Originally christened Irving Noel Thornley Stoker, Noel dropped his first name, saying he resented Irving for having monopolised his father. In spite of Stoker's self effacing, unremarkable life ...

Stoker was also writing his first short story, Crystal Cup. The Stokers meanwhile had their one and only child, a boy, in 1879, who predictably was christened Irving Noel Thornley Stoker.