Moniker: The Histories and Mysteries of Names
Do you ever wonder how and why things get their names? On Moniker: The Histories and Mysteries of Names, we'll dive into anything and everything related to names. If you're an onomastics aficionado, this is the place for you!
Episodes
What's the difference between a Pilgrim and a Puritan? And what do they have to do with Thanksgiving anyway??
We'll look at the roots of a beloved American holiday and how they connect with the Protestant Revolution.
Raise your drumsticks in a hearty Huzzah!
Here comes Peter Cottontail! It's almost time for Easter!
But what does Easter mean? How did it get its name?
Did the Catholics just piggy-back off a holiday for an ancient goddess??
Let's "hunt" down the answer together!
I bet you know a lot of Kevins, but when was the last time you saw a baby named Kevin?
Today we explore Kevins journey from Celtic Saint to American scamp. Learn just how popular (or unpopular) this name really is!
Sources:
Articles
Children's names: Why rich parents set the trend, not celebrities - BBC News
After a stupidly long hiatus we are back with more naming fun!
Join us this episode for an in-depth look at the journey of orange, both the color and the fruit!
Links:
The Citrus Route Revealed: From Southeast Asia into the Mediterranean in: HortScience Volume 52 Issue 6 (2017) (ashs.org)
orange | Search Online Etymology Dictionary (etymonline.com)
The Origin of Oranges (arcgis.com)
Ah the immortal Bard. We can credit Shakespeare with many things: shaping the English language, bringing theatre to the common man, giving High School drama departments something to perform that's in the public domain.
But can we credit Shakespeare for names like Jessica?
We'll look at the complex (and racist) relationship between Britain and Judaism as we unravel the mystery behind Shakespeare'...
It's an old story:
The Vikings gave Greenland and Iceland their names to fool people. But is that actually true?
Grab and oar on the dragon boat as we sail to the icy heart of this naming mystery!
Sources:
Articles:
A BRIEF HISTORY OF GREENLAND - Local Histories
Debunking the Naming of Iceland: How the Island Got its Name | The Horse and the Norse (wordpress.com)
You've probably seen a meme circulating that shows the so-called "Princess Qajar."
It's a set of black and white photos showing an Iranian woman with a mustache, unibrow, and unusual clothes. A typical caption reads something like: "this woman was a great beauty in her day. 13 men committed suicide after she spurned their advances!"
We're meant to be shocked that this "ugg...
She's pink! She's fun! She's complicated!
The world loves Barbie. She's a staple of American girlhood.
But how did Barbie get her name? Is Barbie a person or a species? When/why did Barbie become a derogatory term against women?
fire up your pink convertibles, because we're getting into the history of Barbie and the impact of her name on culture.
Sources:
Arti...
1/8/22
Here's another Moniker Classic episode to start the New Year. We here at Moniker have been rethinking the format of the show for 2022 and will have updates soon.
But don't worry!
Lot's of naming fun is coming your way!
-Megan
Today we're going to mine the depths of the Golden State! Hopefully we'll find some good nuggets! It'll be a re...
Kris Kringle! Saint Nick! Sinterklaas! Old...beardy! Children all over the world love Santa Claus.
But how did he end up with so many names?
Are they corporate creations or semblances of somber saints?
Join us as we delve into the myths and traditions of Santa Claus. Cameo appearances by: Martin Luther, Charles I, and friend of the podcast Mickey Rooney!
Sources:
Articles:
https://...
We're finally back with part two of the names from Jane Austen's Emma. Today we'll explore the histories and meanings behind the names of 3 male characters: Mr. Knightley, Frank Churchill, and Mr. Elton.
Prepare for my unfiltered opinion on how much Frank and Mr. Elton suck!
Special appearance by our old friend the Domesday Book!
Sources:
Articles:
https://www.britainexpress.c...
Today we explore the mystery behind John Singer Sargent's enigmatic "Portrait of Madame X."
Who was this mystery woman?
Why did Sargent paint her?
Why did he keep her identity a secret?
Sources:
Articles:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/12127
1884 – John Singer Sargent, Madame X (Virginie Gautreau) | Fashion History Timeline (fitnyc.edu)
What started as one creator's vision of the ultimate animated feature became a decades-long struggle resulting in a butchered direct-to-video throw away.
Join us as we discuss with Mandy Gearhart how Richard Williams' "The Thief, The Cobbler, and The Grand Vizier" became "The Thief and the Cobbler," "The Princess and The Cobbler," and "Arabian Knight."
Note: Sou...
How much do we know about the young Native American woman who helped Lewis and Clark explore the west? Today we try to separate fact from fiction as we explore who Sacagawea was in real life, her mythic legend, and how the heck her name should be pronounced.
Sources:
Articles:
Medical names are weird. Like who decided that it all had to be in Latin? We'll look at two medical terms that are a lot more serious than their silly-sounding names imply.
Our journey will take us from ancient Egypt, to the caravans of the Crusades, to modern medical innovation.
Watch out for pirates!
Articles:
https://cambridgelibrarycollection.wordpress.com/2014/04/15/a-treatise-on-the-scurvy/
Hello peeps! This week we'll be re-airing our classic episode all about how the wonderful state of Oregon got it's name.
Some beefy new episodes are in the works so stay tuned for lots of fun new naming stories!
Why are there so many princes and princesses in the great works of Russian literature?
Join us on a journey though the fou...
Today we'll dive into Jane Austen's Emma and investigate the meanings of the names of three of the main women: Emma Woodhouse, Harriet Smith, and Jane Fairfax.
What is the history of these surnames? What do the names tell us about their characters? Did Austen do this intentionally? Was Jane Austen a wizard?
We'll attempt to answer these and many more questions in our first foray into names in fict...
We see hundreds of them in a day! But how did Memes and GIFs get their names? Did they exist before social media? And what on earth is the correct way to pronounce GIF??
We'll answer these and more questions as we look at the histories of these internet giants. Watch for detours into the "web" of the 90s!
Sources:
Websites:
www.techipages.com
www.dictionary.com
www.waybac...
If you have a tiny bit of Latin in your naming toolbelt, you can see how Mortimer seems like it has to do with the dead sea: Mort=death and mer=sea. But is this the whole story?? Why on earth would that be a person's name? Why is Mortimer both a last name and a first name? And why are so many pop culture jerks named Mortime?
We will attempt to answer all of these questions as we take the winding path of Mortimer from swamp...
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