Dashiell Hammett

What the hell kind of name is "Dashiell Hammett"? Those are two names and I've never heard either one of them before. "Hammett" I'll forgive because it's a family name and there are a lot of strange family names out there. But "Dashiell"? Give me a break! What sick bastard would name his kid "Dashiell"? What did they call him around the house, "Dash"? Poor kid must have got his ass kicked every day at school.