It is Smallsteps' name day - which is some kind of tradition in this part of the world, kind of like a birthday, but not. And, it also seems to depend on which calendar is used as to what names appear when. In Finland, there aren't that many names and names have to be approved if they are not chosen from the preapproved list. Well, unless the parents are foreign, because there is more freedom then.
“What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.”
How naïve was Juliet?
There was a study done where they showed two shades of nail polish and asked people to describe them. One was called something like "ballet slipper" and the other was called something like "wild rose" and depending on which, people described them quite differently. However, they were identical.
It seems that the name does matter.
So, if this is the case, what effect does our own name have on the outcomes of our lives?
In recent years in Finland for example, there have been numerous studies and tests done, where they have submitted CVs for open positions that are identical, except for the name. If it is a local Finnish name, the chances are far, far higher of getting an interview than a foreign name.
No surprises there.
But, I wonder what these kinds of effects have on the person throughout their life. For instance, I don't care what people call me or how they say my name too much, but is this a response to my childhood and how people largely didn't even bother trying to say my name correctly? It is only five letters long, it isn't like it is that difficult. After years of teachers just randomly saying whatever came out of their mouth and very few asking for clarification or proper pronunciation, has my own attachment or value in my name been affected?
In the classic book, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, one of the first things mentioned is the importance of a persons name and how it commands attention, where upon hearing it, it is instinctual to turn. However, is this true if people consistently get the name wrong? I don't think it is for me at least.
While Juliet was making a poignant statement that Romeo shouldn't be tarnished because of the family name he carries, the fact is that names do have an effect on our impressions of something and therefore, how we are going to treat them. so, should we be more careful naming when naming our kids - are we doing them a favor by naming them something that stands out or, is it better to have their name blend in with others in their peer group?
I guess that for the celebrities, they are looking for something memorable, but not necessarily difficult to say, which is why so many of them change their names - would Marilyn Monroe be as iconic if she went by Norma Jeane Mortenson? What about being named after other family members or famous people - does this affect our outcomes in life?
How about yourself - do you feel your name has advantaged or disadvantaged you in life? Has it been an issue at all?
And perhaps this is something else to consider, because I think that because my name has been difficult for many people to say, I have been made more aware of it than those whose name is more common, so perhaps I have a different sensitivity to this topic.
Sometimes I wonder what people were thinking when they named themselves on Hive or perhaps like me, they thought they could change it after. However, perhaps if someone is trying to build an account in the community, it is useful not to have a name that is difficult to say or to write - though there are plenty who do things like put in zeroes for Os and dashes all over the place too. Do they think about what effect this has on their account?
Better than a hash though!
It took ages to choose a name for Smallsteps and I don't know if she will be advantaged or disadvantaged by it, but I think that we each have the opportunity to give meaning to our name through the way we behave and how we make others feel in general. The name itself might not be that important, but it becomes a hook that represents our personality with those who know us, like an actor whose roles are held within theirs and, their scandals too.
While we might want to be remembered for the good things -
sometimes it is better to be forgotten.
At the end of the day though, the people who care about us, aren't going to forget our name.
Even if like me, we don't have a name day.
Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]
in Africa tradition their belief is that anything you named a kid, the child will grow up behaving like the name, they believe strongly that name has a spiritual influence on children, but I think that, what you name a child shouldn't affect the behavior of the person, I think that name is not criteria that influence change, but the will of the person does, but I think if your name is hard to pronounce then you will become the most popular kids in school.
We don't have name day in my country. When I have heard it in another country for the first time, I was surprised. If we question people's name, we can find some things that has influenced their life.
I think if you were named after a politician or political criminal's name, it is likely for you to have problem at school, at workplace or in your environment. Also if you have a neutral name, you might be thought a man or woman unless they see or hear you :)
Do all the names have meanings? I wonder if these affect anything :D
It is funny that you say about neutral names, as mine isn't, but since people don't know the name, it is 50/50 as to what title I get on mail :)
I think most of them have meanings. To me, it affects one's life because some old names looks funny today. One of my friends changed his name years ago for this reason :)
Where I come from names matters a lot with different meaning, some names can be derived from maybe the child being a first born and some other depending on the tribe of how the child can be named. But the most important thing is that at the end we are all giving a name to bear where everyone would know us by that name.
