#aptronym

[gailcarriger]

I have a dear friend named Dr Walker, he married a Dr Strange, and without a second thought they both hyphenated their names, so they could become the

Drs Strange-Walker

[markscherz]

I had a professor in grad school (linguistics) whose surname was Schlangen. Do you think he missed his life's calling to become a herpetologist?

Nah, surnames are super arbitrary. They don't pre-destine people for things. In Denmark, you can choose the surname of your child from those of any direct ancestor, or any of a list of 200 generally available surnames. My wife and I could have given our son the surname 'Storm' just for giggles.

That being said, the joy of an apt surname is not lost on me. But I was today years old when i learned that there is a word for this: an aptronym!

[quietsingingonadarkbus]

Proof that ace attorney names do happen in real life

[evie7common]

[chaotic-archaeologist]

In the census records have you ever come across an Ace Attorney Situation? Like where someone's name perfectly fits their profession.

More often than you would think! A lot of surnames actually come from the person's profession. Wainright is the example that comes off the top of my head. There are lots of historical and modern aptronyms!

On the other hand, for a long time there was a billboard near my grandmother's house advertising a lawyer with the last name Lawless...

-Reid

[playthatthing]

YES, GOOD

[the-faramir]

Ah, yes, the "Am I Gone?" funeral home.

[geekborn]

Where is that post about aptronyms because I found one