I've thought about and talked about names frequently as of late. Mostly because our grandaughter has a very unique name. It doesn't mean anything in particular but goes with the currently trendy names such as Kinsley and Ainsley. Her middle name is the combination of the two Grandmother's middle names Kay and Lynn, thus, KayLynn.
I also have a personal goal in life to let everyone know that Maggie is not meant to be a human name. Many people use it as a dog's name. So many, in fact, that to hear it now it goes quite well with Rover, Spot or even Daisy. A dog doesn't really mind the name so use it if you like it, BUT my name is close enough to Maggie I can tell you I have never liked the name and if you go through the whole alphabet there are many unkind things that rhyme with Maggie. Go ahead and try it. I'll wait....
B
H
F
S
R
N
Or go one step further and use two letters together.
Br
Sl
and a whole bunch of other nonsense words that just by their sound are unappealing.
'Nuff said. Friends don't let friends name people Maggie.
It kind of goes along with the return of the old-fashioned names. To that I say "whatever"
Now to the confusion of cross-gender names. You really don't know who (whom?) to expect when you see the names Tracy, Chris or Pat, male or female. If you see it written correctly you have a pretty good idea with names that have a different spelling like Erin or Aaron or Gene and Jean but what about names that used to be male names that have turned into female names like Morgan, Taylor or Devon.
That reminds me of a story. (go ahead, get a snack or a blanket or leave the blog, it's up to you) Last week we were visiting D's brother who has two little neighbor boys. They are both about 4 years old but one happens to be the uncle of the other. This little boys poor mother had a very late in lifer. D commented that they should have named him Isaac. (biblical reference, if you need to look it up.) And I suggested that I would use the name which ever gender it turned out to be and with the current name situation there should be a female spelling for Isaac so I racked my brain (or did I wrack my brain? it seems like it should be wrack. Hmmm) and came up with it
Izyk!
It sounds a lot nicer than it looks on paper but I would do it anyway.
What about your name. Do you like it? Is is appropriately feminine or masculine? What interesting names/spellings have you heard?
13 years ago
6 comments:
I've always felt pretty blase about my name (sorry Mom). It's nothing to be ashamed of, and is unique enough that I've never had to compete with other Joni's for which I am grateful. I have gotten quite a bit of Joanie spellings, which always gives me a start because to me the name Joanie is just a cutesie extention of the name Joan and I in no way identify with the name Joan. Except that I have friends who call me "Jone," but it seems like a different name then. I liked that family called me Jones growing up. I'm a fan of nicknames.
I don't share your vehement hatred of the name Maggie. It's not my favorite, but I know some cute girls named Maggie and I think that what shapes my opinion. I don't know any dogs named Maggie. I have, however, known several people named Ginger who say they don't like their names because people tell them they are dogs names. In general I wouldn't name a child after a spice unless it were a really great spice.
If I were to have another baby girl I would name her Ivy Rue because DH and I both have Ivy's in our ancestry and I just think it sounds elegant. And I love the plant. DH's grandma's name is Ruby and she truly is a gem (guffaw)and I think Rue is just too cute.
I'm trying to convince other people I know to use Ivy since I won't get to.
How's that for the longest comment you ever got?
First I want to say that I think Ginger is a pretty tasty spice. And I agree Maggie is a dogs name. My Uncle has a little yappy dog named Maggie.
I love my name. It's feminine, even though is has a masculine counterpart, and it's a classic name. I do not like or accept any of the many shortened variations or incorrect spellings. It's also a family name so I feel there is an ancestral connection with it.
I wont share my opinion on how names are trending now so as not to offend anyone. I will say though I hate that people are stealing boy names for their girls. Ryan is not a girls name. It's a boys name. Even the meaning is masculine "Little King". Not Queen. King.
Ok, now my blood pressure is up and I need to go do some deep breathing exercises.
That is hilarious about Isaac! I have never liked my name, but I do think it is feminine. I always wished my name was Stephanie. One WEIRD name I have heard is Le-a, some uneducated person named there child this and they pronounce it leDASHa....because there is a dash in the middle of the name! Funny post!
You are too funny. I think most people are idiots at naming their children. Myself included. We have two very common names and two hippie names for our children.
Joni, I want to name this baby Ivy! Ivan is a family name that goes way back and my mother's middle name is Ivanna. An Ivy would be so cute! I don't know if I can actually do it though. It might be too much cuteness for me. I'm sure I'll come up with something before the baby turns five.
I love my name! (Good job, Mom!) I have gotten quite a bit of confusion regarding if it is Clarissa or Clarisa, but I don't mind it. I love my nickname (Risa) and use is so frequently that many people who know me well don't even know my real name. I love that my name is different and i'm not a Jennifer or Rachel. No offense to those names, i'm just glad that my name never had to be followed by the initial of my last name. Because of this I am determined to name my children "different" names. Although Eisley may follow the current trend (Kinsley, Ainsley, etc.) I have only heard the name one other time, and that was where I got it from. I love that when I tell people her name my most common response is "That's cute! I've never heard it before."
I have a good name. It's a masculine name and it's unique. I like that. When choosing names for my sons I specifically looked at the meaning of the names and made sure they sounded good. They also needed to be pronounceable by both American and Portuguese family. That narrowed down the choices considerably. Miguel means one who is like God. Alexandre comes from Alexander the great military leader. Logan is a good family name, and should be a masculine name. Daniel means God is judge. Shawn is derived from John that means gift. Lucas is light. Shawn Lucas is our gift of light.
Nicknames are fine, but need to decided and used carefully. Wes has a cowboy feeling and that doesn't fit with me anymore.
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