What's in a name? - Page 2

Steeltrap · #1 08-07-2002, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FeeFee

Aren't names supposed to have meanings to them? If someone wants to give their child an "ethnic" name, why don't they go and find a book of African or Islamic names and find out their meaning instead of trying to create one of their own. I was born in 1970 and my friends have names like Cheryl, Yvette, Michael, Nicole, Anthony, etc. - you get my point. When people started having children from the late 80's until the present, I don't know what the heck some of them were thinking in terms of names. Alize??? C'mon, be for real I'm just glad that when I had my daughter, I had sense enough to give her a name that was simple for her to pronounce and spell (which she was able to do at age 3) I do get upset sometimes when folks jack up her name - it's not difficult!!

Exactly, FeeFee. There are tons of resources available so you can name your child with meaning. For instance, my girlfriend named her baby Imani Hannah. I believe Hannah was her grandma's name.
If I have a kid, I certainly won't name my child Britney

or some other trendy name. As for me, people slip on my name because the I is pronounced like a long E.

RedefinedDiva · #2 08-07-2002, 12:49 PM

Swamp Thang, I think that you are right that we should raise kids with the mindset to start their own businesses and not feel bad about their names for fear of discrimination. BUT, we really have to be realistic about what's going on in the world. I, PERSONALLY, don't know many professional people named Shawnteequineshia. It's not that they aren't out there. I just haven't met any. I also agree with CleopatraJones in saying that people started giving kids these "ethnic" names to further separate themselves from White society. But what is TOO far?

Another pet peeve of mine is when people try to be a little bit too "phonetic" with the spellings of names, like Haley/Hayleigh; Megan/Mayghen. Those aren't that bad, but believe that I have seen worse. I, also, think that names should have a meaning. I know that mine does.... but it's a very simple name. If someone can give me a DAMN good story behind why they named their kid Onomatopoeia LaTerikenisha Precious Williams, then HELL yeah, I'll understand. But that's not what's going on. People give their kids these jacked up names because they think they "sound pretty." WTH?

Say it three times fast!

Swamp Thang · #3 08-07-2002, 12:53 PM

Were named mostly after people in the Bible..

These are the names of my cousins and aunts that you just don't see kids named anymore UNLESS they are Juniors..

Bill, Kate, Ruth, Elizabeth, Veronica, Kenneth (that's me), Kimberly, Sally, Jesse, Jerome, Eddie, Stella, James, Harold....

I doubt there's been a Black child born this year with any of these names unless they have old parents or are named after the father (Jr, III, IV).

straightBOS · #4 08-07-2002, 01:03 PM

I think that it is unfair that people today assume that "traditional" or "Western" names cannot have meaning or that you need to separate yourself from that. Almost everyone in my family was named after some else-- a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, etc. So our names have even more meaning because we were named for someone who was special to our parents and someone we can look up to, even though all of them are common names.

Often children with these names have no ties like that. Almost like, they have thrown out the family history with the Western name. I really don't know many kids with the ghetto names that are focused on coming up and doing something better for themselves and their families. If the purpose was to move away from a Eurocentric ideal into a more self-sufficient Black America consciousness it has not worked because there is more work to be done after the name has been given.

Everyone should be proud of his or her name-- (well except for me with my "old-people" middle name) but at times I wonder if the outrageous names are overcompensating for something.

Steeltrap · #5 08-07-2002, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Swamp Thang
Were named mostly after people in the Bible..

These are the names of my cousins and aunts that you just don't see kids named anymore UNLESS they are Juniors..

Bill, Kate, Ruth, Elizabeth, Veronica, Kenneth (that's me), Kimberly, Sally, Jesse, Jerome, Eddie, Stella, James, Harold....

I doubt there's been a Black child born this year with any of these names unless they have old parents or are named after the father (Jr, III, IV).

Or if you have young, buppie-type parents.

Bamboozled · #6 08-07-2002, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by RedefinedDiva
PERSONALLY, don't know many professional people named Shawnteequineshia. It's not that they aren't out there. I just haven't met any.

