THE JOURNAL
Nominative determinism is the theory that your name can help shape your career, hobbies and overall life path. From the record-holding fastest man in the world, Usain Bolt, to the president and COO of Nintendo of America, Doug Bowser, not to be confused with Mario’s arch nemesis. Or the prominent British urologist Dr Nicholas Burns-Cox. The concept was first floated by the psychologist Carl Jung, who we guess was himself young once.
Whether you’re more likely to become a baker if your surname is Baker is perhaps a moot point. But there is evidence to suggest that given names can also impact your social trajectory. Several surveys have shown that men with unusual first names were overall more likely to have dropped out of school, but had an increased chance of finding themselves on a list of Who’s Who if they came from a wealthy background. And, famously in 2015, it was noted that there were more men called John than women of any given name serving as CEOs of S&P 500-indexed companies. (While there’s still plenty of room for improvement, we can report that there are now more women than men with any single name in those corner offices, while Jameses now outnumber Johns.)
What has this got to do with clothing? Well, if you’re a loyal follower of certain designers – The Row, TOM FORD and NN07, we’re looking at you – you might notice that the nomenclature for their collections often reads like a list of guys you’ve once met. At MR PORTER’s own in-house label, Mr P., you can shop for a pair of trousers called Mike, sandals that go by Scott and a pair of sneakers that suspiciously share their moniker with Larry David.
“The names are excellent for returning customers, especially if they love specific fits,” says James Geraghty, Design Manager at Mr P. “It almost gives them a personality. Some legacy blocks such as James, Phillip, Daniel and Steve were named before my time. I’m told they were all named after staff.”
Whether they earnt their epithet from a style icon or some dude in accounts, there’s no doubt that when you get to know a good piece of clothing, you’re likely to form a long-lasting alliance. Here are 11 such pieces to introduce yourself to – and the meaning behind them.
01. Charlie
Charles is the English and French take on the Proto-Germanic word for “free man” or churl. Not a person of nobility. A commoner, in short – although the name has since risen to the highest station in the land. The hypocorism Charlie perhaps brings him back down a peg or two. He’s a bit of a lad. A geezer. He’s a plush wool-blend corduroy baseball cap to doff your own hat to, thanks to A.P.C.
02. Jonny
He might not have the C-suite clout he once had, see above, but even the affectionate diminutive Jonny still has presence. By the looks of it, Mr P.’s namesake is already on the golf course. With his open placket and waffle knit, he’s making like Dickie Greenleaf on the Amalfi Coast. And he’s doing so responsibly, using lower-impact materials, as part of our Consciously Crafted edit.
03. Jim
James to his mum, the name means “supplanter” or “one who follows”. All we’ll say is that your current weekend bag should watch its back. Bottega Veneta’s duffle boasts its trademark intrecciato weave, handcrafted in Italy from strips of plush brown leather. It will take you – and your stuff – far.
04. Colby
The NN in NN07 may stand for “no nationality”, but there’s no hiding the brand’s Danish origins from us. Colby comes from Old Norse, meaning “someone who lives in a coal town” or perhaps more sinisterly “from the dark country”. But don’t expect that this organic cotton Oxford shirt will be worn to do manual labour; you’re more likely to see this Colby residing in a well-lit design studio.
05. Glenn
Jacques Marie Mage isn’t shy about its muses, with sunglasses inspired by the likes of Johnny Cash, Scott Walker and Stanley Kubrick. This set continues the theme with a nod to the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould. Glenn itself is a gender-neutral Gaelic name meaning, er, glen or valley. Pop on a pair when gazing over a sun-drenched land.
06. Aston
Aston is a mash-up of the Old English words for east and town or farm, although the association with Aston Martin, James Bond’s choice car marque, probably doesn’t hurt. SAINT LAURENT’s pared-back sneaker rather taps into a different sporting heritage – running. However, the flash of green recalls classic British racing livery.
07. Sergio
A perennially popular name in Spanish-, Portuguese- and Italian-speaking enclaves, it’s no surprise that Sergio derives from Latin. Specifically, the verbs servare, to save, guard or keep, and servire, to serve. An appropriate designation given the area of the anatomy these Consciously Crafted shorts shield. In line with Frescobol Carioca’s fascination with Rio de Janeiro, they’re cut from a lightweight Lyocell, linen and cotton blend, with a drawstring waist for a comfortable fit.
08. Dan
09. Dyllan
A variation of Dylan, meaning “son of the sea” and referring to a “great flood” in Welsh mythology. It probably conjures images of Bob Dylan. He in turn borrowed the name from the poet Dylan Thomas, some of whose most famous words – “Do not go gentle into that good night” – could’ve been penned with this rakish double-breasted jacket from TOM FORD in mind. Although somewhat of a break from this maritime etymology, this piece is dry-clean only.
10. Fred
Frederick derives from the Germanic frid (peace) and ric (ruler), which might give you a flavour of the hold these jeans by The Row will have over your wardrobe. The straight-leg cut and faded light indigo wash suggest a timeless piece that’s already a favourite, with serious sway thanks to the impeccable luxury brand.
11. Ricky
Likewise, Richard is of similar descent, meaning “powerful leader”. Its feisty diminutive form perhaps suggests a more punkish spirit. Inspired by thrift-store finds and tattoo iconography, the logo on this T-shirt by Nudie Jeans does little to dispel this latter impression. It does however meet with MR PORTER’s Consciously Crafted criteria, putting the planet and people of all names first, so it’s not all bad news.