Saturday, August 15, 2009
The Name: Cousins
This is a very opportune time to note another naming proposition. Last week, Ellie and Annie got a new cousin. My brother in Alaska had a new baby girl (though he didn't bother to tell us about her arrival on Monday until we called his house on Saturday to wish my dad a happy birthday). Her name is Maren, and I'm sure she's great. Therefore, our baby will not be named Maren.
I wouldn't think this would need to be said, but cousin name-cannibalism is a prominent trend in Shelly's family. She has a brother named Steven and a cousin named Steven. She has a sister named Elizabeth/Lissa and a cousin named Elizabeth/Lissa. Her mom's side of the family especially is very into naming kids after ancestors, and there's only a limited pool of names, resulting in many cousins with the same or related first names and middle names (i.e. another brother's middle name is Victor and a cousin's first name is Victoria because of a grandfather Victor). It's prevalent to the point I joke that they are incestuous with their names.
But I believe that there are enough names that members of the same family can have a different one. It's probably all right for my kid to have the same name as my aunt (my wife has the same name as my aunt!) or something, but my kids shouldn't have the same name as one of their cousins.
Therefore, the following names are off-limits as far as I'm concerned, at least for first names. These are the first names of all of Ellie and Annie's cousins.
Boys
Aydon
Bryce
Chase
Conner
Johnathan
Joshua
Marcus
Nicholas
Girls
Bryanna
Dana
Elizabeth/Lissa*
Erneke
Hannah
Leanna
Loretta
Maren
Savannah
Sophie
Note also that another brother of mine is expecting another girl next month. We don't know what her name is yet, but once we do, we'll scratch it off our list (assuming it ever was on our list).
* Yes, despite the sister and the cousin, Shelly's other sister has decided the family needed one more.
I wouldn't think this would need to be said, but cousin name-cannibalism is a prominent trend in Shelly's family. She has a brother named Steven and a cousin named Steven. She has a sister named Elizabeth/Lissa and a cousin named Elizabeth/Lissa. Her mom's side of the family especially is very into naming kids after ancestors, and there's only a limited pool of names, resulting in many cousins with the same or related first names and middle names (i.e. another brother's middle name is Victor and a cousin's first name is Victoria because of a grandfather Victor). It's prevalent to the point I joke that they are incestuous with their names.
But I believe that there are enough names that members of the same family can have a different one. It's probably all right for my kid to have the same name as my aunt (my wife has the same name as my aunt!) or something, but my kids shouldn't have the same name as one of their cousins.
Therefore, the following names are off-limits as far as I'm concerned, at least for first names. These are the first names of all of Ellie and Annie's cousins.
Boys
Aydon
Bryce
Chase
Conner
Johnathan
Joshua
Marcus
Nicholas
Girls
Bryanna
Dana
Elizabeth/Lissa*
Erneke
Hannah
Leanna
Loretta
Maren
Savannah
Sophie
Note also that another brother of mine is expecting another girl next month. We don't know what her name is yet, but once we do, we'll scratch it off our list (assuming it ever was on our list).
* Yes, despite the sister and the cousin, Shelly's other sister has decided the family needed one more.
Comments:
ahem... There is nothing wrong with having another Lissa in the world. In fact, the world is a better place because of it. AND, I am honored that my little niece is named after me. There is nothing wrong with naming a kid after someone in the previous generation. My name and my namesake deserves more respect from you. :)
Lissa, your name enjoys my utmost respect. Elizabeth is one of the few truly timeless names. Nor did I say that the world is worse off for having three Lissas in it. My point is merely that, unlike your aunt, I have principles against giving my kids the same name as their cousins - people in the same generation. Naming a kid after someone of a prior generation (like your sister did) is a different matter that perhaps I will address in another post (don't tell me you think your cousin Lissa was named after you like your neice Lissa was).
Of course, maybe if I named my kid Lissa then I'd have a Lissa to go with to Bugsy's in August.
Of course, maybe if I named my kid Lissa then I'd have a Lissa to go with to Bugsy's in August.
I'm sorry we're not going on our annual trip to Bugsys in August, but we will be going in September, a mere 5 days after the end of August. It's been a long time since we've gone together and I'm looking forward to it.
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