Well, we do have Condoleezza

. Then again, maybe that's just countrified. I agree with all you've said, though.

Miss. Mocha · #7 08-07-2002, 01:51 PM

I agree that some names are over-the-top in my opinion. I also think that parents should not only be concerned with how other people view their child's name, but how the child views their own name.

Names are one of the cornerstones of self-esteem. If people cringe every time you tell them your name, believe me, that's gonna start to make wear on you.

I have a girlfriend who is otherwise very gregarious, but when she has to tell people her name for the very first time, she becomes very shy. She's 31 and has been living with this name all of her life. Yet, she hates to have to say her name to strangers. That's sad to me. I love my name. It was a very popular name in the 70s, and I don't see too many people giving their daughters my name, now, but I still love my name. I love it so much, that I gave my daughter a more contemporary version of it. That's how it should be, in my opinion. Everybody should have the chance to at least LIKE their own name.

That's just something to think about when choosing a name.

pinkey08 · #8 08-07-2002, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Miss. Mocha
I agree that some names are over-the-top in my opinion. I also think that parents should not only be concerned with how other people view their child's name, but how the child views their own name.

Names are one of the cornerstones of self-esteem. If people cringe every time you tell them your name, believe me, that's gonna start to make wear on you.

I have a girlfriend who is otherwise very gregarious, but when she has to tell people her name for the very first time, she becomes very shy. She's 31 and has been living with this name all of her life. Yet, she hates to have to say her name to strangers. That's sad to me. I love my name. It was a very popular name in the 70s, and I don't see too many people giving their daughters my name, now, but I still love my name. I love it so much, that I gave my daughter a more contemporary version of it. That's how it should be, in my opinion. Everybody should have the chance to at least LIKE their own name.

That's just something to think about when choosing a name.

What is your name ?
________
Porntube

Miss. Mocha · #9 08-07-2002, 02:50 PM

I will PM you with that secret information.

.

Sugar_N_Spice · #10 08-09-2002, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Swamp Thang
You should name you child WHATEVER name you and your significant other decide. And then RAISE your child with an spirit to OWN their own company so that THEY'LL be doing the HIRING..

You got me raising my fist in the air at my computer!!!

That's what I'm talking about!!!

...Well...except...Dang...Must the parents agree to name their child Shawnquanishia...or Alize Courvasier...I'm just saying...

Quote:

Originally posted by FeeFee
Aren't names supposed to have meanings to them? If someone wants to give their child an "ethnic" name, why don't they go and find a book of African or Islamic names and find out their meaning instead of trying to create one of their own...Alize??? C'mon, be for real

Exactly...

nikki1920 · #11 08-09-2002, 09:33 AM

Condolezza's name comes from the Italian word for "with sweetness". But I still was like

when I heard her name for the first time too..

FeeFee · #12 08-09-2002, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by nikki1920
Condolezza's name comes from the Italian word for "with sweetness". But I still was like when I heard her name for the first time too..

At least her name has a real meaning. I dare someone to find out the meaning of the name Shawnquanishia

Swamp Thang · #13 08-09-2002, 10:22 AM

Shawnquanishia comes from the native american language.. It means "She who uses horses tail for hair".

et al the Cherokee Unabridged Dictionary..

Afrochic · #14 08-09-2002, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Swamp Thang
Shawnquanishia comes from the native american language.. It means "She who uses horses tail for hair".

et al the Cherokee Unabridged Dictionary..

I almost fell out my chair with this one lolol

BLUTANG · #15 08-09-2002, 10:30 AM

i may be waaaay off here...

but i think the "unusual" names we give our children may go back further than the 60's and 70's. I'm thinking maybe slavery or Reconstuction. Maybe in turbulent times when families were unsure about staying togehter, parents gave their children unusual names as a means of being able to have that one, unique identifier in case of separation? Like when men went off to work the railroad or women went into factory towns and someone from "home" was checking up on them, i'm sure Cleophus was easier to find than John.

---------
BLU