Baby born during storm, named Cycalona

Clonie Gowen is a professional poker player.

But “Clonie” is just a nickname.

Her real first name? Cycalona.

Cycalona “was born in Florida during rough weather” in November, 1971. So her parents invented a unique baby name for her, basing it on the word cyclone.

(And the word cyclone, you may be surprised to learn, was coined in only the mid-19th century. It’s derived from the Greek word kyklon, meaning “moving in a circle,” “revolving.”)

Cycalona is one of the more interesting names I’ve come across lately. What do you think of it?

Sources:

  • Bruning, Fred. “The Read Deal.” Newsday 13 Jan. 2004: B6.
  • Wilonsky, Robert. “Poker Face.” Dallas Observer 1 Apr. 2004.

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