"That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet."
We're all familiar with the quote, but is it really true? These days, I'm not so sure. There are plenty of bad names out there - and certainly, to some extent, there always have been, but methinks it might be getting just a wee bit out of control. People are naming their children after consumables like Dorito and Mountain Dew, or giving them names that imply that they truly are better or more special than everyone else, be it a name like Unique, God'iss or simply Special. (Hmm... that one has me scratching my head for a variety of reasons). Anyway, I'm starting to wonder if we actually are heading towards Idiocracy territory. Haven't seen that movie? Check it out. It will likely serve as material for another post down the line.
Back to names...
Personally, I'm a sucker for cool names. In fact, I was THRILLED to meet the man, who would become my husband, that would allow me the opportunity to literally choose the last portion of my name - who just so happened to have an option better than mine. Had he not, I wouldn't have changed it.
Strangely however, I didn't even know what my first 'real' name was until I was in junior high school. Some totally idiotic moron of a teacher thought she was doing me a favor by changing the spelling of my name from Leigh to Lee. She literally thought that the i before e except after c rule was going to confuse others, (and evidently herself), about the spelling of my actual name. Nice! My mom gave me a cool name, (not too pretentious, but just different enough from the then-common Allisons, Lisas, Michelles et-al, and this woman decides... no no - we can't have that!
Anyway, I digress.
Don't get me wrong - John and I already have names picked out for kids we may never have, that fall within the realm of unique - but without being utterly and completely pretentious or idiotic. In fact, half of each name, (be it the first or middle), actually falls under the category of traditional. They're also spelled traditionally - no interchanging of i and y, or adding apostrophes to substitute for actual letters or for the sheer hell of it.
Point being, I do think there are lines that can, and are, being crossed... and they just shouldn't be.
I could go on and on... but I have to go to work. Given that we're still undecided about kids in general, I suppose this post isn't really helping me get anywhere in terms of making a decision one way or the other... but there is something about baby naming in general these days that irks me to no end.
One last thought... who deemed Pamela Redmond Satran and Linda Rosenkrantz America's Baby Naming Experts? With names like that?
We chose by:
ReplyDelete1) The name doesn't have any associations with anyone we don't like (boy did that ever reduce the name pool)
2) The name wasn't ridiculously common, forcing one to always append the first initial of their last name onto their first name.
3) The name or its associated shortened versions or nicknames, when either spoken alone or in conjunction with the last name, would not lend itself to teasing by the merciless.
4) The name wasn't trying too hard to be unique. If our kids want to be unique they will do it in their own way and not have it publicly thrust upon them by us.
5) Just as in naming a pet, the name is one that we wouldn't feel idiotic shouting down the block.
My Little Bird's name is pretty unique. I only know of two other females in the world with her name (one's the lead singer of a punk bank!). Not that it's a "boy's name" either. All the sudden, though, I'm hearing about little boys (younger than my girl) who are being given her name. But it was my daughter's name first, so I think that makes it a girl's name :)
ReplyDeleteHow I chose it: Her first name is the last name of my favorite teacher. Her middle name is the last three letters of my grandmother's name (gwendolyn).
I actually remember you as LEE in elementary school, then LEIGH in junior high. Glad you've found who you REALLY are :)
I think more people should name their babies with an Aboriginal influence that make clicks and pops in them so that you need to use punctuation when you spell them out like On'g-!-poot'thoon.
ReplyDeleteThanks for contributing everyone. I'm loving this dialogue. This is way too fun. Wish is could be a full-time gig...
ReplyDelete