What's in a name?

I absolutely love Josh's name! I mean, of course I would because I gave my child that name, but Joshua really is one of my favorite male names. And his name is even more special because he has his dad's middle name of David. Since Josh is now at the point where he recognizes his name I have been thinking a lot about names. I wonder what children think of their names at their youngest. There are plenty of people who hate their names as they get older.

I would say I am a traditionalist when it comes to names. Joshua had always been a name I planned on giving a son of mine. And if Josh had been a girl, his name would have been Sarah, even though both of our mothers objected. Biblical names have always been special to me. I was always envious of children who had Biblical names because I knew how special those names were (maybe that was the beginning stages of preparing me for ministry ;) ). I was blessed to have a Biblical middle name, but I was given my middle name because it was a family name from both sides of the family. Josh must be extra special to have two Biblical names!!

Nowadays, the trend seems to be trendy names, unisex names, or names with multiple spellings. I remember when these so-called trendy names popped up. I was in middle school playing MASH (a very popular game we played that planned your future for you) with girl friends and planning out our futures and talking about kids saying I was going to name my sons Parker and Hunter (I have always planned on having 3 kids - 2 boys and a girl). Well some of those names have stuck around, but for me they were a phase like I am sure they have been with some people.

Another thing that gets on my nerves is names that go for a boy or a girl. I remember going home from the first day of third grade and telling my mom that there was a boy named Ashley in my class. It troubled me! We then went through a long conversation about names that were okay for boys and girls: names like Courtney, Ashley, Leslie, and Cameron; names I would never give my child. It is probably such a self-esteem buster when you are a little boy named Ashley and are in elementary school and all these kids come up and tell you that you have a girls name. Kids can be mean, and that is a child who will forever be picked on.

I am just as passionate about names that have multiple spellings. I was so confused when I first realized the name Megan had at least four spellings. You can spell it M-e-g-a-n, M-e-g-h-a-n, M-e-a-g-h-a-n, or M-e-a-g-a-n. And I am sure there are some other funky ways to spell that name. There are also other numerous names you can spell in odd ways, and just odd names. Now I know how teachers must feel on the first day of school when they look at the roll and pray that they don't misprounce the names with all the weird spellings!

But each person has their own preferences! I am thankful to be a traditionalist and to have given my son a name that is easy to pronounce. And when people see his name on class rosters, they will know he is a male; not have to wonder if this child is a boy or a girl. Each of my subsequent children will have traditional names appropriate to their gender. And this blog is nothing against people who like these names or have given them to their children. It is just my personal opinion; my likes and dislikes. It is just my thankfulness that I love the names I do. I just prefer girly names for girls, and masculine names for males. My choice is just for traditional names, and narrowed down even further to Biblical names (that really limits my choices, especially when it comes to girls!) Everyone is entitled to their own choices, and I have nothing against that. Just like each family can choose how to raise their children. Please take no offense to my rant, and if you have, I sincerely apologize!