On the subject of names…..

So, those of you who know me, know that my kids have a lot of names. A plethora of names.  A smorgasbord of names.  A veritable garden.  I gave my kids so many names that I should never ever hear, “Mom! My name is boring/dull/unusable for nicknames/there are 25 kids with my name-in my class!”

Unlike my children, I only had three names and the first two were completely unusable for nicknames. My first name was used by one other member of my school class and many in the other classes.  My middle name was given to fully 1/3 of the women roughly around the same generation I was born into, at my last poll. (Which, I admit, has been awhile, needless to say, I checked it out and my middle name is pretty widely used.)

I gave my kids all these names to avoid this problem.  I don’t expect anyone else to go to my tactical lengths, but I would hope that a few people out there are nodding in understanding. I am, testifiably, a crazy namer.  I am comfortable with this knowledge.

The reason the topic comes to hand is because I recently found out a former friend named their newest  child after their favorite actors.   The name is highly unusual, so that’s nice. No one will (leastwise, I don’t think anyone would) have the same name. It is individual.  I’m still, however, trying to wrap my brain around using actors as your naming picks.  I guess it’s like much of anything else, really.  The child may grow up not liking those actors though. “Wow, can’t believe Dad/Mom likes those guys, they’re not good!”  In defense of the parent, the actors are really good, but I digress.   It has made me curious about how other people decide how to choose a name.  Do you comb a baby book?  Choose a favorite author (this is so much more likely something I would do)?  Think about your favorite musicians?  Scan your family history for something interesting?  I tend to go with a little unusual naming and tie it into the  family background.

I talked to Darren about it and in the case that we should have a tiny bundle of love, we will not be using actors names.  I adore him, I do, but I don’t like any actor that much.  Fortunately, the idea also seemed a little foreign to him.  (Whew, saved on that one.)   

People are one thing, pets are another.  I like to use irony for pets.  My dog’s name is Spike and he’s half Pekingese and half Shih Tzu, so he’s all about 10 pounds.  He thinks he’s vicious.   I tend to feed his belief.

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