In June of 1982, the Toledo Blade ran a short article about two local brothers who “enjoy the distinction of having initials which spell their names.” One was Thomas Owen Matzinger (T.O.M.), the other was James Irvin Matzinger (J.I.M.). Their dad Mike said it was “just as well” that he didn’t have any more kids, because he couldn’t think of any other sets of names to fit the pattern.
My guess is that Mike was joking, because there are several other sets of initials that could work with an M-surname like Matzinger, one of which, T.I.M., is just a letter away from T.O.M.
In fact, there are at least a couple of combinations that would work with every type of surname.
So today, in honor of the Matzingers of Toledo, I’ve come up with a long list of name-spelling initials. They’re sorted by third initial (that is, the first letter of the last name) so you can scroll straight to the set that matches up with your own surname.
Enjoy!
Initials that Spell Names & Nicknames
| Surname starts with: | Potential full initials (& example combo): |
|---|---|
| A | A.D.A. (Adelaide Diane A.) A.N.A. (Anastasia Nadine A.) A.S.A. (Asa Scott A.) A.V.A. (Ava Virginia A.) B.E.A. (Beatrix Elaine A.) E.V.A. (Eva Veronica A.) G.I.A. (Gia Idonea A.) I.D.A. (Idabelle Daria A.) I.N.A. (Ina Nigella A.) I.R.A. (Ira Ralph A.) I.S.A. (Isabel Simone A.) K.I.A. (Kia Ianthe A.) L.E.A. (Leah Elizabeth A.) M.I.A. (Mia Imelda A.) N.I.A. (Nia Ilona A.) O.D.A. (Odalys Delfina A.) O.R.A. (Ora Ruth A.) U.M.A. (Uma Magnolia A.) U.N.A. (Una Normina A.) |
| B | D.E.B. (Deborah Ethel B.) J.E.B. (Jeb Evan B.) L.I.B. (Libbie Ione B.) R.O.B. (Robert Orville B.) S.E.B. (Sebastian Everly B.) S.Y.B. (Sybil Yvette B.) T.A.B. (Tabitha Araminta B.) Z.E.B. (Zebulon Ezekiel B.) |
| C | B.E.C. (Becky Eowyn C.) M.A.C. (Mackenzie Anne C.) N.I.C. (Nicole Isabelle C.) V.I.C. (Victor Ivan C.) Z.A.C. (Zackary Arlo C.) |
| D | J.E.D. (Jedidiah Easton D.) R.O.D. (Rodney Orrin D.) T.E.D. (Theodora Eugenia D.) Z.E.D. (Zedekiah Ezra D.) |
| E | A.B.E. (Abraham Benjamin E.) A.C.E. (Ace Corbin E.) E.V.E. (Eve Violet E.) F.A.E. (Fae Adina E.) I.K.E. (Isaac Keith E.) J.O.E. (Joseph Owen E.) L.E.E. (Lee Ethan E.) M.A.E. (Maebelle Alice E.) M.O.E. (Morris Oscar E.) R.A.E. (Raelene Alicia E.) S.U.E. (Susan Ursula E.) Z.O.E. (Zoe Ocean E.) |
| F | A.L.F. (Alfred Leonard F.) D.U.F. (Duffy Ultan F.) J.E.F. (Jeffrey Elliott F.) |
| G | M.E.G. (Megan Emiliana G.) P.E.G. (Peggy Elise G.) R.E.G. (Reggie Elmo G.) R.O.G. (Roger Olav G.) |
| H | A.S.H. (Ashton Samuel H.) |
| I | A.B.I. (Abigail Bailey I.) A.L.I. (Alison Layla I.) A.M.I. (Ami May I.) A.R.I. (Ariana Rafaela I.) A.V.I. (Avi Vincent I.) E.D.I. (Edith Daisy I.) E.L.I. (Elijah Logan I.) E.V.I. (Evie Venetia I.) J.O.I. (Joi Olivia I.) K.A.I. (Kai Alexander I.) O.L.I. (Oliver Lennox I.) |
| J | R.A.J. (Rajesh Ajay J.) |
