NAME - DROPPING 

GAMES Magazine

January 1983

M.E.S.

 

Can you supply the last names of these well-known past or present people with unusual first names? 

 

1. Tab

2. Fess

3. Gore 

4. Coco

5. Strom

6. Beatrix 

7. Cottton 

8. Armand

9. Whoopi 

10. Zbigniew 

11. Thurgood 

 

Answers:

 

1. Tab Hunter

2. Fess Parker

3. Gore Vidal

4. Coco Chanel

5. Strom Thurmond

6. Beatrix Potter

7. Cotton Mather

8. Armand Hammer

9. Whoopi Goldberg

10. Zbigniew Brzezinski

11. Thurgood Marshall  

PAIR-ODIES

GAMES Magazine

December, 2000

Stephen Sniderman (adapted)  

 

Can you name the famous pair suggested by the initials in each clue?

 

Ex. Lyricist and composer of musicals - L&L  

Ans. Lerner & Lowe

 

1. Composer and lyricist of musicals - R&H

2. Lyricist and composer of comic operas - G&S 

3. She cut his hair and he lost his power - S&D

4. Trust in God defeats a stronger enemy - D&G 

5. Explorers of the Pacific Northwest - L&C 

6. Tide and Crest brand name - P&G

7. Book seller - B&N

8. Comedy team - L&H

9. Comedy team - A&C

10. Comedy team - A&A 

11. First parents - A&E

12. First brothers - C&A

13. Jungle couple - T&J 

14. Circus pioneers - B&B

15. Pioneer retailers - S&R 

16. Star-crossed lovers - R&J

17. Roman leader and Egyptian Queen - A&C 

18. "Sound of Silence" duo - S&G

19. Notorious fugitives - B&C

20. George Gershwin opera - P&B

21. Superhero duo - B&R

22. Cartoon cat and mouse - T&J 

23. Abandoned children of a fairy tale - H&G

 

Answers:

 

1. Rodgers and Hammerstein

2. Gilbert and Sullivan

3. Samson and Delilah

4. David and Goliath

5. Lewis and Clark

6. Procter and Gamble

7. Barnes and Noble

8. Laurel and Hardy

9. Abbot and Costello

10. Amos and Andy

11. Adam and Eve

12. Cain and Abel

13. Tarzan and Jane

14. Barnum and Bailey

15. Sears and Roebuck

16. Romeo and Juliet

17. Anthony and Cleopatra

18. Simon and Garfunkel

19. Bonnie and Clyde

20. Porgy and Bess 

21. Batman and Robin  

22. Tom and Jerry 

23. Hansel and Gretel 

 

GAMES/World of Puzzles

March, 2015

John J. Catalano

 

THE RIGHT MAN FOR THE JOB

 

Q. What would be the ideal name for a guy who deals in fine paintings and sculpture?  

A. Art 

 

What would be an appropriate name for a man engaged in the occupations listed below. (All answers are male names.)

 

1. Toupee manufacturer

2. Seller of tools for prying open locks

3. Maker of custom fishing poles

4. Maker of punch-card election ballots

5. Owner and operator of a hotdog stand

6. Seller of organic soil conditioners

7. Estate planning attorney

8. Expert on types of fish

9. Wealthy entrepreneur

10. Professional volleyball player 

11. Film critic

12. Auto collision claims adjuster

13. Installer of solar panels

14. Deli sandwich maker

15. Oil rig worker

16. Purveyor of precious gems

17. Maker of kiddie pools

18-19. Plumbers specializing in restroom design and installation

 

Answers:

 

1. Harry

2. Jimmy

3. Rod

4. Chad

5. Frank

6. Pete

7. Will

8. Gil

9. Rich

10. Spike

11. Oscar

12. Rex

13. Sonny

14. Reuben

15. Derek

16. Jules

17. Wade

18 - 19. John and Lou 

WHO'S THE MAN? III 

GAMES/World of Puzzles 

October, 2021

Edward Mooney

 

Can you fill in the names of the people and characters below whose middle name is THE? The names are listed in alphabetical order. 

 

Robin the Boy Wonder

________ the Riveter

________ the Red-Nosed Reindeer

________ the Teenage Witch

________ the Sham and the Pharaohs

________ the Sailor

________ the Bear

________ the Man

________ the Tiger

________ the Impaler

________ the Conqueror

________ -the-Pooh 

________ the Turtle

________ the Greek

 

Answers:

 

Rosie the Riveter

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Sabrina the Teenage Witch

Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs

Sinbad the Sailor

Smokey the Bear

Stan the Man (Musial)

Tony the Tiger

Vlad the Impaler

William the Conqueror

Winnie-the-Pooh

Yertle the Turtle

Zorba the Greek 

 

  

WHO'S THE MAN? II

GAMES/World of Puzzles

October, 2021 

Edward Mooney

 

Can you fill in the names of the twenty people and characters below whose middle name is THE? The names are listed in alphabetical order.

