names

Fetching Names

In case you’ve recently acquired a new dog, and are wondering what to name it, look no further than the early fifteenth-century manuscript called The Master of Game. Appended at the end is a list of suitable names for your… Read More

So Named

A friend of mine sent me this article by Bennett Muraskin at Slate about the fascinating origin of many popular Jewish last names. I had no idea how recently the process occurred—starting mostly in 1787, when Holy Roman Emperor Joseph… Read More

You Name It

My mother’s name was Constance. My friend Liz named her daughter Honor. My friend Gina named her daughter Grace. My friend Helena’s middle name is Comfort. I know people named Faith and Hope, and those of us who grew up… Read More