libel lawyers: Sue, Grabbit & Runne

As you may recall, I mentioned on that other post a real firm (in Leamington Spa) called Wright Hassall!

[kernelbogey]

Shakespeare (or was it Shakespear?)

Or Shagsbeer? Depends on the quality and availability of the serving wenches, I suppose. Hey darling, fancy a wiggle? Nah, seen better on a dormouse, go shake it at Annie, she'd put out for a toad if the pond was warm. I've got pints to serve.

Yes it was small beer in those days....

[Serial_Apologist]

As you may recall, I mentioned on that other post a real firm (in Leamington Spa) called Wright Hassall!

I remember that now

[Ferretfancy]

A friend attended a dentist called J.A.W. Smith. Honest.

I once had a very good Chinese dentist called Mr Fang!

[Nick Armstrong]

I once had a very good Chinese dentist called Mr Fang!

[umslopogaas]

The weekly New Scientist magazine has a back page feature called Feedback, which has been running examples of nominative determinism for years: see their website www.newscientist.com

The first woman to compete in the Nez Perce County Fair hog-calling contest, in which competitors squeal, oink and generally carry on like pigs, was called Jolee Bacon. Only in the USA ...

[And not strictly nominative determinism, but sort of relevant] Larry Curley writes to say that his sister married a guy called Short.

[Bax-of-Delights]

My dentist who is delightfully non-PC is quite aptly named Dr Pulley.

And I recall an advert sign in my mother's sub post office for local undertakers in Croydon: Ovenden.
I kid you not.