Friday, February 24, 2012

Usual Nickname, Unexpected Name--Al/Allie

Al is a strange nickname--for a guy, it's terribly outdated. Need a name for an awkward, and/or low-class middle-aged male character? Al's the way to go.
On the other hand, I know Allisons and Alexandras who go by Al, and for them it's youthful & cool.
With the exception of Alexander, the usual full names for Al are pretty past their prime--although Alfie is making a surprising comeback, and Ali is pretty chic for a boy, too.

Boys:
  • Alaric (AL-ah-rik, Germanic)
  • Alastair (AL-as-tair, Scottish)--form of Alexander. Also spelled Alistair or Alasdair.
  • Alban (AL-ban or AHL-ban, German, French)--from Latin Albanus.
  • Alby (AL-bee, Irish)--Anglicized from Ailbhe.
  • Alden (AHL-den, English)
  • Aldric (AHL-drik, Germanic)
  • Álmos (AHL-moshe, Hungarian)
  • Aloysius (al-oh-ISH-us, English)--A form of Louis.
  • Alphaeus (al-FEE-us, Latin)--from Hebrew, "changing"
  • Altair (AHL-tair, English)--from Arabic, "flyer"

Girls:
  • Alaia (ah-lye-ah, Basque)--"joyful"
  • Alastríona (al-as-TREE-nah, Irish)--form of Alexandra
  • Alazne (ah-lahs-nee, Basque)--"miracle"
  • Aldith (AHL-dith, English)
  • Aldona (ahl-DAW-nah, Polish)
  • Aleida (AHL-eye-dah, Dutch)--form of Alice/Adelaide
  • Alethea (al-ah-THEE-ah, English)--from Latin, "truth"
  • Aliyah (ah-lee-ah, Arabic & Hebrew)
  • Allegra (ah-LEG-rah, English)--from Italian, "cheerful"
  • Alodia (ah-LOH-dee-ah, Germanic)--original form of Elodie/Elodia
  • Aludra (ah-LOO-drah, English)--from Arabic, "maiden"

2 comments:

  1. Oo! You forgot Alergnon. I've always had a soft spot for that one (the book Flowers for Algernon).

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    Replies
    1. Oh, that is a fun one! I don't know how I missed it--"The Importance of Being Earnest" is one of my favorite plays/movies.

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