I'm aware that's it a very thin line that I walk when talking about baby names and social insanity. At the ripe old age of 21, I gave birth to our first born. I'd already picked her name, even before I'd met my husband. I knew that it was unusual but I figured that I'd hadn't been damaged by having an uncommon name, and I might as well pass on that legacy to my offspring.
There was only a week towards the end that I hesitated. My baby girl almost became a Cassidy that week. Once I'd gotten past the hesitation, we started to stop calling my belly "Lumpy" and referred to her by her name.
Not everyone liked her name to begin with. One of my Aunts told us that it sounded like a breed of dog.
Undeterred, we named her anyway. Matisse Anne.
Matisse is a fairly uncommon name, but of all our encounters maybe only 2 out of 10 people aren't aware if the French painter she's named after. We've also met a couple of other Matisse's (of varied ages) since her birth. And I don't have to spell it out to people very often.
However spelling was never my main concern when naming her. I was (and am) more concerned that people would make assumptions about her as she grows. Luckily she likes Art. But she also likes dinosaurs, science and keyboard. Her reading is amazing and she's fabulous with our puppy. Will her name prevent people from allowing her to find a place in the world outside of her name sake. At birthdays she's given more art/craft kits then Barbies. By giving my child a name thar I loved, after someone who inspires me often, have I restricted her abilities? Possibly. As her mother, it's my job to ensure she understands that she is bigger then her name, and she push against any limitations it might bring.
There was a news story today that talked about a couple in Isreal who called their baby "Like" after the button on Facebook. I don't find it that odd. I mean, in Egypt an entire revolution was started via Facebook (and in fact a baby was named Facebook there too) and so naming babies after it's functionality isn't really all that different from naming babies after virtues - Charity, Grace or Patience. Or after Gospel writers. It's simply a new media having it's impact on the next generation.
My ruling on names stays the same. By all means, name your kid "Letterbox", but just don't spell it "L3tter...b0zx" because it makes them unique!!
Do you have any name 'rules'??
Matisse is a nice name for me. It's uncommon name. Like it too.
Posted by: seattle moving companies | June 03, 2011 at 05:55 PM