 

Henry the Eighth

________ the Duck

________ the Terrible

________ the Hutt

________ the Ripper

________ the Baptist

________ the Obscure

________ the Frog

________ the Clown

________ the Lion

________ the Knife

________ the Moocher

________ the Cat

________ the Hunter

________ the Grouch

________ the Great

________ the Sailor

________ the Magic Dragon  

________ the Lion-hearted  

________ the Boy Wonder

 

Answers:

 

Henry the Eighth

Howard the Duck

Ivan the Terrible

Jabba the Hutt

Jack the Ripper

John the Baptist

Jude the Obscure

Kermit the Frog

Krusty the Clown

Leo the Lion

Mack the Knife

Minnie the Moocher

Morris the Cat

Orion the Hunter

Oscar the Grouch

Peter the Great

Popeye the Sailor

Puff the Magic Dragon

Richard the Lion-hearted

Robin the Boy Wonder  

 

WHO'S THE MAN?  I

GAMES/World of Puzzles

October, 2021

Edward Mooney

 

Can you fill in the names of the twenty people and characters below whose middle name is THE? The names are listed in alphabetical order. 

 

Alexander the Great

________ the Giant 

________ the Hun

________ the Kid 

________ the Clown

________ the Vampire Slayer

________ the Great

________ he Entertainer

________ the Big Red Dog 

________ the Barbarian

________ the Menace

________ the Explorer

________ the Confessor

________ the Cow

________ the Red

________ the Cat

________ the Talking Mule

________ the Cat

________ the Snowman

________ the Horrible 

 

Answers:

 

Alexander the Great

Andre the Giant

Attila the Hun

Billy the Kid 

Bozo the Clown 

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Catherine the Great

Cedric the Entertainer

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Conan the Barbarian

Dennis the Menace

Dora the Explorer

Edward the Confessor

Elsie the Cow

Eric the Red

Felix the Cat

Francis the Talking Mule

Fritz the Cat

Frosty the Snowman

Hagar the Horrible 

  

 

UNUSUAL NAMES

1. Will Power

2. Sue Flay

3. Amanda Lynn

4. Gene Pool

5. Ben Dover

6. Royal Payne

7. Misty Meanor

8. Art Major

9. Paige Turner

10. Al Dente

11. Constance Noring 

 

FAMOUS NICKNAMES

Nicknames are often given to individuals based on their achievements, personality, physical characteristics, or other notable aspects. Can you match the athletes, music/arts people, and figures from history below with their nicknames?

 

Athletes

1. The Sultan of Swat 

2. The Say Hey Kid

3. The Iron Horse

4. The Mailman

5. The Great One

6. The Greatest 

 

Music - Arts 

 

1. The King of Rock and Roll

2. The King of Pop

3. The Godfather of Soul

4. The Queen of Soul

5. The Boss

6. The Duke 

7. La Divina 

8. Schnozzola 

9. The Blonde Bombshell 

10. Chairman of the Board /Ol' Blue Eyes 

 

Figures from history

 

1. Scarface 

2. Old Hickory 

3. The Lone Eagle

4. Il Duce 

5. The Gipper 

6. The Iron Lady 

7. The British Bulldog 

 

Answers:

 

Athletes:

1. Babe Ruth

2. Willie Mays

3. Lou Gehrig

4. Carl Malone

5. Wayne Gretzky

6. Muhammad Ali 

 

Music - Arts:

1. Elvis Presley or Chuck Berry

2. Michael Jackson 

3. James Brown

4. Aretha Franklin 

5. Bruce Springsteen 

6. John Wayne 

7. Maria Callas 

8. Jimmy Durante 

9. Marilyn Monroe 

10. Frank Sinatra 

 

Figures from history:

1. Al Capone  

2. Andrew Jackson 

3. Charles Lindbergh 

4. Benito Mussolini 

5. Ronald Reagan 

6. Margaret Thatcher 

7. Winston Churchill 

 

 

ROLLER DERBY NAMES

Source: The Book of Useless Infromation 

Publications International, Ltd.

In 2004, the Women's Flat Track Roller Derby Association was founded, bringing women's competitive roller derby back to the masses. With roots in the 1930s, derby bouts are rowdy, risky, fun, and imbued with a special brand of humor - as evidenced by the names of some of the players, referees, and support staff.