| K | M.A.K. (Makayla Ashley K.) O.A.K. (Oakley Atlas K.) |
| L | C.A.L. (Callum Audley L.) D.E.L. (Delaney Estelle L.) G.I.L. (Gilbert Ishmael L.) H.A.L. (Harry Archibald L.) L.I.L. (Lillian Iva L.) M.A.L. (Malcolm Angus L.) M.E.L. (Melanie Eloisa L.) M.O.L. (Molly Odette L.) S.A.L. (Sally Angelica L.) S.O.L. (Solomon Osborn L.) V.A.L. (Valerie Annette L.) W.I.L. (Willy Ingo L.) Z.E.L. (Zelda Erin L.) |
| M | C.A.M. (Cameron Aidan M.) D.O.M. (Dominic Orson M.) J.E.M. (Jemima Eleanor M.) J.I.M. (James Irvin M.) K.I.M. (Kimberly Imogene M.) L.E.M. (Lemuel Emerson M.) P.A.M. (Pamela Alys M.) R.A.M. (Ramsey Archer M.) S.A.M. (Samuel Aaron M.) S.I.M. (Simon Isidore M.) T.A.M. (Tammy Anita M.) T.I.M. (Timothy Isaac M.) T.O.M. (Thomas Owen M.) |
| N | A.N.N. (Annie Nuala N.) B.E.N. (Benjamin Ellis N.) C.Y.N. (Cynthia Yelena N.) D.A.N. (Daniel Avery N.) D.O.N. (Donovan Oliver N.) F.I.N. (Finley Ivor N.) J.A.N. (Janice Andrina N.) J.O.N. (Jonathan Octavian N.) K.E.N. (Kenneth Eric N.) L.E.N. (Leonard Earl N.) L.Y.N. (Lynnette Yasmin N.) N.A.N. (Nancy Azalea N.) R.E.N. (Renato Elian N.) R.O.N. (Ronald Ormond N.) V.A.N. (Vanessa Athena N.) W.I.N. (Winifred Inez N.) Z.E.N. (Zenobia Evelyn N.) |
| O | F.L.O. (Florence Lily O.) L.E.O. (Leo Elton O.) |
| P | C.A.P. (Caprice Amity P.) K.I.P. (Kip Indigo P.) |
| Q | J.A.Q. (Jaquan Anthony Q.) R.A.Q. (Raquel Alaiah Q.) |
| R | G.A.R. (Gareth Alfie R.) |
| S | C.A.S. (Caspian Atticus S.) G.U.S. (Gustavo Ulises S.) J.E.S. (Jessica Esther S.) L.E.S. (Lester Edward S.) R.U.S. (Russell Upton S.) W.E.S. (Wesley Elwood S.) |
| T | A.R.T. (Arthur Roland T.) C.A.T. (Catherine Aveline T.) D.O.T. (Dorothy Olive T.) M.A.T. (Matthew Alastair T.) N.A.T. (Nathan Arnold T.) P.A.T. (Patricia Ainsley T.) |
| U | L.O.U. (Louisa Ophelia U.) P.R.U. (Prudence Rhoda U.) S.T.U. (Stuart Tucker U.) T.R.U. (Trudie Rose U.) |
| V | B.E.V. (Beverly Evangeline V.) L.I.V. (Livia Indiana V.) N.E.V. (Neville Eldon V.) V.I.V. (Vivian Ingrid V.) |
| W | L.A.W. (Lawson Amos W.) L.E.W. (Lewis Edgar W.) |
| X | B.A.X. (Baxter Andrew X.) D.A.X. (Dax Alec X.) D.E.X. (Dexter Edison X.) J.A.X. (Jaxon Antony X.) L.E.X. (Lexie Eliza X.) M.A.X. (Maximus Alvin X.) P.A.X. (Pax Amelia X.) R.E.X. (Rex Elias X.) R.O.X. (Roxanna Opal X.) T.E.X. (Tex Emmanuel X.) |
| Y | A.M.Y. (Amy Michelle Y.) G.U.Y. (Guy Urban Y.) I.V.Y. (Ivy Verity Y.) J.A.Y. (Jay Adam Y.) J.O.Y. (Joyce Ondina Y.) K.A.Y. (Katherine Addison Y.) M.A.Y. (May Augusta Y.) R.A.Y. (Raymond Adrian Y.) R.O.Y. (Royce Oberon Y.) S.K.Y. (Skylar Kerry Y.) |
| Z | H.E.Z. (Hezekiah Ellery Z.) J.E.Z. (Jezebel Eulalia Z.) L.I.Z. (Lizzie Iris Z.) K.I.Z. (Kizzy Isla Z.) R.O.Z. (Rosalind Olga Z.) |
Can you come up with other good ones? If so, please leave a comment!
Source: “So Named.” Toledo Blade 29 Jun. 1982: P-1.
Image: Dab szypulkowy by Joanna Boisse under CC BY-SA 4.0.
