Yesterday, I read an op-ed piece that began: “Politics. Religion. Baby names.”
That opening made me smile. It also made me think.
I’ve seen people quarrel over politics and religion, and over other no-no topics like money and sex. I’ve even participated in a few of those quarrels. But I’ve never seen people really lock horns over baby names. (I’ve heard plenty of catty comments, sure, but none of it ever blew up into an all-out altercation.)
Have you ever witnessed a true baby name battle? (If so, do tell!)
Source: Baby names the name of the game by Jana Thompson
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A co worker of mine gave the first name of his recently deceased aunt to his daughter as a middle name.
Apparently his grandparents are now all up in an uproar about how disrespectful it was and how he should have asked permission (he did ask his aunts husband of 31 years and all of her children if it were ok and everyone he asked thought it was a fabulous idea.) However, his grandparents have gone so far as to say they no longer have a great grand daughter.
My great-grandmother refused to call me Bridgett because it was a maid’s name. And she said that my brother Ian was what was left when you took Christ out of the Christian (Christian – Christ = ian): I Am Nothing. My mother walked out of the room after that comment and didn’t talk to her again (and she lived for another 13 years–she was my dad’s grandmother). So not an argument as much as a cold war.
I got in an argument with someone who was mad that the name Veruca wasn’t allowed in a German court even though they allow legitimate German names that happen to be out of style (ie. Uwe). It ended okay but the argument style was an awfully lot like arguing politics with that person!