Names

I am name obsessed. I don't know why but for some reason I really get into the way names sound and meanings behind them. I think naming children would be a very challenging thing for me if Jason and I didn't start talking about names in highschool. We like names that have been heard before but are not in the top 100. I also am afraid of choosing a name that I just don't love in 4 years. Then what do you do? I guess at that point the name is associated with the child and you love the child, so the name isn't much of an issue.

I wonder if all of these issues and preferences are due to the fact that my name is not common. I have been given a lot of grief over my name and have even considered elongating my name to avoid some of this. At work a lot of patients think it is appropriate to give me their two cents about my name. Here are some of the things I've heard:

That's a dog's name.
Isn't that underwear?
Were your parents hippies?
Is that short of something?
What kind of name is that?

Most of these questions drive me crazy. Not only are they rude, but the way they say them is so degrading. My stock answer is that my maiden name is very long and therefore my parents chose short names in hopes that we could spell our whole name before reaching kindergarten. This reasoning also went into my middle name. It is Opal, but if left up to my mom it would have been my great grandmother's name: Opalollie. Due to the length of my last name my dad put his foot down.

I love my name and don't ever see myself legally changing my name but if I did it would be Camilla. I think it is a very pretty name, I could still use Cami as a nickname and would have a longer sophisticated name. My siblings already call my Milla (which I love). Jason just won't go for it. I could see changing it when we move to San Diego or something and just tell people my name is Camilla. I think it fits me. As for Opalollie, I'm glad my dad put his foot down.

I love hearing what people plan to name their children. I always ask. I'm sure it bothers some expectant parents but I think it is a fine question and am not offended when they are keeping it a secret. I read this blog about names and just love it. Here's a link to a recent post:

http://thebabynamewizard.ivillage.com/parenting/archives/2007/10/more_onehit_wonders_a_world_of.html

These things are so fascinating to me. I love hearing how people put together sibling sets. I have always thought sibling names should go together. They don't have to 'match' but they should go together. Here's an example of a sibling set I love:

Ainsley
Reagan
Calder
Hamilton

They go together because they have a similar formality and trend appeal. Here's an example of a sibling set that just doesn't seem to make sense:

Mable
Teagan
Leo
Dexter

These don't go together because they each have a very different feel and are from a different era or origin. Teagan is a new, trendy name and Mable is a very old name. Here's an example of rediculously matched names:

Olive
Ophelia
Olle
Oliver

This is rediculous for very obvious reasons. Now, here's the interesting tidbit. I LOVE all of these names and they are on my list of future children's names. I am so afraid that the first kid's name determinds / limits what we can and can't name our subsequent children. I know a lot of people don't worry about it, but for me this is a huge issue.

I guess it will be very interesting what we name our kids someday. Maybe I'll be one of those parents who doesn't name thier kids until they're three because I want to see exactly what their personality is. Just kidding.