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The
Art of Baby Naming - Page 4
Associations with Ideas
Many parents
think it's very important to find a name
that
has a positive
or meaningful association. What do you think of when you hear
the
name?
You may want to choose a name that reminds you of someone or
something or a place that is significant to you. Obviously
you will
avoid names with bad associations or memories.
You want to avoid the
baggage attached to infamous people or places. I heard the
story of a
family where each of the children were named according to the childhood
disease or complaint that was endemic at the time. So one son was
called Measles, the next was called Chicken (pox) and the third was
called Pimples. When they eventually joined the army, their
commanding
officer had them change their names to reflect something more
dignified.
Hopefully
you will avoid dreadfully bad associations like that.
Some people have
an extra difficult task in finding a first name that will match a
difficult surname. I mean surnames that seem to create their
own bad
associations.
However families seem to soldier on stoically, if not
proudly sticking to these names, not considering for a moment to
dishonor their forebears by changing their name.
In the early
1900s many immigrants to the United States were forced to
change their surnames by the immigration authorities. Families with
ethnic names that were deemed too long or too difficult to pronounce or
spell were unceremoniously renamed and sent on their way.
The names
were simplified or shortened which was somewhat acceptable, but others,
considered impossible were deleted and replaced with names like Smith
or Jones.
Fortunately society has become more tolerant and we have to
deal with whatever surnames we are presented with, even if we
can't pronounce them at first...
 
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