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aptronym (AP-truh-nim) - n., a name that is aptly suited to a person's profession, personality, etc.
Such as the poet William Wordsworth, press secretary Larry Speakes, and chef James Kitchens. There are also inaptronyms, such as Judge Colleen Lawless and Cardinal Jaime Sin. Coined around 1915 by an American journalist in the form aptronymic from apt + (pat)ronymic, first appearing in this form in 1919. Which journalist is unclear -- Franklin P. Adams is sometimes credited but the word(s) cannot be found in his regular columns during that time. Humorist Don Marquis (best known for the Archie and Mehitabel poems) was especially known for running examples of aptronyms in his column, and it's possible he's responsible. A mystery.
---L.
Such as the poet William Wordsworth, press secretary Larry Speakes, and chef James Kitchens. There are also inaptronyms, such as Judge Colleen Lawless and Cardinal Jaime Sin. Coined around 1915 by an American journalist in the form aptronymic from apt + (pat)ronymic, first appearing in this form in 1919. Which journalist is unclear -- Franklin P. Adams is sometimes credited but the word(s) cannot be found in his regular columns during that time. Humorist Don Marquis (best known for the Archie and Mehitabel poems) was especially known for running examples of aptronyms in his column, and it's possible he's responsible. A mystery.
---L.
