After our conversation about first names that are also verbs, such as Grant, Bob, and Sue, a university freshman in Laramie, Wyoming, wrote to share a funny story about his dad’s name, Rob. This is part of a complete episode.
Transcript of “Rob: Verb and Name”
You’re listening to A Way with Words, the show about language and how we use it. I’m Grant Barrett.
And I’m Martha Barnette. A while back we had a conversation about names that also double as verbs, like your name, for example, Grant. You can grant somebody three wishes.
Yeah, or other names like Bob and Sue, which are also verbs. That prompted a letter from Nathan Steele. He is a freshman at the University of Wyoming in Laramie, and he writes that his dad’s first name is Robert and his last name, like Nathan’s, is Steele, S-T-E-E-L-E. He says, when my dad was still a baby, my grandmother took him to the supermarket and as she was there, a woman asked my grandmother what her son’s name was. My grandmother told the woman his name was Rob Steele, to which the woman sarcastically replied, well, what’s his middle name, Plunder?
I love that.
Nathan says, I don’t think that before then my grandma had ever considered that both my dad’s names were verbs or even that they were synonyms. My grandma has a good sense of humor, but by the way she told me the story, I think she might have been pretty offended.
Yeah, definitely.
I wonder if we can come up with another name that also means to steal.
What’s that word?
Grab?
Nick?
Nick.
Nick.
Nick, yeah.
And that’s another verb.
Whoa.
Whoa.
Rob Nick Steele.
This is how Grant and I have fun.
Nathan, thank you for that email. We really appreciate it. We love your stories about your names. Keep them coming, 877-929-9673. Email words@waywordradio.org or tell us on Twitter @wayword.
