Good Names, Good People
A running, dated feed of short, positive profiles of real people — historic and present-day — who share popular names. New posts appear here on a regular schedule; every name's own detail page always shows the full set of profiles researched for it.
-
August 19, 2026
Sarah Josepha Hale — Sarah
An influential writer and editor, Sarah Josepha Hale campaigned for nearly 40 years to establish Thanksgiving as a national holiday, succeeding in 1863, and also wrote the beloved nursery rhyme 'Mary Had a Little Lamb.'
-
August 18, 2026
Michael Jordan — Michael
Widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan has given hundreds of millions of dollars to charitable causes, including funding two medical clinics in his hometown of Charlotte, North…
-
August 17, 2026
Queen Elizabeth II — Elizabeth
Britain's longest-reigning monarch, Elizabeth II served for 70 years and was known for her steady sense of duty, supporting hundreds of charities and patronages throughout her reign, including causes in health, youth…
-
August 16, 2026
John Lennon — John
As a member of The Beatles and later a solo artist, John Lennon helped reshape popular music, and his songs like 'Imagine' became enduring anthems for peace that are still sung by hopeful crowds around the world today.
-
August 15, 2026
Mary Robinson — Mary
The first woman elected President of Ireland, Mary Robinson went on to serve as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights and has spent decades championing climate justice and human rights around the world through The…
-
August 14, 2026
James Baldwin — James
A novelist and essayist whose books, including 'Go Tell It on the Mountain' and 'The Fire Next Time,' brought unmatched clarity and compassion to conversations about race, identity, and belonging in America. Baldwin's…
-
August 13, 2026
Grace Hopper — Grace
A computer scientist and U.S. Navy rear admiral, Grace Hopper developed one of the first compilers and helped create the COBOL programming language, making computers far more accessible by allowing programs to be…
-
August 12, 2026
William Shakespeare — William
Widely considered the greatest writer in the English language, William Shakespeare's plays and sonnets — from 'Hamlet' to 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' — continue to be performed and studied more than 400 years after…
-
August 11, 2026
Maria Montessori — Maria
One of the first women to earn a medical degree in Italy, Maria Montessori developed the Montessori method of education, which emphasizes independence and hands-on learning and is still used in thousands of schools…
-
August 10, 2026
David Attenborough — David
A broadcaster and naturalist for over seven decades, David Attenborough has brought the wonder of the natural world into homes worldwide through documentaries like 'Planet Earth' and 'Blue Planet,' while using his…
-
August 9, 2026
Sarah Breedlove (Madam C.J. Walker) — Sarah
Born Sarah Breedlove, she built a line of hair care products for Black women and became one of the first American women to become a self-made millionaire. She used her wealth to fund scholarships, philanthropy, and…
-
August 8, 2026
Michael Faraday — Michael
A largely self-taught scientist, Michael Faraday's discoveries in electromagnetism and electrochemistry laid the groundwork for modern electrical technology, including the electric motor and generator that power daily…