The Name Game

How did you pick the names of your children? There's the family name method, or the what sounds good method, or limit yourself to the Bible method(Dad's name is very Biblical, David Paul...two of the greatest men of faith in the Bible, but I am not sure Grandma and Grandpa picked the names for this reason). And of course the meaning method like my friends the Drosts who only use dictionary words (Kindle Hope, Foster Justice). And there are people who search and search for unique names, because their baby is special and unique. Well, they are all unique, but not everyone gets a name that reflects their uniqueness. We did a combo, what sounds good, family name and most importantly, what can we agree on. Agreeing was tough. We didn't name either girl until several hours after her birth. We also tried to avoid the twenty most popular names for that year, names like Emily, Madison and Emma. We had trouble agreeing on names but in the end were pleased. Actually, I love their names. Too much it turns out.

From God's word it seems names are a big deal. Sometimes God told people what to name their baby (not us!) and sometimes He changed people's names like Jacob became Israel and Saul became Paul. The only thing I can definitively say about God's naming or changing of them is that if God gives you a name, you had better keep it. Without this guidance we picked names rather randomly. H means a field of heather but I tell her it means a field of flowers because I don't know what heather looks like. Jane is a family name and as a bonus it means God is gracious. And mostly we love the sound...H*** Jane. K is not short for C****** but it is short for C****** in all the name books. So either K has no meaning on its own or it means unheeded prophetess like *****. I've seen Christian twists on the meaning like giver of wise words but from a historical perspective, I think it is a twist. I don't remember what May means, we just like the sound: K**** May. I like to think we have two Southern bells.

Whatever your philosophy names are a big deal and I recently learned that I am possessive of them. Especially H's because prior to her birth I only knew one and she was in her 20s. I treasured its uniqueness. I take pride in the compliments about her name. When we moved to Bozeman, upon meeting one of my soon-to-be good friends she said, "Oh, the eight-year-old next door is named H." Really? How could that be? I was a little irritated, H was MY daughter's name. Can I have a copyright please? I explained it away as Bozeman. The city of organic everything, even the names of the kids were natural: Aspen, Sage, Sierra. And everyone was always trying to be painfully individual.

A few weeks into Kindergarten H said there was an H in the other class. I was sure she misheard and the girl must be a Haley. This is a factory town, not Bozeman. Why do I doubt my children? There is another H. I don't know her, but secretly I don't like her and am glad she actually lives in Midland. Surely there are only two Hs in this area born in 2002. Maybe she will stop commuting to Saginaw for school. I don't know why I get so possessive. My H doesn't. I had a good friend named Laura growing up and we thought it was fun to have the same name.

When T picked up the roster for H's soccer team that he is coaching, of the nine girls, there are two Hs. Yet, another one. Not one Emily, not one Emma, not one Madison, but two Hs. I am still bothered by it. That other H, she needs a new name. And I need to find better things to be bothered by. My H is still one of a kind.