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Sunday Summary: The Marvelous Names of Mrs. Maisel

December 10, 2017 By appellationmountain 4 Comments

Sunday Summary: 12.11.17The other week I asked about television shows with great names on the Facebook page. One leapt out at me: Midge, from Amazon original series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

Not only are the names delicious, but I’ve been binge-watching the series. And it’s all kinds of fabulous.

It’s another project from Gilmore Girls creator Amy Sherman-Palladino. There’s no question she’s a brilliant namer. And she’s got some great bits about names in the show, too – particularly Midge Maisel’s attempts to find a new stage name:

Midge: What do you think about my name?

Susie: Well, I wouldn’t send my parents a thank you card, but I’ve heard worse.

The lead characters are Miriam, nickname Midge, and Susie – not Susan. It’s set in 1950s Manhattan. Other names, some mentioned only briefly:

  • Zelda
  • Imogene
  • Archie
  • Abe
  • Harriet
  • Virgil
  • Astrid
  • Vivian
  • Petra
  • Louella
  • Esther
  • Palmer

Pretty brilliant, right? Also, Lenny Bruce features in the series, though he’s a real person so Sherman-Palladino doesn’t get credit for that one.

It has its dark moments, but it’s witty and funny and downright addictive.

And have I mentioned the names?

Elsewhere:

  • This category of not-quite-surnames fascinates me. They often strike me as unsophisticated. Rootless. Except then some of them will become well-established as given names, and my opinion will reverse. Daxton, for example, strikes me as handsome, though it’s mostly a recent invention.
  • Speaking of surnames, would you use your maiden name as a child’s middle? What if it wasn’t an easy surname? I know someone who used two of the four syllables of her maiden name as her kids’ middle. That always struck me as pretty brilliant.
  • There is now a giant stuffed turtle living in my house. Name: Maurice, inspired by Belle’s dad in Beauty and the Beast. (I think.) Funny how our children discover names. As it happens, it’s a name on our family tree, but not one that we’ve ever discussed.
  • Speaking of Beauty and the Beast, I’ve been wondering about Evermore as a poetic child’s middle name. (It’s an original song from the 2017 remake.) I took a wrong turn down a street called Edenmore earlier today and found myself thinking the same thing.
  • More name quotes from Nancy – I love the one about Ellen Terry. How things change!
  • Duana starts out considering whether John Francis is a boring name, and ends up offering some sage wisdom on what happens when we announce our children’s names.
  • French and Polish nature names – or at least words that could potentially work as given names. That’s the second time Kalina has come up this week!
  • Ooh … and more nature name rarities, this time from English.
  • Need some encouragement to try unusual first-middle combinations for boys? This list will inspire.

That’s all for this week. As always, thank you for reading – and have a great week!

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Comments

  1. Alex says

    December 12, 2017 at 10:34 PM

    Yes, what is Duana thinking? John Francis is a lovely name, obviously the letter writer isn’t after something particularly out of the ordinary. Swiftly would’ve given much better advice!

    Reply
  2. Stefanie says

    December 12, 2017 at 3:15 AM

    Also watching and loving MMM! Apropos of nothing, came across a woman named Carillon! thought she was Caroline/lyn based on how everyone was saying it and then wanted to ask her if that has driven her crazy her whole life.

    Reply
    • Sebastiane says

      December 12, 2017 at 9:06 AM

      Lol, I would automatically pronounce it KAH ree YONE. It is pretty.

      Reply
  3. Namer says

    December 11, 2017 at 5:40 AM

    Oooh, the Duana names post hurts me! One of my sons is John Francis (both family names, both saint’s names, both classic). We call him Johnny. I have had such great feedback on the name. It ticks all of the boxes for me and I while I do know two other little Johnnies I also know three Kobies, two Maxs, and lots of Jacks/Jacksons. (and my dad calls my John ‘Jacky’).

    Ultimately does it matter if a name is ‘boring’? John Francis makes a lovely quiet statement about our heritage. The name isn’t in your face but I think it makes a statement about who we are as a family. I hope the letter writer goes ahead with it. And if she changes her mind she can always call him Jack, Johnny, Jay, or Frank!

    Reply

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