Do you like your name? Everyone has one. But be honest. Do you like yours? I have always loved my name. I am just Beth Ann. Not Elizabeth. Not Bethany. Nope. Beth Ann. Plain and simple. Perfect. Short and sweet. Nothing fancy and I think it suits me. Beth is a Hebrew word that literally means “home” or “house”. It has also been suggested that it means “house of God” or “vowed to God”. Whatever meaning you subscribe to does not matter. What matters is that I like my name and am glad my parents chose it for me.
When I was younger I was just plain Beth. My siblings call me Beth. My mom calls me both Beth and Beth Ann. In college I started adding the Ann to everything and though I answer to Beth I usually introduce myself as Beth Ann. It would be very rude of me to suddenly stop answering to Beth when my family and many who know me from pre-college days call me that! It’s really not a big deal honestly. I like both Beth and Beth Ann.
Found this on a Florida beach for my mom!
For some reason the two name name is difficult for some folks to wrap their heads around. I end up being Mary Beth or Ruth Ann or Bethen or Ann Marie or Mary Ann. Seriously. And I answer. To all of them. Because I know that some people just don’t get the two name thing. So sometimes I correct and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I have been called Chris (my husband’s name) and it makes me wonder whether after so many years together we have melded into one. That kind of scares me in a way.
I think a name is a wonderful gift that a parent can give their child. When we chose names for our boys we put as much time and thought into them as any other expectant parents do. But when you name a baby Micah Brandon do you really think that he will end up being able to grow into that name? Or when you name a preemie Aaron David how do you know that he is going to be able to develop his personality around that name? Fortunately for our boys they both have successfully claimed their names and have filled them out. They suit them. Thank goodness. One less thing to feel guilty about!
So when you think of your name today how does it make you feel? Do you love it? Do you embrace it or have you changed yours to suit your personality more? Have you adopted a nick name?
24 Comments
Leave a commentI don’t love it. Never have. Joy is a hard name to always live up to. And let me tell you, with a name like that you hear it all. “you must have been a JOY for your parents” I got the Ren and Stimpy song from my kids.. “Happy Happy Joy Joy” Other songs, lines… Joy to the World … I got a Joy Joy Joy down in my heart! Or Jump for Joy….you get it! But at Christmas, I have a lot of ‘personalized’ decorations! 😉 My kids, I was very diligent at naming them….vowing to never give any of them names such as mine!
I just shared a link about my name. not many new Larrys recently. I use LJ a lot, short and simple. My Mother’s name was Mary Ann, and she used them both also. Good thoughts!
I know a couple of Larrys but none that are young–it seems that is one of those names that has lost favor but all the Larrys that I know I love! 🙂 It should make a comeback!
I am sure JOY is an irritating name at times. 🙂 I will refrain from any Joy jokes—-I can only imagine how old those get! Thanks for the great comments! 🙂
Thanks! 🙂 Funny thing is, most people act like they are the first ones to tell them! lol
I could write so much about names! I have never ever ever liked Virginia. Feels frumpy and old. When I was little I wanted my name to be Laura Ann! Today I still would love for my name to be Anne!
I did have nicknames: Gin and Ginia and I wish that they had stuck, but they never did. In college, I was called Virgie, and I was ok with that.
I chose my children’s names very carefully, and for the most part they are ok with them.
I recently asked my sweet mother why she named me Virginia. And through her fog of Alzheimer’s, she said “because I loved the name.” That has helped me a lot!
I love your name and since I have always known you as Virginia I can’t imagine you any other way . BUT I think you should add Anne and then you can be one of my “Ann Clan” friends!!! Thanks for stopping by!
I like my name, Audrey. There weren’t any other Audreys in my class, unlike all the Susans and Cathys and Marys. Today Audrey has made a semi comeback, just like many of the “older” names. I like that.
Audrey suits you well. I always thought that. It is nice to be one of a kind, isn’t it?
I love my name! I get called Jennifer, Jenni and Jen and I answer to all of them. I used to wish I had a different name simply because Jennifer was soooo common back in the 70s and 80s but then I rember that my parents chose my name after a lot of thought. Now I wouldn’t change it one bit.
When my oldest was born I had been planning for YEARS what I would name my first daughter. She was going to be Cassandra Elizabeth. Within minutes of being born, when I looked her in the eyes I knew she wasn’t a Cassandra. I now have a beautiful smart 19 year old Caitlyn Nicole. 🙂
I have never liked my given name. I have gone by Pixie or Pix since day one of my life when my godfather saw my pointed little head and told my Mom I looked like a little Pixie. I shortened it to Pix in my thirties. Adding you to my Feedly reader today because you still aren’t showing up in email when you post. I don’t always get to FB!
Oh I love the reason you are Pix!!! It is perfect and the Pixie part is precious. I am so glad you added me back into your reader—–this blog changeover still has some glitches, obviously. 🙂
I never liked my given name, but I’ve made peace with it over the years. Most people call me the nickname version of my first name and probably don’t even realize it’s not what’s on my birth certificate. Hubby and I considered names carefully when choosing for our three children, but our last child, our son, was actually named by my father. We hadn’t settled on a name we liked and honestly thought we were having another girl, so our son was a big surprise as we had no girl names chosen. My dad suggested a first and middle name and that was the one. I think (at least I hope) that all of our kids like their names.
Isn’t it funny how names define us? I think the nickname evolves because so many people just don’t “fit” the name. It is daunting to choose names for children, isn’t it? Sounds like you guys got it right. Thank goodness, huh?
I don’t mind Katy. I can’t say that I love it, but I can’t say that I hate it. When I was younger it really bugged me that everyone missed spelled it. I’m just Katy Ann. Not Katherine, not Kathy. But, my great grandmother wrote Kathy in my birthday cards till the day she died!
I LOVE that you are Katy Ann! You can join the “Ann Clan”. My BFF is Ann. Just “Plain Ann”. 🙂 We had another friend named LuAnne. And now I can add Katy Ann!
I’ve hated my name forever! There were a bazillion Debbies in my class (heck, in the entire school!). My parents told me the priest who baptized me, upon hearing the name they’d chosen, asked, “What? Another Debbie?”
So I’ve chosen a pen name for my writing — you can’t know how FREEING that is, to be able to select your own name!!
When we chose Domer’s name, I thought long and hard about it. And he’s since told me that he likes his name just fine. Whew!!
Isn’t it funny (well sort of) how names go in spells—-a ton of the same name in the same age group and then bam–you never run into anyone by that name. I love the unusual names but it is difficult for some people to embrace them at times. Or pronounce them. 🙂
I didn´t like my name when I was young but like it now. Of course I get the Darling jokes and mispronunciations. My middle name is Dale after Dale Evans as my parents were huge fans. Naming children is a big responsibility but I am pleased my children, Todd and Marcelle, suit their names well.
I love your name! I think you sometimes just kind of grow into your name, don’ t you? And how great that your children’s names fit them. That is a very good thing. You chose well!
I like my name…. I am told it was between Shelia or Sara- I’m glad my parents chose Sara.
Sara suits you perfectly!!! I cant imagine you as a Sheila!
I like my name. It’s funny because when we lived in Germany no one could pronounce it properly since I have the English spelling of Susan. I always joke that my mom knew we’d end up in America one day and I wouldn’t have that problem anymore. Of course, I’m used to my nickname and pretty much go by that – it’s simply Susi! 🙂
That is a great story! I can’t imagine you as anything other than Suzi! It fits you to a t!