THE NAMING GAME

Which is the most used dog name in the U.S.? 10 fun name facts for you

Credit: Jon Tyson

Names hold a very important place in almost every culture, shaping identities in special ways. Across the globe, the formation and significance of names change, yet they remain a crucial point of individual identity and cultural and family heritage.

Ever wondered about the story behind your name? Can you guess which famous artist had more than 15 names? Do you know which was, until now, the most common first name among U.S. presidents?

If you want to uncover the answers to these fun questions and more, join us as we reveal 10 surprising facts about names!

Credit: David Everett Strickler

It is common knowledge that, so far, the US has seen 46 presidents in its history, but do you know which was the very first commander-in-chief with a middle name?

It took George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, and James Monroe for the United States to finally welcome a president with a middle name. And that honor goes to John Quincy Adams, the sixth man to lead our nation, from 1825 to 1829.

His distinctive name comes from his mother's maternal grandfather, Colonel John Quincy, who also gave his name to the town of Quincy, Massachusetts!

Credit: Kin Li

Of course, President John Quincy Adams wasn't the only one with a middle name! While many people and celebrities proudly embrace their middle names, others prefer to keep them secret. But here's a fact you might not have considered: some cartoons have middle names, too!

This is the case of Donald Duck, whose middle name went unnoticed for many years, maybe because it's not the most common name out there. The full name of this adorable duck is Donald Fauntleroy Duck! Fancy, don't you think?

Credit: Adam Jang

Unlike countries like the United States, where parents have wide freedom when choosing a name for their babies, Iceland has a naming system that truly sets it apart from the rest.

In 1991, Iceland established its Naming Committee, which has the big responsibility of approving -or disapproving- names for its citizens. Based on Icelandic grammar and tradition, this initiative seeks to safeguard the nation's culture.

To do so, Icelanders have carefully composed lists of approved names for boys and girls. So, if you want to live in Iceland and aspire to name your newborn after a beloved foreign rock star, you must first undergo the scrutiny of the Committee.

Credit: PassionatoAssai, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

There are people with only one first name, while others proudly carry two. There are people out there with three, four, or even five names! And if you think that's crazy, wait until you hear how many names this famous artist had.

While the world knows him as Pablo Picasso, the Spanish painter's full name was Pablo Diego José Francisco de Paula Juan Nepomuceno María de los Remedios Cipriano de la Santísima Trinidad Martyr Patricio Clito Ruíz y Picasso. No, it's not a joke! Imagine having more than 20 words in your ID; maybe even Picasso himself had trouble remembering his full name by heart!

Credit: Sean Bernstein

We all know Barbie and Ken, icons of fashion and fun. But did you ever stop to wonder about their full identities? While Barbie's full name, Barbara Millicent Roberts, might be familiar, Ken's last name may probably have been overlooked.

However, Barbie's boyfriend has a full -and quite long- name of his own: Kenneth Sean "Ken" Carson Jr.

Just like Barbie, who was named after Ruth Handler's daughter, Ken's name is a family matter too; it's derived from her son's first name.

Credit: Christopher Eden

William Shakespeare's name, synonymous with literary greatness, is famous worldwide, but what about his wife? While her face might not be as instantly recognizable, once you hear her name, it will definitely ring a bell.

Ok, let's end the mystery: the wife of the very talented and well-remembered Shakespeare was Anne Hathaway. Yes, you read it right; she had the same name and last name as the beloved actress who amused us in the 2006 unforgettable comedy The Devil Wears Prada. But, of course, there is a slight difference: the first Anne Hathaway came into the world in 1556, a good 426 years before her namesake!

Credit: Ronda Darby

Throughout US history, we've seen some presidents with unusual names, such as Millard, Grover, and Rutherford. But among these unique names, there is one that stands out for its recurrence, as it has reached the presidency not once, not twice, but six times!

"James" is a familiar name to almost everyone, and it also had a place inside the White House. The six presidents who have proudly held the name James were: James Madison, James Monroe, James K. Polk, James Buchanan, James A. Garfield, and Jimmy Carter (James Earl Carter Jr.)

Credit: Jamie Street

If you have a pet, you know that choosing the perfect name for it is a meaningful moment, right?

Well, while we pride ourselves on our creativity and originality when it comes to naming our puppies, there seems to be a trend repeating across the country.

Based on a 2023 report, it turns out there are four names that are quite the favorites among American dog owners: Bella, Luna, Charlie, and Max. And it's easy to see why; they're just adorable!

Credit: Simone Savoldi

You might be aware that Popes don't retain their birth names upon assuming the papacy. Instead, they adopt a new name as a tribute to a saint or revered figure they admire and wish to highlight.

However, this tradition hasn't been followed by all Popes in history. There have been some Popes that kept their original birth names, even though more than 460 years have passed since the last one made that decision.

Marcellus II, who assumed in 1555, was born Marcello Cervini degli Spannochi, and he was the last Pope to use his name during his papacy.

Credit: Random Institute

Have you ever heard of patronymics? A patronymic is a name or middle name component that is based on the father's first name. It may seem confusing at first, but let's look at an example to clarify the situation.

Patronymics have impacted the evolution of surnames in many cultures, and some countries use them to this day, one of them being Russia. In general, Russian middle names have a direct connection to the father's name, including a form of patronymic. For example, if the father's name is Petr, the son's middle name would be Petrovich (Petr's son). If it is a daughter, it would be Petrovna (Petr's daughter).

