A Rose By Any Other Name

Having taught for much of my life, well over a thousand children, I don't recall any strange or unusual names. There were of course some who had ethnic origins, however, they were usually typical names for their culture. The challenge was coming up with a name for my first born that I didn't associate with someone I'd taught.

Often, children are named for parents or grandparents. My dad for example, had the same name as his grandfather, which was the same moniker as his father and great grandfather, but in reverse. Some parents opt to name their children after famous people, movie characters and more. Then there are all the variations and permutations of spellings for names, substituting "y" for "i" or adding extra consonants in attempts to make a child's name unique.

There are actually some countries that require the state's permission before a child can receive a certain name. In fact, there are laws in place meant to protect the children. Not a bad idea I would think, but sad that this would be deemed a necessary rule.

In Germany for example, you must be able to tell the gender of the child by the name. I suspect this will be an area of dispute in future years considering the current "he, she, and they" options. Also a name cannot negatively impact the well being of the child. A child cannot be given the name of a product or an object. In other words, Gwyneth Paltrow's "Apple" would be out.

In Sweden, the patent and registration office approves names. Metallica, Superman, Veranda, Ikea, and Elvis are among those rejected. I'm not certain what the issue is with Elvis, and I must admit, I did teach one during my years in the profession.

Iceland actually has a naming committee. Names must contain letters in the Icelandic alphabet, and as I learned while in Iceland, names represent whose son or daughter the child is. Last names are fairly irrelevant since most are identified by first names eg. Jonsson, or Jonsdottir. There's more...quite interesting. Look it up.

  

Even the U.S. has rules. No names in their entirety may contain more than forty letters. This has something to do with spaces in official documents and on computers.

So, where does this leave people like Elon Musk who came up with X Æ A-12 as his baby's name?  And how about these?  Jason Lee's son is Pilot Inspektor and Jessica Simpson's son is Ace Knute.

• 
  
• I recently watched part of the old movie "East of Eden". As so frequently happens these days, it jogged another of my memories. 

There was a quote, " Abra was ready ere I called her name;

And though I called another, Abra came." 

It always made me want to name a daughter Abra. Then I thought of the mocking and teasing that could, no would, surely ensue at school.

 

"Hey Abracadabra, can you make a rabbit appear?"

My next unusual choice came from a Henry Wadsworth Longfellow poem. I often listened to the radio in the evenings while painting a mural on the wall of my soon to be born child. The broadcaster would play music and read poetry. A frequent offering was, "The Children's Hour". There was a verse...

"From my study I see in the lamplight,

      Descending the broad hall stair,

Grave Alice, and laughing Allegra,

      And Edith with golden hair."

Allegra was a flowing and unique name. I liked the laughing part...a happy child. Thankfully, I did not opt for this name which has since become a brand of common allergy drug.

So there you have it my dearest Ingrid. I did not name you after grandma Rose. Your name can't really be condensed into something cutesy. It's only slightly ethnic. You were quickly able to remember "ing" spellings and endings in school.  AND, it generally conjures up the image of the gorgeous and brilliant blonde that you are. My only regret, although it doesn't seem to have impacted you negatively, are your unfortunate initials...I.P.