The other day and old friend was blessed with a grandson. When I asked Mom what the baby's name was, she replied "Albert, after my Dad." When I approached my friend with regard to the baby being named after him, he said "It was a surprise to me" without much enthusiasm. I asked him if he was upset for some reason. His response was..."I have always hated my name, and I resented the granddad I was named after. It was an old-fashioned name back in the 40's and now it's simply obsolete." (His opinion, not mine!) His distress was real. So, it raises the question...do you like your name?
I was named for my feisty grandma. She was Florence Regina but when asked she said she would prefer I be named Regina. (Re-jee-na as opposed to Reg-eye-na) I've always been grateful to not be named Florence. I don't think it would suit me. Prior to deciding the name me for Grandma Florence, my folks favored Johanna. I would have liked Johanna.
At one time, Regina was not a common name. I liked the fact that my name was a little odd in the early 50's. When I was very small, they called me Genie. When I was old enough to express my opinion and a little independence, I informed my family that my name was Regina, not Genie and definitely not Reggie. They laughed, agreed and helped me spread the word. I stuck by my guns through adulthood and expressed my preference for being called Regina.
As my career advanced and signing my name became a burden, as I had a long Scottish last name. My mentor advised I create and stick with a shortened signature. Since he had never steered me wrong, I created RMac with an extended squiggle. It was, I thought, individual and recognizable. The only downside, was people began to call me R-Mac. After all the years of being anti-nickname, I found I didn't mind it. I could identify with R-Mac. Quite often, it was shortened to Mac. R-Mac and Mac remained who I was for the balance of my working career. Of course, people expected to meet a man named Mac and I enjoyed their surprise.
My sister named her youngest Regina and I thought I would burst at the seams. My niece likes her name too and named her youngest Mia Regina. Again...there was some seam bursting. I was very sorry my friend didn't experience that pride. The little guy's name is Albert Colin Rodenberg. My friend's daughter then referred to her wriggling little bundle as A-Rod like Alex Rodriguez, one of the greatest Yankee players of all time. Suddenly my sullen friend brightened. A-Rod was okay! He could live with A-Rod. His smile spread and he puffed up like a rooster.
Names seem to cycle around. For a while the names were Brittany, Tiffany, Crystal. Then the names became more biblical Joshua, Sarah, Jonah. Recently I've heard some Celtic names. The question remains...do you like your name? Did you use a nick-name? Does a name make an impression? What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. I guess it would. However, would you pay as much for a creation by Erkel Smoot as you would for an Yves St. Laurent? Is it all marketing? Do names have power? Opinions, please.
