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| Big Sad Tom |
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
By any other name would smell as sweet;
William Shakespeare
I often have to think about names. Names can be the difference between life and death in a few cases. That’s a bit dramatic until I explain it. Every week or so I take photos at my local animal shelter of all the adoptable animals so I can advertise them on the internet. I have sometimes found the name I give them can make all the difference between being adopted or not. Take for instance, Big Sad Tom. When I saw him, a huge tabby cat with a few years on him, I doubted if he even would get on the adoption list. He looked so sad. So that’s how he got his name. Prospective adopters must have thought so too because in a few days he was adopted.
And it’s not just him. People often adopt pets because they had a Buddy when they were a child, or Lucy reminds them of the daughter that is no longer with them, or Fluffkins is obviously the cutest fluffiest kitten you can imagine. Mind you, Fang for a little timid chihuahua and Snowball for the blackest cat I ever saw worked well too.
It’s a bit like that with peoples names as well. If you say any name you immediately get an impression about that kind of person, depending on your personal experiences. Bill and Fred seem very straightforward and reliable to me. Tiffany or Vanessa are ladies destined to be famous in some way. Does our impression really hold true of the person? Does the name itself shape the person? If that is true it would be wise to really study names.
We all have some time looked up the meaning of our name and depending on what it says, agree or disagree. Its always nice to read you are a ‘seeker after truth” or “the most loyal” Have you notices it doesn’t often say in those name meaning books , “a real nasty piece of work” or “liar “ or “ glutton”.
A great deal of time usually goes into a finding new baby’s name. Does it sound right? Is it modern enough? Will it go with the surname? Our granddaughter Ashleye was in the newborn nursery flanked on all sides by nine other little babies, Ashley, Ashleigh, Ashleey etc. The era of your birth is often associated with your name. Not many Flo or Matilda’s about now.
Some names are also funny, at least to other people. I went to school with a nice girl called Hazel Hedge and I often wonder if she got married and what her name is now. I hope it isn’t Hazel Bush or Hazel Nutt. My mum once told me she stopped going out with a boy called Bert Bug as she couldn’t bear the thought of becoming Mrs. Bug. She saved me from being a little bug Thank you Mum.
As you get older, it seems names get less important. I look at a photo of high school friends and even though I can remember the person and even events of that time, their name completely escapes me... So if I met one of these friends now would I remember her name if I came face to face with her but then again would I even recognize her at all? A thought to ponder.
