Baby Named for Police Officer

On February 29, 2008, a Zimbabwean woman who was in labor sought assistance at a police station in Pretoria West (a suburb of Pretoria, one of the three capital cities of South Africa).

While she waited for an ambulance there, she gave birth to a baby girl.

The baby was named Montlhe, after the female police officer that assisted in the delivery.

Another officer mentioned that, because the baby was born on leap day, her birthday would be registered as February 28 instead of February 29.

Source: “Business unusual at police station.” Independent Online 29 Feb. 2008.

A Boy Named Anne

Queen Anne (reigned 1702-1714)
Queen Anne

British nobleman John Poulett, 1st Earl Poulett, and his wife Bridget had eight children in the early 1700s:

  1. Bridget (born in 1702)
  2. Catherine (b. 1706)
  3. John (b. 1708)
  4. Peregrine (b. 1708)
  5. Vere (b. 1710)
  6. Anne (b. 1711)
  7. Susannah (b. 1714)
  8. Rebecca (b. 1716)

Looks like five girls and three boys, right?

Except…Anne was a boy. (In fact, he was a member of the all-male House of Commons during the last sixteen years of his life.)

So, why did Anne have a feminine first name?

Because Queen Anne, who reigned from 1702 to 1714, just happened to be his baptismal sponsor.

(In contrast, American author Anne Rice was born with the name Howard…)

Sources: Anne Poulett – Wikipedia, John Poulett, 1st Earl Poulett – Wikipedia, John Poulett – Find A Grave

Triplets Named for Dodgers Pitchers

On October 6, 1963, the Los Angeles Dodgers won the fourth and final game of the 1963 World Series against the New York Yankees. They swept the series with the help of their pitchers — Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Johnny Podres, and reliever Ron Perranoski — who collectively gave up only four runs in all four games combined.

The same day, Mr. and Mrs. Eddie A. Turner of Compton, California, welcomed triplets — two boys and one girl. Several days later, they announced that they’d named the babies after Dodgers pitchers:

  • Donald Scott – for Donald Scott “Don” Drysdale
  • Ronald Peter – for Ronald Peter “Ron” Perranoski
  • Sandy (the girl) – for Sanford “Sandy” Koufax

Sources:

Baby Names in the News: Lisbon, Luka, Azzura

Some recent (and not-so-recent) baby names from the news…

Allayna: A baby girl born in Utah in August of 2021 was given the middle name Allayna after the neighbor (and nursing student) who helped deliver her. (Fox 13)

Azzura: A baby girl born to a Scots-Italian family in Scotland on July 11, 2021 — the day the Italian national football team (nicknamed gli Azzuri, “the blues”) won the Euro 2020 Championship — was named Azzura. (Daily Record)

Heights: The baby boy born to movie director Jon M. Chu in July of 2019 was named Jonathan Heights — middle name in honor of Chu’s film In The Heights, which he was shooting at that time. (MSN, via Abby)

Itty: A baby girl born in Miami to a father whose parents passed away in the Surfside condo collapse was named Itta, nickname “Itty,” after her late grandmother Itty. (Today, via Abby)

Lisbon: The baby boy born to British TV personality Dr. Zoe Williams and her partner in June of 2021 was named Lisbon because the couple “met by chance at a bar in Lisbon, Portugal.” (Hello)

Luka Modric: A baby boy born in Peru in July of 2018 — the day after Croatia beat England in the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup — was named Luka Modric after Croatia’s captain, Luka Modric. (Croatia Week)

Baby Name Stories: Rielle & Riel

Baby Rielle © 2009 Toronto Star

In October of 2008, a baby girl born in Ontario to parents Kimberly and Stephen MacDougall was named Rielle after female fighter pilot Riel Erickson, who’d been featured in the TV documentary Jetstream that year.

“It was just the way it rolled off her tongue, and having seen this woman and what she was doing and how she was competing against top pilots — the name came across in such a positive manner that it instilled a really good vibe.

“So when my wife threw it out there, we really didn’t even have to think about it.”

They thought the name was beautiful, feminine and distinctive, no easy feat, felt Kimberly, who is a teacher and wanted something unique.

The parents, both French-speakers, also appreciated the fact that reversing the syllables in Rielle produced elle rit, French for “she laughs.”

In an interview from around that time, Capt. Riel Erickson — whose call sign is “Guns” — was asked about the story behind her name:

I was named after Louis Riel. My mother learned of his story from the local native community when she was growing up. She believed strongly in his story so decided that she would name her child after him. I grew up knowing his story and love the fact that I’m named after him. I love having such meaning in my name. It’s so much a part of my identity, knowing that story. I guess that’s why I feel so overwhelmed by someone naming their child after me. My namesake has certainly influenced me.

Louis Riel was a Canadian politician of Métis descent.

What do you think of the baby name Riel/Rielle? Which spelling to you prefer?

Sources: