June 24, 2008
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What's in a name?
According to the Social Security Administration, Jennifer was the number one girl's name for FIFTEEN consecutive years, between 1970 and 1984. There were 9 "Jennifer's" in my third grade class of approximately 50 girls. Freshman year in high school, my homeroom had four Jennifer's in it. And one casual trip through my cell phone directory will net you over 17 (yes, seventeen) Jennifer's. Thanks to it's commonality, I really am not fond of my first name. There's simply too many of us. Needless to say, originality was important to me when it came to naming my son, although I didn't want to curse him with too oddball of a forename . My love of Ireland, a branch of his genealogical roots, and the fact that his father and I were married in County Clare made my decision to name him Declan very easy.
Every once in a while, I get someone who has never heard the name, or needs help pronouncing it. But once they've heard it, they notice it...they remember it. It's a good solid name. It's a handsome name.
Today, on the way home in the car, he told me that he really would like to change his name to "Larry."![[declanheart2.JPG]](http://bp3.blogger.com/_u0QSirz9Hq8/SGBVaO9lS4I/AAAAAAAAAEQ/tHPLOmBOBmk/s1600/declanheart2.JPG)
What are your thoughts on your own name?
Comments (2)
I always thought my name was awful. But as I look back, my idea of the perfect name was always changing. It's probably best that i just kept what I got. And learned to live with it. I like Declan - it's Elvis Costello's real name. That should impress your son (!)
I absolutely DESPISE my real name. I don't go by it for anything. I have never ever seen it anywhere...in ANY baby book..any online search...NOTHING. It is truly horrible. And then...my parents just went and from the time I was little called me Jodie anyway. (not my real name). I mean...what's up with that? Were they fighting when they chose the real one? My mom stuck in on the certificate as some kind of getback or whatever? Ugh. Terrible. So...I decided to give my daughter a name I liked..that stood for something I treasured. Her name is Hope.