Steve Kilbane wrote:
Haven't I heard the name "Devon" in real life before?
Dunno, but *I* certainly have.
It's one of those place names that's now in vogue as a first name (like Georgia, India, Dakota). Started off as a boy's name but is now one of those names in transfer to girls (like Ashley and Morgan - Ashley and Morgan are now much more popular for girls than boys, just like Evelyn and Hyacinth). Blake is also one of those names that may be in transfer too - I have seen it suggested on a babynames bulletin board as a girl's name. (As I remember, I think the poster wanted to use the name "Blake" for a girl but was complaining it was too common. I was going to suggest Blakeney as alternative since it not only includes Blake, has a Scarlet Pimpernel ref, and matches Courtney and Whitney in form.)
One of the best sites on the web that I have found for names is http://www.eponym.org.
Lots on the site itself and lots of links including to Mike Shackleton's web site - he does an amazing job of collating name popularity stats in the US. It's agreat starting point if you are hunting for names.
As for the multiplicity of Tarrants and other names, I'm with Harriet on this, in that it reflects reality a bit more. Maybe the name "Tarrant" is Federation equivalent of "Smith". Or maybe it's the name that is given to orphan children of unknown parentage.
As for Restal, there's an area of Edinburgh called "Restalrig" so maybe he has a Celtic connection. I don't know the etymology of "Restalrig" so don't know any meanings for that.
Ellynne wrote:
And I _still_ think it's interesting that Kerr can have the same root as the 'ger' half of Roger - meaning Blake and Avon's first names really do seem to make them two halves of each other (and interesting halves as that since the 'Ro' means noble and the 'ger' means spear).
According to my name dictionary (Oxford Dictionary of First Names: Patricia Hanks and Flavia Hodges): the element "Ro" in "Roger" comes from the Germanic "hrod" meaning "fame" which is also appropriate.
"Kerr" is another surname transfer from a northern English local name for someone who lived by a patch of wet ground overgrown by brushwood. :-)
Re Servalan originally being a male part: A quote from "Blakes 7: The Inside Story" by Joe Nazzaro and Sheelagh Wells. (P27 in my copy).
"Terry Nation had originally written the role for a man, but the character worked equally well, if not better, as an icy cold villainess."
And a plea - if anyone is making up two-syllable names for characters, don't use "Barak". I've seen it in four different fantasy books. Especially not for anyone who's big, rural, or Viking-like. :-)
Kat W
Katharine wrote...
As for Restal, there's an area of Edinburgh called "Restalrig" so maybe he has a Celtic connection. I don't know the etymology of "Restalrig" so don't know any meanings for that.
I keep seeing posters for a new cafe opening near me called Restal's which reduce me to a grinning loony every time I see them.
Leia
Leia wrote:
Katharine wrote...
As for Restal, there's an area of Edinburgh called "Restalrig" so maybe he has a Celtic connection. I don't know the etymology of "Restalrig" so don't know any meanings for that.
I keep seeing posters for a new cafe opening near me called Restal's which reduce me to a grinning loony every time I see them.
I once saw a shop called Gan Electrical, which is either in Cambridge, or possibly Worthing.
Una
I once saw a shop called Gan Electrical, which is either in Cambridge, or possibly Worthing.
I'm fairly sure that there's a chain of pensions & life assurance "honest, reliable independent financial and mortgage advice" bureaux called Gan. There certainly used to be, and I think they're still active...!
Seems a bit of a sad come-down for the poor sod, somehow. 8-)
Tim.
-- Imagine there were two of you. Which one would win?
tim@midnight.demon.co.uk
Leia wrote:
Katharine wrote...
As for Restal, there's an area of Edinburgh called "Restalrig" so maybe he has a Celtic connection. I don't know the etymology of "Restalrig" so don't know any meanings for that.
I keep seeing posters for a new cafe opening near me called Restal's which reduce me to a grinning loony every time I see them.
And you haven't been in there to ask why? Maybe they're B7 fans too. Although a bar would be more appropriate. ;-)
There's a Restal Road out in the country here, where the local fantasy gamers meet. It's chosen for its location rather than its name. A search of the on-line phone book for the whole country turned up no Restals though. So I have no idea why it's called that.
Nico
Leia Fee wrote:
Katharine wrote...
As for Restal, there's an area of Edinburgh called "Restalrig" so maybe he has a Celtic connection. I don't know the etymology of "Restalrig" so don't know any meanings for that.
I keep seeing posters for a new cafe opening near me called Restal's which reduce me to a grinning loony every time I see them.
And if you do go in to ask them why, are you going to check the menu for adrenalin and soma? :-)
Kat W.
Leia wrote:
I keep seeing posters for a new cafe opening near me called Restal's which reduce me to a grinning loony every time I see them.
In the name of research, you could go and enquire about Restal's background.
Una added:
I once saw a shop called Gan Electrical, which is either in >Cambridge,
or possibly Worthing.
And then there's Shah-e-Gan in Rusholme (Manchester's Curry Mile). And wasn't there a Team Gan in the Tour de France?
Re Terry Nation's thinking, isn't there a solid, helpful Thal called something very similar to Gan in the original Dalek episode? He fancied Barbara.
From: "Harriet Monkhouse" hflysator@jarriere.demon.co.uk Subject: Re: [B7L] Re: Names
Re Terry Nation's thinking, isn't there a solid, helpful Thal called something very similar to Gan in the original Dalek episode? He fancied Barbara.
His name was Ganatus.
Wildean
-
Dana Shilling -
Harriet Monkhouse -
Katharine Woods -
Leia Fee -
Nico Mody-Nikoloff -
Pat Sumner -
Steve Kilbane -
Tim -
Una McCormack