The Gross National Debt

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Just because I wonder


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Unless you live in a place, as I do, where parents name their children by dumping a box of Alphabits cereal on a flat surface, chances are fairly good the young'uns playing in your neighborhoods have names which are ordinary.

Aaaand another baby is named.
The Social Security Administration has released a list of the most popular baby names.

I am surprised to see what I considered to be somewhat older names coming back. Abigail being a good example. Growing up, I can't remember a single person my age with that name. Older people, yes.

If you look at the ranking change list, you'll see Hispanic and Moslem names scooting their way up the charts.

I'm just making an observation here. Infer what you will (and some of you will, I know).

That aside, I ask what's in a name. Many cultures but current and historic put a great deal of emphasis on a name. The name defined a person, his role, his status, his past and future. The name described a person. I am reminded here of Jabez from the Old Testament and Naomi who changed her name to Mara.

My kids are each named for their grandparents. Jesse never met his namesakes. Susan has only met one of her namesakes.

My name, so I am told, is a traditional family name and was given to male members of the Baker Clan, some of whom have moved away. Yet the tradition has continued with some of them as I've had chances over the years to hear from some of 'em.

How about your name? How'd you come to it? Does it have any meaning beyond a collection of letters and issued phonemes by which you are  called?

Just curious on a Tuesday afternoon with a thunderstorm overhead.


1 comment:

  1. My little girls name is Rivers Marie.
    My mothers first name is Rivers and my best friends middle name is Marie. My little girl is named after the two most important women in my life.
    My moma was named after her mothers best friend.
    I have a cousin (in the same family) and her name is also Rivers.......so, in this family, three Rivers run through it :)

    ReplyDelete

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