Does anyone know the professors name on the show?

His name is Roy Hinkley. It was only said once or twice, I think in the first episode.

~Courtney

Yes, his name is stated as least twice as Roy Hinkley. Wasn't the Huntley/Brinkley news telecast popular at that time? Interesting combination of names [maybe].

On that same subject, what are some possible meanings of the other names? Ginger Grant...perhaps thinking of Ginger Rogers and Carey Grant? The Howells... as a spoiled rich couple, they were good for nothing on a desert island but to *howl* about things. Mary Ann Summers... the girl next door on a very extended summer vacation? Jonas Grumby, the skipper... sounds similar to Jonah, swallowed in the sea, and Grumpy, or maybe Gumby, getting twisted out of shape by Gilligan? And it's a well-known story (true or not) that the name Gilligan was taken out of a phone book, and it has the ring of an Irish simpleton.

yeah

Sherwood Schwartz says Gilligan's full name is Willy Gilligan, so I guess it's Willy Gilligan.