The Name Conversation

Do you ever wonder how much went into your name? Number one, who came up with it? If you have a name like mine, someone else had it first, but who was the first one to have it? Who was the one to make up the name? Perhaps you have a name like . . . Art or Skip; a name that is an actual thing. Who said it's alright to have a name that is an object or action? I wonder if someone has a name that means absolutely nothing. My name came in the form of a suggestion from Lou Huges to my mother. My middle name, Nicole, is the female version of my Dad's best man's name, Nick. My last name . . . . well, who knows. I am one of the many Smiths in America, so it's kind of hard to trace the name back. Actually, I'm not even a Smith; I'm a Perry. My grandfather on my Dad's side, Pa, was born Jullian Ray Perry. His parents got divorced and the man his mother re-married was named Smith, so my Pa took on his last name. I didn't even know until two years or so ago. Weird, uh? I guess it doesn't matter. But I do know one thing - I am it for the Smiths. I am the last in line. The name dies with me. The man my great grandmother married did not have any kids, but adopted my Pa. My Pa had four girls and one boy. My Dad only had two girls, so that's it for the Smiths. Talk about the pressure. However, I am glad I don't live in a time when your name is all you had; what the public knew you by; the standard you were held to. That would be real pressure.

My friend told me about a blog entry she saw once about names and I thought it might be fun. It's a favorite name blog. Now, everyone has their favorite names, perhaps it's your name, perhaps you have names picked out for your future kids or perhaps (and the ones I find most interesting of all) you have found names in books, movies, t.v. shows, authors, actors, singers, anyone of cultural significance or just your friends that you would consider putting on this list we are about to make. (I say we, but pretty much, I can anticipate only my list going up, which is okay.) It's a list of the coolest, most bizarre, odd sounding, pleasant sounding, nostalgic bringing, interesting, cool names. So, I'm going to start my list (I might add to it later) and you can post the same. Also, I would be interested in how your name came about, or what it means, or even a past family history secret will come out! Here we go:

Willy Wonka, Charlie Bucket, Veruca Salt, Augustus Glump (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory)
Yo Yo Ma

Argus Filch, Mad Eye Moody, Severus Snape, Darco Malfoy, Petunia Dursley, Sirius Black, Bellatrix Lastrange, Dobby, Xeno Lovegood, Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter)

Kermit (the Frog)

Chuck E. Cheese

Marty McFly (Back to the Future)

Miss Havisham (Great Expectations)

Rizzo (Grease)

Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet)

Merlin
George Bailey (It's a Wonderful Life)

Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol)

Forrest Gump

Ma Rainey (Jazz Singer)

Penny Lane

Prince Humperdink

Puck (Midsummer's Night Dream)

Winnie the Pooh (just because someone but "Pooh" in a name)

Debbie Schriener (My Good Friend)

Ethan Hawk
Ringo Starr

Wilma Flintstone

Miss Frizzle (Magic School Bus)

Benjamin Linus, Mr. Echo (LOST)

Topanga Lawrence (Boy Meets World)

Oliver Twist

Mufasa (The Lion King)

Holden Caulfield (Catcher in the Rye)

Noah (The Holy Bible)

Darth Vader (Star Wars)

Optimus Prime (Transformers)

Tweedledum and Tweedledee (Through the Looking Glass)

Lynn Jasperson

Oscar Wilder

Ray Lamontagne

Dolly Parton

Buzz Lightyear (Toy Story)

Dracula

Tennessee Williams

Inspector Gadget
Huckleberry

Where's your list???