Having spent a fair share of my life in sales on the phone, I have spoken to many with odd names and seen even more odd names in print. For a guy with a questionable memory, it appears to be a fairly easy task for me to remember years later, the name "Anita Chalupa" or "Richard Wahd" (Dick Wad), or "Bumsuck" or "Fuk" or "Shithead" (pronounced shi-thaid), or La-A (pronounced Ladasha). Someone once said, "Ooyala's a horrible name! Can you imagine a sales person trying to say it?!" I concur...and chuckle. Shithead...hahaha...her parents must have hated her!
If you have ever named a child you know what a difficult responsibility it can be. Every name that makes the first cut is run through a rigorous check list:
- Can you make a vulgar name of it?
- Can you rhyme with it in a way that would be bothersome?
- Does it conjure up thoughts or memories of your ex or your spouses ex?
- Does it happen to remind you of someone you do not care for or dislike intensely?
- Do you have any close relatives or family members that use the same name?
- Does the name seem to seal his or her fate?
- Is it too unique, old fashioned or difficult to pronounce?
- Etc.
We thought we had it down pat...easy, squeezy, lemon peazy! By the way, what does that mean?! What is a peazy?! Anyway, years before we had children, we had a boy's name and a girl's name picked out. The Lou's name was going to be Caleb McGavin, but upon her arrival and lacking some bits and pieces, we had to switch it to the girl's name we had already settled on and then added her birth mother's name as well. We liked the uniqueness of giving her two middle names and it really is a beautiful name.
Now that we have a little boy on his way, each day reminds me that we have no name picked yet and the clock is ticking! Names to me should be unique and reflect on a meaning or someone or someplace. For instance, "his name isn't just John, he was named after a hero of mine or perhaps St. John's Bay our favorite vacation spot." So, pen in hand, I sat for hours and made a list of names that sounded (to me) cool and either had a wonderful meaning or some other significance. This is when the additional check list was thrust upon me...one name at a time:
- No Bible Names - It's not that Pooh doesn't like the Bible, she doesn't want a theme
- No Alliteration - That rules out at least any name starting with "T".
- No Names Starting With "L" - Heaven forbid we have two kids with "L" names...again with the anti-theme sentiment.
- No Names That End In "er" or "or"
- No Family Member, At All, May Have The Name - This is not just those family members you see often or directly related, but this also means no extended family or extended-extended family, but also is to include any step family or even extended step family!
- Nobody We Know Can Have The Name - I have not nailed her down to a specific geographic radius just yet.
- No Name That She Deems "Weird" - Still seeking a definition on that rule.
I tease Pooh about this, but it really is getting difficult and I recognize it is a very tough decision. Is there really that much on the line? Many believe there is. It's been said, "Words have meaning and names have power". Some also believe, myself included sadly, that a name has a sense of fate to it and become an issue much like the chicken and the egg? Which came first? The success or the successful name? The nerdiness or the nerdy sounding name?
To this day, I am still not fond of my first name. I have association of pride along with it as I am a Jr. and I love and admire my Father. However, take him out of it and I simply don't like it. My middle name is quite unique and has a family meaning as it is my Father's middle name too and also my Father's Father's first name. However, when shortened, it was not unique enough for me. So, at the age of 13 or 14, I changed the spelling and have been known by everyone by that spelling since...except my Dad who spells it the original way and my Aunt Kathy who has always misspelled it.
I do tend to think, and mostly hope, that we will be judged by our peers more by our actions than by our names. To quote from Romeo and Juliet, "What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would be as sweet". Hopefully, whatever name we choose, it will be a strong name; meaning that he will be named with confidence. That he will know from whence he came and thus conduct his life with conviction and pride in the fact that he shares the same last name as his parents and will adopt those values and principles instilled in him. Then, his name will become his label and that label will be revered by all regardless of his name.
Those who have known me most of my life know I collect quotes. Here are a couple I like regarding names:
- "I'm going to name my son BOB and pronounce it John" - Eran Bair
- "Nicknames stick to people and the more ridiculous are the most adhesive." - Thomas Haliburton
- "I'd be stupid not to take into consideration that there are certain things people will not consider me for because my name is Lopez." - Jennifer Lopez
- "Always end the name of your child with a vowel, so that when you yell the name will carry." - Bill Cosby
Pooh has come up with one name. I have a list of around 90. Most names were influenced by family, religion, surfing, football, travel and more. Last week I shared with someone the extensive list of names that I came up with and about half way through, the person interrupted me and accused me of joking, stating, "Is this a serious list?" The end judgment was that I am unqualified to pick the name. So, with that, I ask for your help. Please comment and leave any suggestions you may have on boy's names. Pooh and I will carefully consider each submission.
In closing: Here are some of the more "non-serious" names I came up with; not in any particular order. Some, I really like! Are they really that weird?!
- Xander, Tristan, SinJin, Laird, Sunny, Taj, Dax, Donavon, August, Maz, Nat, Trigg, Velzy, Brody, Layne, Kit, Bohdi, Tag, Chino, Aiden, Troy, Zion, Israel, Kelani, Kaipo, Champion, Sawyer, Ambrose, Armstrong, Tay, Junior, Leonidas, Americus, Baldwin and Getty.
We anxiously await your suggestions. If we pick the name you suggest, there may be a free year's subscription to The Most Blessed Man's blog!!! WHOA!
