to google

[William Ryan]

Evelyn is not common nowadays for boys but it used to be. Compare 
Leslie, Vivian, Sidney, Marion (John Wayne was Marion), all old 
hermaphrodite names.
Will


Paul B. Gallagher wrote:
> William Ryan wrote:
>
>> ... As to the h>g transformation, the usual explanation, as far as I
>> recall, is to do with Ukrainian/South Russian pronunciation of g in
>> the 17th-18 c. I do remember hearing a lecture about Evelyn Waugh in
>> Leningrad University in 1962 when the lecturer pronounced his
>> subject's name as Evlin Wog. He is usually referred to now more
>> phonetically as the oriental-looking Uo.  Given that great writer's
>> snobbishness about being an English gentleman both forms no doubt
>> have him spluttering in his grave.
>
> On a barely related topic, I've always wondered whether Waugh's 
> parents "gave him a girl's name" or the name has evolved over time. I 
> see from his bio that his first name was "Arthur" and "Evelyn" was his 
> middle name, but I can't tell whether he was given the latter after a 
> grandmother or something. And with a father named "Arthur" it would be 
> reasonable for him to seek something more distinctive.
>
> Anyway, just musing in ignorance. Anyone know the answers?
>

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