May 25th, 2006 by GoldenAppleCorp
The recent revelation about the Bos’ and Eaves’ newest edition has me thinking a lot about names. More specifically, how much of a person’s personality is a product of what they’re called? I think that’s a difficult, if not impossible, idea to quantify.
Once you start thinking about it, it really just boils down to a nurture/nature issue, doesn’t it? Is a person who they are strictly because of their genetic make-up and electro-chemical reactions, or because of life experiences? I’m sure the real answer falls somewhere in between, but how much does a name interfere with things? If you name your kid Charlie Brown MacGillicuddy, are you in some way responsible when he chops 50 people to bits with an axe?
Personally, I’m a fan of the more unusual names. If our boys had been girls, they would be Anastasia Plum and Sadie Blue. Say what you will, but by god, there would never be awkward moments in the classroom, wondering which Anastasia the teacher called on.
I’m not alone when it comes to being a fan of unique monikers; it seems to be a trend of late, including celebrities. From Apple to Zoltan, bizarre names are abounding. Why is that? I think that, at least in part, it’s because parents feel their children are special, and want others to recognize that. A person with an unusual name is going to receive more attention than a plain Jane.
That attention, however, is not always going to be positive. Childhood is an especially cruel time to have an unusual name. Rhymes will be made when possible, mocking tones used otherwise. But what kid doesn’t get made fun of? Even if you’re named John, some smart-ass kid is going to point out how your ears stick out funny. If all kids have to work with is a weird name, I’d say you’re getting off pretty easy.
I’m of the opinion that giving a child a unique name encourages them to own it, to become a more outgoing and interesting person. You can’t be a Moon Unit and do tech support for the rest of your life. An unusual name almost requires you to have a life full of excitement and adventure.
And if you don’t like your name, you can always change it.
May 25th, 2006 at 2:56 pm
Damn straight man. Althought Charlie Brown MacGillicuddy really has a ring to it.
May 25th, 2006 at 4:46 pm
You might get a kick out of Freakonomics (Levitt & Dubner), chapter 6. Strangely, this master of statistics has unearthed some little known trends associated with names. Fascinating reading.
Before my kids were born, I worked in medical records at a neighboring county health department; after sorting through names like Nuquita (sic), Peaches Marijuana (first and middle name), and quite a few that looked like the parents just spilled letters out of a Scrabble cup and lined up the first six or seven they saw.
One new mother wanted to name her daughter “Placenta,” until a delivery room nurse showed her what her placenta looked like (rather like chopped liver).
After that experience, I vowed to give my children normal names that everyone can pronounce correctly. But, I didn’t pick names that were trendy at the time, so they’re usually the only ones in their classes with that name. Not so out of fashion that they sound like names for someone’s grandmother, but just enough off-cycle so there aren’t six in every class.
May 25th, 2006 at 5:29 pm
I’m constantly infuritated by the fact that my name has been one of the most popular names for the past 7 years. There were no other mes when I was a kid, but now when I go anywhere there’s kids, I’m constantly hearing mothers shouting my name. Pisses me right off. I wish I’d trademarked it or something.
May 25th, 2006 at 9:07 pm
What drives me nuts are the relatively common names that are spelled funky.
Now, I had a professor that had no end of fun with my last name… and no it isn’t bosphorus. You guys will just have to wonder.
May 25th, 2006 at 9:14 pm
I do think that a name may have great significance. When a person takes monastic vows they are given a new name. This will be the name they’re know by in that community. In this case, I think a name is something you grow into and perhaps calls you to something better.
I’m intrigued by nick-names and think those are important, too.
May 26th, 2006 at 6:48 am
An unusual first name can also be a surname from somewhere else in the family. Of course, it may mean that the child’s first name and last name get mixed up sometimes, but it does tend to make the name memorable.
One of my Mississippi cousins named her son Parks, which was our grandmother’s maiden name. While it may be unusual, it also gives him a sense that he is part of something greater than this immediate household.
May 26th, 2006 at 8:26 am
Here are a few names I like *ahem* in no particular order. Make fun of them if you will.
Oliver/Olive, Alexander (or Xander), Cordelia (Cordy or Delia), Iris, Violet, Lenore (or Nora) and Linus.
Yeah, I know, it’s a good thing we’re stopping with two, right? Can’t help it, I like the nerdy names.
When it comes to family names, Lane is the only one I have that’s feasable, really. There are a couple of native American ones in there, and a few that just wouldn’t work.
May 26th, 2006 at 8:37 am
Xander?
May 26th, 2006 at 9:04 am
Yeah. You wanna make somethin’ of it?
May 26th, 2006 at 9:10 am
Dude, I’d have to pick on a kid named Xander.
May 26th, 2006 at 11:40 am
Yeah, now that I’ve slept on it, I don’t care much for it, either.
But Zane’s a great name. Almost picked that one for our last kid.
May 26th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
The only rule we had in naming our daughter was that she not be named after any relative. No associations, no precidents, no history. She’s unique in our pedigree.