What is Scrooge's first name in "A Christmas Carol"?

Every December, we dust off Charles Dickens' 1843 masterpiece "A Christmas Carol." The name "Scrooge" became so legendary it entered our language as shorthand for penny-pinching misery, but there's another half to his name that's equally perfect. What did Dickens dubbed his cantankerous hero before he became a surname-only legend?

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The answer is: Ebenezer

Dickens had a gift for memorable character names that captured their essence: Pip, Fagin, Miss Havisham. But "Ebenezer Scrooge" is his masterpiece of cruel nomenclature, the name practically forces your mouth into a scowl when you say it, those harsh 'z' and 'j' sounds as sharp as the character himself.

Each new actor brings something unique to the role. George C. Scott gave us perhaps the most genuinely intimidating version in 1984, while Michael Caine somehow maintained his dignity in "The Muppet Christmas Carol" playing opposite Miss Piggy. Bill Murray reimagined him as a cynical TV executive in "Scrooged," and Jim Carrey threw his whole body into Disney's motion-capture adaptation. Even McDuck Manor's resident billionaire borrowed both the name and money-hoarding habits.

Albert Finney sang his way through the role in 1970, Patrick Stewart brought Shakespearean gravitas, and Alastair Sim's 1951 portrayal remains the gold standard for many fans. The joy of each adaptation is watching how they reinvent that transformation from miserable penny-pincher to generous soul. Though they all put their own spin on the tale, one detail remains constant: that perfect, punch-to-the-mouth first name Dickens chose for his immortal miser.