What is in a name? What makes a name such a defining bit of information? I have read fiction and folklore that make a point of a person knowing and not sharing their True Name, because it would be power to know another's True Name.
Is a Title different than a Name? President, Senator, Boss, Teacher, Person, Christian. Each of these terms defines more what a person IS at their job, education, and especially at their core. We like to name things. Inanimate objects like pens, computers and cars get names. We are good at personifying animals at the zoo and pets in our home, as well as things like shopping carts and shoes.
Tawnya did a Thursday Thirteen last week about names that were forever ruined for her. I thought about doing the same, and then decided it couldn't be thirteen. It would either be fewer, and I would feel silly, or it would be more, and I would be forced to do this more than once. Either way, I am not limiting myself to thirteen, nor am I making an effort to get up to thirteen. Not that all of these names are truly bad, just that they are not something I wish to use. Don't get mad at me if one of your names is on my list. It has nothing to do with you, I promise. I am sure there are more names that are truly ruined, but these are some I can think of today. Here you go, in no particular order:
Names that are ruined for ME
1. John (I love many people with this name, but I won't add more to the mix when I have kids.)
2. Chad (met more bad than good people with this name)
3. Sean
4. Michael/Michelle (wouldn't torture a kid with such a common name)
5. Christian (what if the kid turns out to be an atheist?)
6. Schuyler/Skyler
7. James
8. Abigail
9. Chastity/Prudence/Happy (a personality trait? what if they never measure up?)
10. Chlamydia (I kid you not, I have heard this at the store. Diseases are not good kid names.)
11. Charles (again, more bad than the many good)
12. Daniel
13. Simeon
14. Christopher
15. Ann/Anna
16. Kelly
16. Eli
Wacky spellings are out too. DH and I have discussed this at length. We don't mind interesting names, but the traditional spelling is a requirement. We don't want a child named Michelle, and spell it Mi'shealle or something. Honestly, my mother has to be able to pronounce it. I don't want to give her another reason to feel lingually inept. The oddities of the English language do enough of that without my help.
Now, this is not all to say that I would be upset at creating or discovering a "new" name. I know many people with names that I would not have thought of, and they are all distinctly beautiful. Foreign languages, combinations of friend or family names, words or characters from Fantasy writing all have a place in my interest in names. I used to keep a log, a list of names that might end up in my writing. I have a whole notebook full of names. Through all of that interesting collection, I keep settling on the same few "normal" names. I have a desire to come up with a name that others have not invented, but I also have an inclination to not think too far outside the box.
All of this leads me to announce for some of the distant friends that we are welcoming Molly as the newest member of Teh Club. For pictures and a little more detail, go visit her parents' blog, here. Congratulations to the whole family, all over the country. I have not met her yet, but since she lives just across the street, I will do so soon. I have to make sure that I am not carrying the yucky stuff that everyone I know seems to be getting. I don't want to make Molly or her mom sick. I will put off being friendly to keep everyone healthy.
5 comments:
I believe I take exception to #16.
For this reason, I said unto you: "Don't get mad at me if one of your names is on my list. It has nothing to do with you, I promise."
Many of these names were ruined before I was over the age of 10, when I only knew two people I currently keep up with... so seriously, I am sorry. You notice that MY OWN NAME is on the list, too. I don't even have a middle name to get upset about.
I did not know that you lived across the street from Mr. and Mrs. Brainfuzz. :) Is that how you came by "TacoDave's" AKA my brother's blog? Interesting to figure out the trail. :) When you see Molly, tell them that Devon said CONGRATS! :)
Glad I'm not the only one with a list. ALthough, after looking at your list, I feel there are some names I need to add to mine.
Should I be blessed with children someday, I will probably go for the unique names. Not too crazy. Nothing like "Aquanetta" (actually saw that in a Walmart circular). And having a first name that's hard to spell and a last name that no one pronounces right, I don't think I'll get too crazy on the spelling either.
Tried to post this once and it didn't work (so I apologize if it shows up twice).
I like my name...then again I had a hand in choosing it. But that's a story for another day. :)
We decided to keep our kiddo's names short and sweet, 3-4 letters, easy to spell and pronounce, with an uncommon letter in them for flair (x,z) except for Pete, but we can add the "y" to his. lol Pete was the only one named after a family member and we didn't know any Max or Zoe's back then. We were a little more careful about what words the initials might spell out. So we have MAN, PAN, and ZGN. My initials before getting married spelled NEW. :)
Ah, fun with names. lol
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