For today's Literary Names entry, I won't be reimagining names - rather, I'll be listing the names from one of my favorite book series', Sideways Stories from Wayside School!
This series, by Louis Sachar, the author of Holes, is a silly telling of an impossible school and the crazy teachers and kids within. The book was originally published in 1978, and by the time I read it in the late 1990's, it still retained the comedic draw for kids.
Todd
Maurecia
From what I can tell, Maurecia was made up by the author - are there any others out there?
Dana
Myron
This name means "fragrant" or "perfume".
John
Joe
Stephen
Jenny
Bebe
Originally a diminutive of Beatrice, Bebe is now associated with actress Neuwirth or the clothing brand.
Rondi
Another name I hadn't seen before; it seems to be a feminine version of the male name Rondel, which is French for "circle".
Leslie
Paul
Eric
Sharie
Deedee
Deedee was on the top 1000 for the 1960's, but hasn't been that popular since 1971.
Allison
DJ
While this is probably short for something, DJ has been a full name on birth certificates since the 1960s - 12 "Dj"s were born last year.
While this is probably short for something, DJ has been a full name on birth certificates since the 1960s - 12 "Dj"s were born last year.
Dameon
Joy
Jason
Kathy
Terrence
Mac
Like DJ, this name is more used as a nickname, but 163 Mac's were born last year.
Like DJ, this name is more used as a nickname, but 163 Mac's were born last year.
Ron
Calvin
Sammy
Sue
Benjamin
Louis
What's your favorite name on this list?
What's your favorite name on this list?
I loved these books as a kid!
ReplyDeleteI did a search, and while for all intents and purposes, it's true to say Sachar invented Maurecia, in terms of completeness I note that this spelling shows up in Scotland in 1579 as a variant of Mauricia. So, it wasn't an entirely new invention. :)
Excellent research! Is it a feminine variant of Maurice?
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