Naming your children

[Equinoxe]

I am fascinated by names and their history and meaning, and I like unique names, but Possum and Chicago are not exactly the names that I would choose were I having children. I can understand naming a child after an animal or a city, but not that particular animal or city.

I am inclined to agree with dr_mabeuse about the use of multiple names in different cultures and the shortcomings of the standard Western naming convention. With regard to "true names", I have heard of a similar tradition amongst the Roma, of having a Roma name, a name used with non-Roma, and a secret name that only one's mother knows, traditionally as protection from evil spirits.

Incidentally, this thread reminded me of an Australian comedian, whose name I don't recall, talking about American names.

 

[Lovepotion69]

I grew up with people mispronouncing my name a lot. For a while I wanted to call myself by my middle name, but realised I'd probably never react if someone called for "Claire".

I've always liked the thought of androgynous names. And I'm beginning to like foreign names.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I grew up with people mispronouncing my name a lot. For a while I wanted to call myself by my middle name, but realised I'd probably never react if someone called for "Claire".

I've always liked the thought of androgynous names. And I'm beginning to like foreign names.

I always thought I'd name my kids Tracy, Stacy, Kim... Instead, with my girl named after a flower, and my boy after an animal, I really polarised them!

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I don't mind Tracy or Stacy, but most androgynous names are not for me. And, no offense, Stella, but how is KIM an androgynous name? It's usually for women, unless you're Korean. It's just a personal preference. I may be bi, but I still like both sexes as themselves. I wouldn't want to combine them. I like the contrast. But that's just me.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I like the Roman practice of the cognomen, often used more than the family and personal names.

 

[Stella_Omega]

I've known three men named Kim, none of whom were anything but American- *shrug* whaddoowye know?
what's a cognomen, please? (too tired to google)

 

[SeaCat]

Whew
Reading this thread I think I'm glad my balls glow in the dark.
I'm the eighth in direct line with the same name. (Originaly the name of a Teutonic King.)

My brother and sister both went in for exotic names. Unfortunately because my brother and sister both believ in non-violence including even self defence their kids are all screwed up. Thankfully both my brother and sister think I am either the earthly embodiement of the devil, (My brother) or just a self centered male with no interest in helping to support her or her kids now that they have been thrown off welfare, (how true that is). Because of this I haven't heard much from either one of them in several years. (Too bad the same can't be said for their mooching kids.)

Cat

 

[Sherry Hawk]

Whew
Reading this thread I think I'm glad my balls glow in the dark.
I'm the eighth in direct line with the same name. (Originaly the name of a Teutonic King.)

I take it you're not a Grateful Dead fan.

 

[SeaCat]

I take it you're not a Grateful Dead fan.

Ummmm, nope, not a Deadhead. More of a Parrothead.

Cat

 

[vampirella]

I like weird names such as Raven for a boy or Lilith for a girl...

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

I've known three men named Kim, none of whom were anything but American- *shrug* whaddoowye know?
what's a cognomen, please? (too tired to google)

Well, you just run in different circles than me. That's cool. I have heard of Kim Peeke, the famous savant, and Kim Philby, the Soviet mole in England. I also knew a Kim in college, but he was half-Korean, which explained it in his case.

A cognomen was a highly personal name or nickname used by Romans in addition to the praenomen and nomen (such as the "Caesar" in Caius Julius Caesar). Some men had multiple cognomens. Technically, only men had them, and they related to some feature or were inherited from their fathers. There would be a praenomen, or formal personal name, which was usually traditional in a family, rather than given on a personal basis. For instance, the Julii Caesares had Sextus, Caius, and Lucius. No patrician Julius would call his son "Marcus Julius" or "Titus Julius". The nomen was the family, or clan, name. The Latin term was gens, and the gens name was rendered in the feminine, despite the highly patriarchal nature of Roman society (with the paterfamilias being domine, or lord, of his household). Hence, Caius Julius Caesar was from the gens Julia.

 

[Guest]

Ummmm, nope, not a Deadhead. More of a Parrothead.

Cat

Oh, me too.

 

[LLs Man]

And then there was the couple who called their daughter Chlamydia...

Or the ones who called their daughter Ophelia, which is fine except that their surname was Balls...

 

[SlickTony]

To a lot of Native Americans and other people (ancient Egyptians too) you had several names--a public name, a spiritual name, a name at home, and then you had a secret name that no one knew but you and your Gods: your True Name.