Tequila Mockingbird

Bone Crawford

Gefilte Fists 

Midwife Crisis

Genghis Connie

Graceless Kelly

Doris Day of the Dead (referee)

Cruisin' B. Anthony

Grudge Judy

Abby Rogue 

Tall Drinka Slaughter

Count Smacula

Raggedy Animal

NAME FAME GAME

GAMES Magazine

December, 1982

Stephen Sniderman (1-5)

 

[Note from JA: I try to avoid puzzles using the names of "famous" people, because their names often do not stand the test of time. I think there is at least one name in each group below that will prompt the recollection of the names that are less well known today.

Each trio of names below belongs to three famous people whose last names rhyme. 

For example: Doris

                      Tina

                       Mary,

would be        Doris Day

                       Tina Fey

                        Mary Kay

 

1. Menachem

    Carl

    Ronald

 

2. Arthur

    Johnny

    Ogden

 

3. Dolly

    Dean

    Clara

 

4. Elizabeth

    Norman

    Elgin

 

5. Isaac

    Jerome

    Jules

 

6. Vanna

    Orville

    Ted

Answers:

 

1. Menachem Begin

    Carl Sagan

    Ronald Reagan

 

2. Arthur Ashe

    Johnny Cash

    Odgen Nash

 

3. Dolly Parton

    Dean Martin

    Clara Barton

 

4. Elizabeth Taylor

    Norman Mailer

    Elgin Baylor

 

5. Isaac Stern

    Jerome Kern

    Jules Verne

 

6. Vanna White

    Orville Wright   

    Ted Knight

    

LOOK - WHAT'S IN A NAME?

 

GAMES Magazine

January, 1987

Doug and Janis Heller

 

Can you detect what common characteristic these names share?

 

1. CHARLIE RICH

2. MICHELE LEE

3. CHARLOTTE RAE

4. RAY BRADBURY

5. ALFRED ADLER

 

Answer: 

 

In each case, all of the letters from one of the two names (either first or last) can be found in the other name, though not in order. 

What do the following four-letter names have in common?

JACK

VERN

NORM

HERB

ANNE

MORT

 

Answer: 

 

Each name becomes a new word with the addition of AL at the end:

 

JACKAL

VERNAL

NORMAL

HERBAL

ANNEAL

MORTAL

 

Credit:

GAMES Magazine

October, 2001

Raymond Love

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME

Each clue leads to a familiar word or phrase containing a male or female name.

1. December 24

2. Kind of tournament

3. Eyewear for optimists

4. Cold-weather undies

5. Mr. Fix-it

6. Revolving table-top tray

7. Where "Freedom of speech" is found

8. Plant source for many skin care products

9. Temperamental person with an inflated ego

10. Leg cramp

11. Hair accessory

12. Shared equally 

13. Charge a credit card to the limit

14. What the dove returned to Noah's Ark

15. What the Wicked Witch of the East wanted

 

Answers:

 

1. Christmas EVE

2. Round ROBIN

3. ROSE-colored glasses

4. Long JOHNS

5. JACK-of-all-trades

6. Lazy SUSAN

7. BILL of Rights

8. Aloe VERA

9. Prima DONNA

10. CHARLEY horse

11. BOBBY pin

12. Even STEVEN

13. MAX out

14. OLIVE branch

15. RUBY slippers 

 

Credit:

Based on: 

GAMES Magazine

August, 2001

Jennifer Orehowsky

(WHO GOES THERE?)

NATIONAL DIVISION

Merl Reagle

 

The blanks below are to be filled in with the names of countries. But for the sentences to make sense, the country names have to be divided into smaller words - without re-arranging the letters.  Some of the answers to the clues below "go back awhile." But they're so clever, I've included them anyway. For example, Jack LaLanne's opening a ________ in our neighborhood." The answer would be SPAIN (spa in).

 

1. United is booked solid, so you had better give ________ try.

 

2. I'm all out of breath because ________ here as fast as I could.

 

3. Giving a kitten a ball of string is like giving a ________ jar of honey.

 

4. Prince ________ for England whenever he's away.

 

5. His was the best report, so I gave the ________.

 

6. O ________ of little faith.

 

7. Can a plane that's covered with ________ in this weather?

 

8. After his vacation, he returned to word with ________ landed three accounts in one day.

 

9.  You don't see bacteria often, but you can find a ________ time.

 

10. If sheep are white, how come my ________? 

 

Answers:

 

1. PANAMA (PAN AM A)

2. IRAN

3. CUBA

4. PHILIPPINES (PHILLIP PINES)

5. GUYANA (GUY AN A)

6. YEMEN

7. ICELAND

8. NEW ZEALAND

9. GERMANY

10. AFGHANISTAN (AFGHAN IS TAN)

MANHUNT

Henry E. Leabo

 

Some letters are missing from the word list below. Replace each set of asterisks with a man's first name to form a complete word. For example, AD * * * TAGE plus VAN would give ADVANTAGE. 

