A discussion here today on men’s hats brought up some speculation on the origin of names for hats and left some unanswered questions that perhaps someone can help with. I’ve done some looking and failed, mostly, to find complete answers.

The Bowler hat was not named for its bowl shape as many think, but was designed by hat-maker William Bowler. But how did Yousns® come to call it a Derby?

Fedora …all I can find is the statement “After Fedora, a play by Victorien Sardou (1831-1908).” But why was the hat named after this play? Does anyone know?

Stetson is easy – it was named after the hat-maker John B Stetson who designed the style.

The Trilby was named for a hat that was worn in the London stage version of the novel Trilby in 1897, but did it exist, and what was it called, before that?

Homburg, all that is said is “After the German town, Bad Homburg”, but why?

Wideawake. Why? Also a name for the sooty tern, but I can’t see a connection there!