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| J. R. "Bob," not J. Bob |
Why is it always L.?
- L. Frank Baum (1856-1919), author of The Wizard of Oz
- L. Ron Hubbard (1911-1986), founder of Scientology
- L. Tom Perry (1922-2015), Mormon apostle
Using a first initial and a middle name is very formal, and it sounds weird with a nickname. I know L. Frank and L. Tom were named Frank and Tom, not Francis and Thomas, but it still sounds weird -- and Lafayette Ronald Hubbard didn't have that excuse.
The question is, why is it always L.? I can't think of any name in this format with a different first initial. (Truman doesn't count because he was Harry S., not S. Harry.)
11 comments:
Might it have to do with the fact that a lot of names start with 'el'?
Like Elohim now that ya mention it
El Cid
El Ka-Bong
El Roy
El Ton John
and so on...
The closest I can think of is M. Night Shyamalan - although being an Indian name with a one-off nickname, it clearly doesn't register on the same scale in terms of formality or informality.
T. Boone Pickens would like a word.
Boone isn’t a nickname.
M. Night technically qualifies.
El Guapo
El Chapo
El Chavo del Ocho
T. Dan Smith was a corrupt Geordie (Newcastle, in the north-east of England) Labour politician in the 50s-70s.
T. Dan Smith definitely qualifies.
Ride, boldly ride, if you seek for L. Dorado!
J. Edgar Hoover, FBI Director
F. Lee Bailey, Attorney
E. Michael Jones, Catholic controversialist
J. Howard Marshall, Businessman
C. Montgomery Burns, Nuclear power plant owner
@Kevin Joyce
None of those qualify. I'm looking for names like J. Ed Hoover, E. Mike Jones, C. Monty Burns, etc. -- the formality of a first initial combined with the informality of a nickname.
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