About the names and surnames of characters created by Agatha Christie

This paper examines the crime works by Agatha Christie, mainly about Hercule Poirot and Jane Marple, from the point of view of anthroponymy. Anthroponyms can be considered as an element of a kind of “game” between the author and the reader as a kind of additional “test” of his intellectual abilities. Containing hidden symbolism, anthroponyms give the writer’s works a shade of an allegorical novel, which allows for their allegorical interpretation. Specific examples show how Christie selected first and last names for her characters, and what sources she used to do this.