Do you like your own name?
Yeah I do
Hi, Mr @tarazkp. You are completely right. As you said that "In the end, the people who care about us, will not forget our names."
In my belief, parents give names to their children-either real names or nicknames-is as a hope and the rest is respect for their offspring. The adage "what is the meaning of a name" should not be used, because in names and naming, it is actually prayer and hope.
Like my grandmother, who always called me "babybee". it is my dear nickname from my grandmother. I've discussed it in my introductory post.
Here he is
Babybee is a pretty cool nickname!
Does anyone else call you it now, or only your grandmother?
Thank you Mr @tarazkp
My entire extended family has called me by that name. Including my close friends who often visit where I live, but that is limited.
But in my opinion, when I became an adult, those calls sounded a little ridiculous, especially if my close friends called me in public.
Btw, I'm sure @smallsteps is also a meaningful name for you, but haven't the small steps been getting wider for now?
My dad emigrated from Norway to the US. After he got here he found that nobody could pronounce his name (Kjell) because the Kj sound doesn’t exist in American English. After a while he gave up and went with “shell”.
:D
I had a friend whose Dad was named "Knut" - he normally got newt.
Do you think it makes a difference to experience to "not have" a first name?
Yes, I have an indigenous name, (Inti) and not precisely from my country, so it is very strange for many people who also think that it is a nickname, despite being very easy to pronounce, they change it constantly, sometimes I think that simply their minds do not accept it. Although this is not very pleasant at first, over time it has favored me because it makes it easy to locate myself among my acquaintances and make references about me, since there are not many with my name out there.
I get the same feeling - that they just feel that it is "all too hard", even when easy.
I see it this way also. It is a funny connection - to connect with "not my name" :D
It was assumed I would be a boy as my mother had four before me. When I was born, they didn't know what to name me as the possibility didn't exist in their heads. They named me a fairly simple French name, but, it was a 50/50 chance they would use the male version of it. I am sure it wasn't on purpose, but, it was pretty ignorant and thoughtless. It wasn't that difficult and mispronouncing a name that is straightforward and not a tongue-twister can be annoying.
Does it matter? Only if you have one of those names, I suspect. Did it harm me? No, but, I sure took the pains to make sure I was pronouncing a name the correct way.
Name days are pretty important in most parts of the world, just not here. Although being Catholic, you do have your Patron Saint's day, which is very much like a name day. If you are Catholic Light, one who is Catholic in name only, then you probably don't even know what yours is. Mine is St. Theresa and the name day is November 15. She is the patron saint of missions and Florists. Who could have predicted that? Also one of 9 children, like me. I wonder why my parents didn't name me Theresa? LOL
Anyway, I read that book also, and I believe that a name does mean something, but, not everything. But, Norma Jean? What was her mom thinking?
Lol - it reminds me of all the times I turned up to train a new class, and they were expecting a woman :D
I try to remember names, but I really am not good at it - it isn't just names though, it is remembering anything!
There is a patron saint for florists??? I wonder what the weirdest profession is that has a saint for it.
Her first film was porn.
Haha! I remember reading that.
I didn't know it was for florists for the longest time, I always heard it was for missions, but somewhere along the line it was added, or perhaps it was always there and I didn't know it.
Funny you should ask. I had to look it up! In 1969 it was classified as an obligatory memorial and assigned to the date of his death, 15 July. He is the patron saint of bowel disorders. Bonaventure is remembered in the Church of England with a commemoration on 15 July. Thank God it is not Catholic but Church of England!!
Ha! They really expected you to be a woman? There was never a doubt in my mind. It sounds like a yuppy name. Own it. ;) Sorry/Not Sorry
I am still reeling over that patron saint of poop.
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From the state I came from, names are important. Sometimes I wonder if the one who make those names did travel in time because the names most times relates with the personality and tends to create a bond in most cases.
I have seen instances when a name got a person a job and I've also seen the reverse.
In Nigeria we see names as an important factor of our lives.