I suppose that's where T.S. Eliot got his theory about cats--they have an official name, a nickname, and a name known to no one but them, and when you see them looking ineffably smug, you know it's because they are contemplating their true name.

I work for a legal rag, and as such I have access to the public records in my town. You simply would not believe the names I have seen. It's truly amazing.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Well, you just run in different circles than me. That's cool. I have heard of Kim Peeke, the famous savant, and Kim Philby, the Soviet mole in England. I also knew a Kim in college, but he was half-Korean, which explained it in his case.

A cognomen was a highly personal name or nickname used by Romans in addition to the praenomen and nomen (such as the "Caesar" in Caius Julius Caesar). Some men had multiple cognomens. Technically, only men had them, and they related to some feature or were inherited from their fathers. There would be a praenomen, or formal personal name, which was usually traditional in a family, rather than given on a personal basis. For instance, the Julii Caesares had Sextus, Caius, and Lucius. No patrician Julius would call his son "Marcus Julius" or "Titus Julius". The nomen was the family, or clan, name. The Latin term was gens, and the gens name was rendered in the feminine, despite the highly patriarchal nature of Roman society (with the paterfamilias being domine, or lord, of his household). Hence, Caius Julius Caesar was from the gens Julia.

Hmm... maybe the internet culture has re-invented the cognomen- my "real" name isn't actually Stella Omega, you know
In our case, it's self-defined- but perhaps, no less valid. What do you think?

 

[Boxlicker101]

Hmm... maybe the internet culture has re-invented the cognomen- my "real" name isn't actually Stella Omega, you know
In our case, it's self-defined- but perhaps, no less valid. What do you think?

Actually, multiple names are not all that uncommon. A person may have an official name, a nickname and a name used by immediate family, which might be another nickname. In addition, there may be a pen name, and several aliases.

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

Hmm... maybe the internet culture has re-invented the cognomen- my "real" name isn't actually Stella Omega, you know
In our case, it's self-defined- but perhaps, no less valid. What do you think?

Probably. And, yes, I kind of guessed that.

 

[SlickTony]

Actually, multiple names are not all that uncommon. A person may have an official name, a nickname and a name used by immediate family, which might be another nickname. In addition, there may be a pen name, and several aliases.

When my brother in law's big pharma employer transferred him from South Louisiana to South Florida, my husband said "Lucky bastard..."

Ever since, my private-to-the-family nickname for my BIL has been Josephus Illegitimus Fortunato.

 

[Stella_Omega]

Probably. And, yes, I kind of guessed that.

But your name is REALLY Severus Max, right?

 

[moonlight elf]

The way we give names to people is really awful. We pick a name without knowing anything about the person, because we like the sound or because we had a relative who had the same name or something like that. Considering how important names are to our identity, this is a terrible system.

To a lot of Native Americans and other people (ancient Egyptians too) you had several names--a public name, a spiritual name, a name at home, and then you had a secret name that no one knew but you and your Gods: your True Name.

I really like this idea, and I think about what my secret name might be a lot. You're supposed to fast and pray to discover what it is, but I remember an episode of the Simpsons where Homer had to come up with an alias in a hurry when he was hiding from the law, and the name he picked was "Rex Strongo." I'm afraid my True Name would turn out to be something like that.

In my culture we have an old tradition of giving a person several names. The given name at birth(which is my official name), a soul name by the age of 5(usually given by a grandparent), a common name used by family members and of course a nick name. Sadly enough the old naming traditions seem to be a thing of the past. People these days just have a proper name and maybe a nick name.

 

[Munachi]

If I had any hair, I would tear it out over people naming their kids after a parent, adding a middle name and calling the kids by the middle name to avoid confusion. When the kid gets older, he or she has friends and teachers, etc. who use the first name, and that's where the confusion starts. Why not just use that middle name in the first place.

I agree on that! My first name is my aunt's, middle name is the one I was always called by, the one i sign with, the one everyone uses... now since I usually only sign with my middle name few people know my first name - those that know and use it, I usually don't even realize they mean me. But what is annoying is when I have to show my ID somewhere and sign - constant explanations why I don't sign with what it says on the ID...

 

[SEVERUSMAX]

But your name is REALLY Severus Max, right?

Uh, NO! It's a username meant to hint at my severity, which I hide well with compassion and humor.