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This is an old revision of this page, as edited by JesseRafe (talk | contribs) at 01:09, 3 January 2012 (It's clearly labelled a theory in the article, it is not a fact that their names lead to professions, no one ever claimed as such anywhere, but it is a fact these are their names and professions, therefore the names are self-evident examples - not OR). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Nominative determinism is a comparatively recent term for the theory that a person's name can have a significant role in determining key aspects of job, profession or even character. It was a commonly held notion in the ancient world.

Synonyms and/or related concepts include: aptronym, apronym, aptonym, jobonymns, 'namephreaks', onomastic determinism, 'perfect fit last names' (PFLNs), psychonymics and, classically, the notion that nomen est omen, or όνομα ορίζοντας. Tom Stoppard in his play Jumpers labelled the phenomenon cognomen syndrome.

A related term, to refer to a name peculiarly suited to its owner, is aptronym, said to have been coined by the US newspaper columnist Franklin P. Adams. The distinction between cognitive determinacy and a mere aptronym is seen as subtle but fundamental: i.e. post hoc vs propter hoc. ND researchers are sometimes referred to as comiconomenclaturists — connoisseurs of humorous names.

Origin and meaning

The term nominative determinism had its origin in the 'Feedback' column of the British popular science journal New Scientist in 1994:

"We recently came across a new book, Pole Positions - The Polar Regions and the Future of the Planet, by Daniel Snowman. Then, a couple of weeks later, we received a copy of London Under London - A Subterranean Guide, one of the authors of which is Richard Trench. So it was interesting to see Jen Hunt of the University of Manchester stating in the October issue of The Psychologist: "Authors gravitate to the area of research which fits their surname." Hunt's example is an article on incontinence in the British Journal of Urology (vol 49, pp 173-176, 1977) by J. W. Splatt and D. Weedon. (This really does exist. We've checked it).

We feel it's time to open up this whole issue to rigorous scrutiny. You are invited to send in examples of the phenomenon in the fields of science and technology (with references that check out, please) together with any hypotheses you may have on how it comes about. No prizes, other than seeing your name in print and knowing you have contributed to the advance of human knowledge."

An earlier and widely cited instance of the idea that name may significantly influence choice or behaviour is contained in Carl Jung's seminal 1952 paper on Synchronicity:

"We find ourselves in something of a quandary when it comes to making up our minds about the phenomenon which Stekel calls the 'compulsion of the name'. What he means by this is the sometimes quite gross coincidence between a man's name and his peculiarities or profession. For instance ... Herr Feist (Mr Stout) is the food minister, Herr Rosstäuscher (Mr Horsetrader) is a lawyer, Herr Kalberer (Mr Calver) is an obstetrician ... Are these the whimsicalities of chance, or the suggestive effects of the name, as Stekel seems to suggest, or are they 'meaningful coincidences'?"

Jung listed striking instances among psychologists — including himself:

"Herr Freud (Joy) champions the pleasure principle, Herr Adler (Eagle) the will to power, Herr Jung (Young) the idea of rebirth…"

Though various social psychologists and others may have argued that a name can indeed significantly influence a life, the New Scientist itself appeared finally to adopt a more equivocal position:

"Let the last word go to Andrew Lover, who writes to us expressing the earnest hope that nominative determinism is a real phenomenon. We hope so, too, young Lover."

Spurious nominative determinism

Having a name suited to your job is not, it may be argued, inevitably nominative determinism. Marina Stepanova, for example, was an elite hurdler who achieved a world record in 1986. She entered the sport and achieved early athletic success, however, under her maiden name Marina Makeyeva and only later acquired by marriage the strangely more apt name. Since her married name cannot have influenced her earlier life, Marina Stepanova may be regarded as an example of an aptronym, rather than an instance of nominative determinism.

Examples

• Layne Beachley, won the surfing World Championship seven times, Manly beach Australia
• William Bishop, 17th century English Roman Catholic Bishop, the only recorded Catholic Bishop Bishop in history.
• Usain Bolt, world 100m and 200m record holder.
• Lord Brain, leading neurologist and peer of the realm.
• Christopher Coke, drug-dealer
• Frances Crook, director of the Howard League for Penal Reform.
• Mark De Man, Football defender
• Carla Dove, Ornithologist
• Amelia Earhart aviation pioneer; her surname is pronounced air-heart
• Eugen Fischer, a Nazi German professor of eugenics.
• John Fish, Marine Biologist at Aberystwyth University.
• Bob Flowerdew - British gardener and panellist on Radio 4's Gardener's Question Time.
• Nick Freeman, better known as Mr Loophole, a lawyer known for keeping clients free of the nick.
• Amy Freeze, TV meteorologist
• Igor Judge, Baron Judge, Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
• Dale Kickett, players of Australian Rules Football.
• John Laws, a judge in the Court of Appeal
• Robin Mahfood, President of Food for the Poor.
• Jim McGovern, Scottish Politician.
• Chris Moneymaker makes millions of dollars playing poker around the world
• Black Rob, Rapper convicted of Grand Larceny.
• Stephen Rowbotham, Olympic rower for the GB team.
• Mark Shuttleworth, entrepreneur, one of the first space tourists.
• Anna Smashnova the Israeli tennis player.
• Larry Speakes, a Whitehouse spokesman to several Presidents, most notably Ronald Reagan.
• Scott Speed, ex-Formula One race car driver, similarly fellow NASCAR driver Lake Speed.
• Louise Story, New York Times journalist
• Philip Syng Physick, American physician born in Philadelphia who died in 1837.
• Thistle Harris - Australian botanist
• John Tory, former leader of the Ontario Progressive Conservative Party. In Canada, the members of the federal Conservative Party of Canada and the provincial Progressive Conservative parties are known as Tories.
• Rick Wagoner, former Chief Executive of General Motors
• Ian Watts, head of energy and utilities at a UK data security firm.
• Anthony Weiner, American Congressman, sent explicit photos to women over the Internet
• Arsène Wenger, manager of Arsenal FC
• Rob Whiteman, chief executive of the UK Border Agency
• Amy Winehouse, singer/musician who has made headlines with her alcoholism
• John Wisdom, Cambridge philosopher
• Wolfgang Wolf, former manager of German football club VFL Wolfsburg
• Tiger Woods, Golfer

References

1. Timothy Noah (Dec. 16, 2005). "Charol Shakeshaft, Topped!". Slate. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
2. Splatt AJ, Weedon D. The urethral syndrome: experience with the Richardson urethroplasty. Br J Urol. 1977 Apr;49(2):173–176.
3. New Scientist, Newscientist.com, Feedback, November 5, 1994
4. ^ New Scientist, Newscientist.com, Feedback, April 20, 1996
5. New Scientist, Newscientist.com, Feedback June 22, 1996
6. Trackandfieldnews.com
7. Football-heroes.net
8. Smithsonian Institution
9. Aber.ac.uk
10. Foodforthepoor.org
11. Topics.nytimes.com
12. Telegraph.co.uk
13. UK Border Agency website

External links

• Aptonyms-wiki was Canadian Aptonym Centre
• The Doctor's Names List
• Funny Doctors' Names

• Employment
• Names
• Semantics
• Determinism