Memory is the first thing to go

[Northern_Piper]

The technical, SDMB approved term is “threadnesia”. (We won’t get into the other suggestions that didn’t make the cut. )

Why do we call Galileo by his first name?

When we talk about the great early astronomers, we refer to Brahe, Copernicus and Newton, not Tycho, Nicholas and Isaac. But we always refer to Galileo Galilei as Galileo, not Galilei. How come?

Why Galileo? Why not Galilei?

Why do we remember Galileo Galilei as “Galileo”, his first name, and not as “Galilei”, his last name? We remember the other astronomy greats of that time by their last names: Newton, Brahe, Kepler (or a Latinized version of the last name, in the case of Copernicus). So why the special treatment for Galileo? Was he just a back-slapping, friendly guy: “No, no, just call me Galileo, thanks!” Or is the “-leo” ending easier for anglos than the “-lei” ending? Any thoughts?