Thursday, August 9, 2012

The Name Game

A name is important.  Freakonomics claims (along with many other insane things) that a name may partially determine the statistical success of your children in their future.  Naming a child.  It's one of the most important decisions we make as parents leading up to the actual births... there are dozens of books written on the subject, articles discussing the popular names of this year, and this decision coupled with what color scheme for their nursery, what else to put on the registry, and what movie to watch before life is utterly turned upside down and sleep is a luxury, is indeed an important one.

So when is it appropriate to use the same name?  A ridiculously obnoxiously hard to spell pronounce name?  A name that another family's kid has but you will only know for a few years before moving elsewhere?  A name belonging to a distant relative?  An in-law of an in-law?

I find it peculiar how many people love to make a stake for the names they want before a child is born.  I find it mortifying that I am of that population.  For years, I explored a litany of names I wanted for my future posterity, imagining them fulfilling the identities these names would take on.  I argued with ex-boyfriends about which names we could or could not use (useless exercise until you're married by the way), and I've enjoyed mocking the celebrity poor excuse for a unique names that are laugh out loud hilarious and silly while secretly considering if I'd ever use any of them (a few have crossed my mind more than once).  Having been a person who staked names with friends before, I understand (now, after one child) that it's all futile.  Nobody cares.  A name is a name... but there is absolutely no way your name will ever be that unique. Well, at least I say that because I had a kid first among all my friends.  Maybe if I were in their shoes, I'd feel differently.  HA!

So far, I've only met three other people named Daisy in my life.  Yesss!!!!!  I do love my name.

Since names are indeed important, let it be known here that Mormons belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  When someone says they are LDS, that means they belong to this Church.

Every Sunday, when we partake of the Sacrament, we are taking the name of Christ upon us as we renew our covenants, signifying the willingness we have to take His name upon us and promising to always remember Him.  Just a thought.