Wednesday, February 21, 2007

what's in a name?

This is a short and sweet post! Basically one of my first blogs I ever wrote but, I am posting it today! I would like some input on naming children. I have two son's...a junior and a "Jashua". I must say those are relatively normal names! I had to have a first born junior...smile! However, I am in the middle of researching for a 20 yr high school class reunion and a family tree project and noticing some very interesting names.

Being a child barely making it(1969), but still born in the 60's, most of my friends and acquaintances seem to have relatively easy names to figure out. Spelling and enunciation normally lined up..pretty fairly anyway.

I mean...if there was something a lil out of the ordinary, we may say that the mother and father combined there name into a child's name. IE: Marvin and Christine...Marvalene or something to that effect.

Now..here's where I'm lost...I have some young relatives that named their children some sh*t, I can't pronounce, spell or recognize as a name at all...or if I can pronounce the name....I'm thinking it was a synonym! We all have them in our circle of family and friends...kids naming their kids after cars, sports, heroes, music videos and other dumb shit. A child's first word to write is normally their name...we teach kids to sound out words when they are learning to read! If they can't sound it out, that's opposition to the first school lesson they will ever learn..reading!

Is naming children an art form that I don't yet subscribe to, or has the idea of having a unique name become more important than a child knowing how to say it, sound it out and write it taking a backseat to just another "fad"?

Be aware of the hidden dangers of our kid's education people! Don't set them up for a failure!

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

LOL, lol...This is pretty funny, considering my polysyllabic name! Let us not mention it but at least my name has meaning! I love names with meaning-named for a grandparent, influential historical figure, etc.
But I have to admit your comment, "If they can't sound it out, that's opposition to the first school lesson they will ever learn..reading!" was pretty funny! I was told I did not have trouble pronouncing mine but how do I really know :)

dc_speaks said...

lol...well i was thinking of your name too...hahahaha! Good pick up on the vibes!

Anonymous said...

oK... i THINK MY NAME IS BEAUTIFUL IN IT'S MEANING AND IT'S SPELLING.. I WAS 1 WORD FROM THE SPELLING BEE CHAMPIONSHIPS... AND I CERTAINLY DID NOT HAVE A PROBLEM SPELLING MY NAME NOR PRONOUNCING IT... IT'S NOT MY FAULT THAT YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO ROLL YOUR TONGUE WHEN YOU SPEAK TO ME...LOL!!
I WILL HAVE TO SAY IN THE DEFENSE OF MY PARENTS AND THEIR NAMING ME, THEY WERE VERY STRONG IN THEIR BELIEFS AND THEY RAISED ME TO ALWAYS FURTHER MY EDUCATION....I DO SE SOME PARENTS OUT HERE NAMING THEIR CHILDREN..UNIQUELY AND YET PRONOUNCING IT EXTEMELY DIFFERENT THAN THE WAY THAT THEY SPELLIT.... FOR EXAMPLE...DUHWAYNAH'..... NAMED AFTER HER FATHER BUT PRONOUNCED IT EXACTLY LIKE SHE SPELLED IT... THAT IS SOOO IRRITATING TO ME WHEN HER FATHERS NAME IS DWAYNE.. I AM SURE YOU FIGURED THAT OUT.. OR NAMING YOU BABY "LOVE" BUT PRONOUNCING IT LOE~VAY....AND YOU SPEAK OF CONSTANT DISGUST WITH THE FATHER... THAT REALLY IRRITATES THE BAGEEBIES OUT OF ME..LOL.. BUT OH WELL.. THIS IS HOW SOCIETY IS AND THERE IS REALLY NOTHING THAT WE CAN DO ABOUT IT....THANKS FOR THE BLOG ON THIS BABY.. BECAUSE YOU KNOW I HAVE ISSUES WITH WHAT PEOPLE CALL ME...TALK LATER!!

dc_speaks said...

i can certainly appreciate the comment..but who the hell are ya?

Rich Fitzgerald said...

Names are very important, especially for male children. I can't stand a boy with a punk name, I won't name any in case I end up offending someone.

However, I purposely named my son a name that I figured would speak to his strength as well as his cool demeaner. I opted away from making him a junior because both my father and I have the same first name (I have a middle name, he doesn't). Anyway, I named him Miles, and so far he lives up to it. He's a very cool, confidant little cat.

Anonymous said...

There is much in a name. As Djuka said, "It's not what they call us but what we answer to that counts". So why are we getting extra creative in this area when our kids are going to be judged by the names we choose? I have no idea. However, recent studies reveal that the more ethnic sounding the name, the less likely there resumes will be pulled. Heaven knows, our kids will need interviews to pursue their career passions and/or just hold down a job.

With a new born at home, I was recently faced with the "name selection game". I found myself almost disguising even her gender in the name. Needless to say, there were some family/friends hating on the name, "Sydney" for a girl - but, I think she's adorable.

Nice blog!

-TWG

dc_speaks said...

TWG..excellent comment...I loved it..English major huh? I can tell!! SMILE..

Rich..always get a good perspective on your thoughts, but I don't think you would offend anyone if you named names....lol try it, you might like it!

Anonymous said...

my anonymous comment....DC... YOU KNOW WHO I AM..... Rhymes with Korea....LOL.. I am looking at all my mispelled words and about to repost a whole new comment!

Anonymous said...

you think ur inspired, i really enjoy reading your your blohgs because they are real and your not affraid to tell it like it is . if you can look at the inspitation that you have placed in my life you would be astonished. most of my inspiration normaly comes from degrassi or one on one. this is one of your best blogs ever written i enjoyed it congrats and keep up the good work

dc_speaks said...

wow...im pumped now! thank you very much lil_dj