If ever you needed proof that outlandish names are not only a modern fad! [name_m]Portland[/name_m] Hoffa was born in 1905 in, unsurprisingly, [name_m]Portland[/name_m], Oregon. She was a popular radio personality and the wife of [name_m]Fred[/name_m] [name_m]Allen[/name_m]. When reading about her today, I discovered that she had four siblings, her elder brother and sister were also named after their birthplaces, Lebanon, Pennsylvania and [name_u]Harlem[/name_u], [name_m]New[/name_m] [name_m]York[/name_m] respectivally. Lastone was also born in Lebanon and the name “Lebanon County” was also considered but the Hoffas intended for her to be their last child and so named her Lastone (pronounced last-un). [name_m]Doctor[/name_m] [name_f]Fredericka[/name_f] was named for their father, Dr. [name_m]Frederick[/name_m] Hoffa.
Interestingly, despite the trend for stage names in the era, [name_m]Portland[/name_m] Hoffa retained her unusual name and it appears that her siblings did so as well.