Buster

[Fred Shapiro]

On Fri, 21 Feb 2003, Jesse Sheidlower wrote:

> Since HDAS has an 1866 cite for _buster_ in this sense, I'd have to
> say no.

I believe that the now-common first name Gary did not exist until a press
agent came up with the name Gary Cooper for an actor.  I also believe that
Wendy originated in Barrie's _Peter Pan_.  Are there other examples of
"coined" names catching on and becoming popular?

Fred


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Fred R. Shapiro                             Editor
Associate Librarian for Collections and     YALE DICTIONARY OF QUOTATIONS
  Access and Lecturer in Legal Research     Yale University Press,
Yale Law School                             forthcoming
e-mail: fred.shapiro at yale.edu               http://quotationdictionary.com
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