February 17, 2010
What Is A Good, Ironic Last Name For Somebody Who Should Be Happy And Friendly?
I am creating a story about an old man who has no friends because he is so bitter towards others, and I don’t know what to name him…. Mr. ____? Is there any kind of symbolic name for a happy person or someone who is friendly and kind? It could be of any origin, I just want my story to sound interesting. Thanks in advance!
Suggested Reading:
The Happiness Project: Or, Why I Spent a Year Trying to Sing in the Morning, Clean My Closets, Fight Right, Read Aristotle, and Generally Have More FunGretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. "The days are long, but the years are short," she realize... Read More >
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Comments on What Is A Good, Ironic Last Name For Somebody Who Should Be Happy And Friendly?
Doom
I knew someone like that actually and thought it was funny that his last name was Gaity.
Mr. Felicitous
Mr. Blithe
Mr. Jubilant
Mr. Rhapsodic
Some good suggestions so far. I would suggest you try to use one that is an ACTUAL name — NOT names like “Mr Cheerful”, which is too obviously manufactured, and sounds more like what people would call a dour person to make fun of him.
The best might be “Blythe” (older spelling of “blithe”, and how the SURNAME is usually spelled), which means:”joyous, merry, or gay in disposition; glad; cheerful”
“Bliss” is another possibility. Or “Smiley” The slight difference in spelling for this name, as for Blythe, may make it more appealing, since the irony is clear enough, yet the spelling difference, since it is legitimate, makes the whole seem a bit less contrived.
Or how about “Merriman”/”Merryman” (old term for a jester). Again, the spelling difference might help (not to mention the slightly different pronunciation from “merry man”).
Along the same lines, you might possibly consider a name like “Leithart” — it SOUNDS like “light heart”, of course, but doesn’t actually mean that.
In another time I might have suggested “Gay” (and I know people with this name), but nowadays the alternate usage is sure to distract.
I commend Lana’s efforts, but her suggestions seem too erudite for your purposes — foreign names that the common reader would not know the meaning of are not likely to make your point.
Mr Smiley.
Mr.Sweet
Riley (living the life of)
Abraham
Right
Mr Merry/Popular/Jolly/Shine?
Mr. Blithe
Mr. Jolly
Mr. Kind
Mr. Cheer
Mr. Phunny
In Spanish there is a last name:
- Alegria: which actually means “joy” “happiness”.
In English you could use:
- Bristow: (British Origin) means From brihs, pleasant, bright.
- Manners ( like.. he has none.. could be very ironic and funny).
In French:
- Bellamont (origin: Fr.) De Bellamont, from the fair or beautiful mount. De Bello Monte.
- Allure : Which means like beauty or charm.
You can also check http://www.last-names.net and do a little research. Hope you find it.