Aptronyms

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Names that are aptly suited to the professions or characteristics of the individuals they label
2. Designations that humorously or fittingly reflect a person's job, personality, or traits
3. Nouns that create a clever connection between a person's name and their role or profession in society

Etymology: Aptronyms are names that seem to fit their bearers, such as a surgeon called Dr. Death or a hair stylist named Curl. The word is a plural, so it refers to more than one such name, and the singular "aptronym" is a blend of "apt" and "patronym," a name derived from a father's or ancestor's name. The "-onym" ending comes from the Greek "onoma," meaning "name." The blend is a neat piece of wordplay. A patronym passes a family identity down the generations, while "apt" points to a name that suits its owner. Put together, the coinage describes a name that seems to inherit its character from its bearer's life rather than from a lineage.