What are we talking about today?

I'll get back to theme days once I find a groove of posting regularly. In the meantime, most of my posts are about some variation of books, bikes, buses, or Broadway. Plus bits about writing, nonprofits, and grief from time to time.

This blog is mostly lighthearted and pretty silly. It's not about the terrible things happening in the world, but please know that I'm not ignoring those things. I just generally don't write about them here.

16 January 2014

I Knew The Walton Series Would Come to This: Jim-Bob

Oh, yes, it's the Walton with the goofiest name. Even worse than John-Boy, it's Jim-Bob. Why? Why in the world?? No wonder he was so sullen. Eventually, as he got older, he was called James Robert more and Jim-Bob less, but I'm not sure that was much of an improvement.

Walton trivia: Jim-Bob had a twin brother, Joseph Zebulon, who died shortly after birth. Poor kid-- would they have called him Joe-Zeb? Presumably, this is to match up with the real-life Hamner family, which had eight children instead of the Walton seven, but it's the Ben character who is based on two brothers, not Jim-Bob.

Jim-Bob isn't smiling, but he's not
scowling, either, so that's something.
This is from The Homecoming, the
Christmas movie that started it all.
Source.
James Robert
It's not really a two-for-one day, though, because I did a James post quite some time ago. Robert is from the Germanic Hrodebert, meaning "bright fame." (I don't know what dull fame is like, but whatever.) Was the #1 boy name in the US from 1924 to 1939, then hung in the top 5 until 1971. Also got up to #314 for girls in 1929. Currently it's #61 for boys in the US, which is surpassed around the world in Hungary (#48), Ireland (#53), and Scotland (#57).

Famous James Roberts: All these guys.

Fictional James Roberts: Just Jim-Bob Walton, as far as I can tell.

While I do use compound names from time to time, it's safe to say Jim-Bob will never be one of them unless I start writing The Waltons fan fiction.

How about you? James? Robert? Both?

Source:
Behind the Name

8 comments:

Kar said...

I suppose you could be famous for being very dull... :) I never did watch the Waltons, but being from the South, I do have relatives and family members who carry on the two-name tradition. :) As for me, I probably won't continue it, unless I can do so in a very low-key way.

Kar said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Su said...

Well, my main character's name is Sybil-Anne, so it's safe to say I'm not opposed to compound names. But this is one I think I can live without.

J E Oneil said...

I can only think of one James, but I know like a dozen Roberts (and I'm related to more than one). Fun Jeanne trivia: Robert was going to be my name if I was a boy :)

Su said...

That IS fun Jeanne trivia!

Chris said...

Hi Su, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/

erica and christy said...

I say James. Also, I've never really given this much thought. I do have a Mary Lou in my current manuscript, but she goes by Lou. :) Christy

Su said...

Are you at all familiar with the Chalet School books? There's a Mary-Lou in them who is either delightful or horrible, depending on your point of view (I'm in the delightful camp, but sometimes she needs a good dose of reality).