HIDDEN GEMS

Impress Everyone With These 10 Rare and Underused Words

Credit: Dmitry Ratushny

Have you ever found yourself in an "anecdoche"? Do you know someone with "disingenuous" intentions? Among the many entries in the dictionary, certain words stand out, both for their beauty and their great utility. While many of them are present in our daily conversations, others, unfortunately, remain neglected and overlooked, waiting to be rediscovered.

If you want to impress everyone with an original and sophisticated vocabulary, come with us to discover these 10 rare, infrequent English words that should get trendy!

Credit: Katie Gerrard

Ever found yourself repeating a practice you don't know where it comes from? Maybe you always take the same route to work, even though you know there is a quicker way. It's like sticking to a habit despite being aware it's a mistake.

If you recognize this situation, you may be committing a "mumpsimus." This term describes not only a habit, notion, or idea that someone stubbornly sticks to despite knowing it's wrong but also the person who behaves this way.

The word has a fascinating origin story. Legend has it that a preacher misread the word "sumpsimus" ("we have taken") as "mumpsimus." Even after being corrected, he kept using the word incorrectly. Do any "mumpsimuses" come to your mind?

Credit: Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦

If you have a large family or many friends, this word will be very useful.

Many times, in gatherings of several people, the conversation can become a bit, shall we say, messy. It is the typical crowded dinner: everyone is shouting and talking over one another; a chaotic yet familiar scenario, right? Next time it happens to you, you can say, "Stop this anecdoche!" Everyone will probably stop talking, at least to find out what that word means.

"Anecdoche" captures that exact scenario. It's a relatively new term, defined as a situation where many people are talking, but no one is listening or getting involved with each other's anecdotes.

Credit: Kira auf der Heide

We all have that one friend who loves to give gifts and do thoughtful things for others. If you can think of someone who fits this description, then you know someone truly "munificent." And if no one comes to mind, maybe that munificent person is you!

This adjective perfectly describes those who love to give and give, finding fulfillment in their generosity without necessarily expecting something in return.

The etymology of this word explains its nature very well: "munificent" comes from the Latin munificus, which blends munus ("gift" or "service") with the suffix -ficus, meaning "making" or "doing."

Credit: Rémi Walle

And if we talk about munificent people, we have to mention how these noble guys always spend their time offering "succor." If you're not familiar with that last word, let's explore its meaning.

"Succor" is something you give or do for a person or a group of people who need it. It can be used as a synonym for "help," "assistance," or "support."

Now you know, the next time a co-worker or friend gives you a helping hand in difficult times, you can thank them for their succor.

Credit: Jametlene Reskp

Let's talk about another adjective. This one describes people who might not always be frank or sincere, or who have a way of presenting themselves that isn't always honest.

If you've ever had a feeling that someone isn't being entirely genuine with you, maybe that person is being "disingenuous." This word also has roots in Latin. It derives from disingenuus, which means "not noble."

In English, disingenuous was formed by adding the prefix dis- (meaning "not" or "opposite of") to the word ingenuous, which describes someone who possesses "innocent or childlike simplicity and candidness."

Credit: Kinga Howard

Few things can compare to the pleasure of staying in your own warm bed, either to catch up on sleep or simply to enjoy the morning in peace and quiet.

But let's be honest; as much as we'd like to, we can't make a habit of it… Or can we? Well, that's where the word "slugabed" comes into play, as defined by Merriam-Webster, for those who just can't resist the temptation of staying in bed late.

So, the next time you find someone still in bed at 11 a.m., instead of labeling them as "lazy," you can get sophisticated and kindly call them a "slugabed."

Credit: Ganapathy Kumar

If you want to captivate someone special, just look at the moon and, as a good poet, describe its "refulgence."

This beautiful noun is a sophisticated way of referring to brilliance or shining quality. And it's not limited to literal use, such as describing the sun, the moon, or a cityscape at night. You can also use it metaphorically to depict, for example, someone's delightful smile or charismatic personality.

This noun also has Latin roots, originating from refulgentia ("reflection" or "shining back"), which in turn is derived from the Latin verb refulgere (to shine brightly).

Credit: Dmitry Ratushny

Do you have an activity, sport, or hobby you've been wanting to try? Maybe you're interested in taking a cooking class, learning to ski, or driving, but you're a bit worried about being seen as a "neophyte." If that's the case, don't worry! We've all been neophytes in different aspects of life, even when it comes to learning new words.

As Merriam-Webster points out, "neophyte" is a noun for someone "who is just starting out in a field of activity." In other words, a novice.

As you already know, this word can carry either a positive or a negative tone, depending on its context. In any case, if you use it, remember to be careful and not hurt someone's feelings!

Credit: JESHOOTS.COM

Do you remember that first exam, that tough job interview, or that meeting that left you feeling stressed and nervous? If you often find yourself in such situations, next time, you can tell your boss you're in a "swivet." Not only will you be honest about your feelings, but you'll also impress them with your elevated vocabulary!

"Swivet" is a noun that can be used as a synonym for panic, agitation, or aggravated nervousness. Shaky hands, belly aches, and cold sweats are just some of the uncomfortable symptoms often associated with this rare word. Have you ever experienced something like this?

Credit: Tom Pumford

If you're one of those who enjoy poetry, a good romantic movie, or just anything that brings tears to your eyes, then you might be a sensitive, melancholy soul that could be described as "lachrymose."

That's right, this is a fancy adjective that doesn't just describe emotional people; it also points to what brings on those tears. You can tell your friend, for example, "Don't watch that movie if you're not in the mood to cry; it's a real lachrymose drama!"

In its roots, we find Latin again. It derives from lacrima, a beautiful word meaning "tear."