1. R ****SERIE

2. CLI***

3. TAR****IN

4. S ****ET

5. ****SMAN

6. UN****ING

7. ****WARM

8. ASPARA***

9. M***GE

10. ****ANT

11. ST******

12. *****TONE

13. SE***

14. FLOT***

15. K****KNACK

Answers:

 

1. rOTISerie

2. cliMAX

3. tarPAULin

4. sCARLet

5. MARKsman

6. unWILLing

7. LUKEwarm

8. asparaGUS 

9. mIRAge

10. ADAMant

11. stERNEST

12. MILEStone

13. seDAN

14. flotSAM

15. mNICKknack

NY Times Crossword

April 16, 2024

Adam Vincent

What do the following men have in common?

1. Stephen Fry

2. Samuel Colt

3. Ryan Gosling

4. Charles Lamb

 

HINT:

It has to do with their names, not their accomplishments.

Answer:

 

The first name of each man is a common man's name. The last name of each man is the name of a baby animal.

 

 

LA Times Crossword

April 2, 2024

David Tufts

Each phrase below contains a related name. What are they?

1. KICK A HABIT

2. URBAN BLIGHT

3. SUN EMOJI

4. ALL SHOOK UP

Answers:

 

1. kick A HABit - AHAB

2. urban BLIHGt - BLIGH

3. suN EMOji - NEMO

4. all sHOOK up - HOOK - - - Names of fictional Captains

TWO'S COMPANY

GAMES Magazine

May, 2000

From the GAMES Library

 

Can you complete the second part of the two-part named companies below?

 

1. ARM & _____

2. BARNES & _____

3. BAUSCH & _____

4. BLACK & _____

5. CURRIER & _____

6. DUN & _____

7. FUNK & _____

8. JOHNSON & _____

9. LEA & _____

10. PROCTER & _____

11. SIMON & _____

12. VAN CLEEF & _____

 

Answers: 

 

1. ARM & HAMMER

2. BARNES & NOBLE

3. BAUSCH & LOMB

4. BLACK & DECKER

5. CURRIER & IVES

6. DUN & BRADSTREET

7. FUNK & WAGNALLS

8. JOHNSON & JOHNSON

9. LEA & PERRINS

10. PROCTER & GAMBLE

11. SIMON & SCHUSTER

12. VAN CLEEF & ARPEL

IT  HAS A NAME

1. The vertical surface of the stair in a staircase is called a riser. The horizontal surface of the stair - the part you step on - is called the tread.

2. The back of an office desk that extends down to the floor is called a modesty panel.

3. The small curved end of a clothes hanger that forms the letter "C" is called a turnback.

4. The part of eyeglasses on the side of the head and extending over the ear is called a temple.

5. A charred, partly consumed candlewick is called a snuff.

6. The metal ring that supports the eyelet (the hole the shoelace goes through) is called a grommet.

7. The head (top portion) of a key is called the bow.*

*[JA - yet another meaning of this celebrated heteronym. I don't know how this one is pronounced, but I suspect it's "bough", as the bow (front) of a ship.]

PEOPLE WHO NEED PEOPLE

 

GAMES/World of Puzzles

Special Issue

November, 1996

Stephen Sniderman

 

What 's in a name? Sometimes, another name. For example, hidden in the surname of trapeze great Karl Wallenda are the letters of patriot Ethan ALLEN. In each clue below, two first names are given. Think of the last names of both people. The last name of the person whose first  name is given first can fit inside the last name of the second person.

 

For example: ELIAS - DWIGHT

                      Elias HOWE  - Dwight EISENHOWER

 

1. MUHAMMAD - JOSEPH

2. AYN  - MARLON

3. PEARS - FATTY

4. CHARLIE - JAMES

5. CHRISTOPHER - D.H.

6. WILLIAM - LOU

7. ISAAC - BORIS

8. JOHANN SEBASTIAN - MIKHAIL

Answers:

 

1. STALIN 

2. BRANDO 

3. ARBUCKLE 

4. BUCHANAN 

5. LAWRENCE

6. COSTELLO

7. PASTERNAK

8. GORBACHEV