# Name of a literary device

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-of-a-literary-device/944117>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** books-writing-myths\
**Created:** [June 12, 2021, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-of-a-literary-device/944117 "2021-06-12T15:06:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 13

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**Author:** ![snoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/43a26b/32.png) [@snoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snoe)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2021, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/name-of-a-literary-device/944117/13 "2021-06-13T05:12:28Z")

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> [@Riemann](#):
>
> **aptronym** is a coinage for the “Hiro Protagonist” type of name.

I like this too!

Tom Pynchon is an interesting example of an author who uses names in some of the ways described here. Some are apt at a pretty basic, even punny level (Geli Tripping, Tyrone Slothrop, “Mucho” Maas); some are evocative of the character’s nature in a more vague, poetic way (Colonel Tchitcherine, Captain Blicero, Brigadier Pudding); and some seem to be just for fun (Dr. Porkyeovitch, “Pig” Bodine).

Not to mention Richard M. Zhlubb.

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