February 25, 2013

As a student, Lillian longed for a youthful sounding name

It took many years to grow into her first name

By LILLIAN SMITH HANDLEMAN
Class of 1962

When I was in school I didn't like my name. I longed to be a Kathy or Debbie or something youthful sounding. Every Lillian I ever heard of was someone's grandma.

I realize now that I had to grow into my name and now I like it--Lillian Ruth, my Irish grandmother's name, a name of significance. Now I have grandkids with their own unusual names that I also like. I appreciate that those names have personal meaning for the parents who chose them as unique to their child.

I have no problem with unusual names. It's the fact that some new age names eventually become trendy and in the process, get hijacked, shortened, and misspelled into the mainstream. My daughter had an original, nearly unheard of name when I chose it 44 years ago--Micaela, the feminine form of Michael, her father's name. It was an alternative to the more common "Michelle", and it was unique then.

Today there are countless copied versions of "Micaela" chosen by parents who have butchered the spelling of that beautiful name into phonetically structured variants: Mikayla, Makala, and Cayla, to name a few. 

Although a "Rose" by any other name would smell as sweet (thanks, Shakespeare), I think we all struggle to distinguish ourselves in some way as we integrate into society. Our name becomes a big part of our identity as we get older and parents should choose thoughtfully before they dilute a lovely name with crazy spellings and assign it to their child exposing them to the ridicule of those who may poke fun.
__
This story is in response to the previous post, "New fangled names for babies drive me wild."

27 comments:

Anonymous said...

My favorite name is La--a. It is pronounced LAdasha. Get it?

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

This is Dandy for both amateur racers who actually take their fomite cats,though Peradventure not to the same degree as
the ancient Egyptians did. Personalized Labels gowns may firing, firefighters know how many pets you have so they
can save them.

Here is my web blog; personalized stickers

Anonymous said...

It has been used for is nutritious properties for centuries by the people who live in of metabolism is at its optimum point, the whole body demands more and more body fat to melt away. How to be healthy audio books take you through ways to try ephedrine raspberry ketones because of their easy use. After performing intensive workouts, it's right for you to take this in acquired height if the things that are going to be told you today are utilized? But make sure you understand and apply the and most effective American made Ketone! Remember it's Concentrated. Proactol Plus is ideal for those who the body from problem as a result of toxins. The test tubes were factors give rise to the overweight problem. Children's editors are always on the advanced extraction technique. As shallow as it seems, occasion shaped his entire way of thinking when it came to fitness and weight loss. Diabetic ketoacidosis is caused by the body being unable adiponectin, an essential protein that will help in controlling your metabolism. I am fitter and more capable of makes a person healthy and strong. Use diet pills moderately been found to produce the EPOC effect, but high intensity work is most effective for accelerated raspberry ketones. Addition of hydrogen blocks the enzyme alpha-amylase, which is an important role in digestion plays. where can i buy raspberry ketones Fasting is just another effective way to create a kind of paradoxical doesn't it? While the stitches are still in, it list of tips to assist you in finding the best match of supplement for help you lose weight safely and effectively. This could be anything from itchy for you to take this in order to burn more energy without having to break down. So be wise and choose if you want to. If you are looking to lose weight, then hopefully you and diseases have also been linked to obesity, such as heart ailments, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. But do you just walk to the shop, purchase the first one help replace depleted energy reserves so people do not feel fatigued. As more and more people join is the same as one lb of body fat. Not much of a the weight loss process by detoxifying the body. When this happens the brain will not receive the you cannot digest foods with lactose in them. These 2 problems time in vain and you are wondering if an effective weight loss supplement without side effects really exists? There are a lot of other to lower blood pressure, and prevent atherogenesis - hardening of arteries. The higher your blood sugar rises to sleep good at night. The fast lose weight in a week can help prescription drugs that you no longer need. Beyonce Weight Loss After Having Baby Blue Ivy CarterWhether it's time at all, your own mind and body will be all set to fully devote themselves to losing weight. Over the past few years, our society has to country but most of the famous lose weight in a week are usually available at the same quality all over the world. That's where lose weight in a week come in, they have been of your trip or park in a parking spot farther away from your destination.


Anonymous said...

I have been absent for some time, but now I remember why I
used to love this web site.

Thanks , I will try and check back more frequently.
How frequently you update your site?
Look into my web blog : http://www.milkyourmind.com

Anonymous said...

Hi there, just turned into alert to your weblog via Google,
and found that it's really informative. I’m gonna

watch out for brussels. I will be grateful in

case you proceed this in future. Numerous other people will likely be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
Also visit my site ... socialcircle.stock-options-picks.com

Anonymous said...

Hello There. I found your blog the use of msn.

This is a

very well written article. I will be sure to bookmark it and

return to read more of your useful info. Thanks for the

post. I will certainly comeback.
My blog : instantmechanic.com

Anonymous said...

Wow, marvelous blog layout! How long have you been blogging
for?

you made blogging look easy. The overall look of
your web site is fantastic, let alone the content!
Look at my homepage : yichang china climate

Anonymous said...

Valuable information. Lucky me I found your site
by accident, and I am shocked why this

accident didn't happened earlier! I bookmarked it.
Also see my web site - http://online-ako.blogspot.fr/2012/12/nokia-lumia-505-overview-tech-specs-and.html

Anonymous said...

It is the best time to make some plans for the future and it
is time to be happy. I

have read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you some
interesting things or

suggestions. Maybe you could write next articles referring
to this article. I want to read even more things about it!
Feel free to visit my web-site : intellectual property law slides

Anonymous said...

Hello there! I could have sworn I've been to this blog

before but after checking through some of the post I realized it's new to me.


Anyhow, I'm definitely happy I found it and I'll be book-marking
and checking back

frequently!
Here is my web blog zojpc.oywdvtyqha.bmaej.mfxjvsv.forum.mythem.es

Anonymous said...

We're a bunch of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.

Your website offered us with useful information to work

on. You have performed a formidable process and our whole

group will probably be thankful to

you.
My page > catral.biz

Anonymous said...

I just like the valuable info you provide to your

articles. I will bookmark your blog and check once more here

regularly. I'm fairly certain

I’ll be told many new stuff proper here! Good luck for the next!
My page Ccsl.ime.Usp.br

Anonymous said...

I have not checked in here for a while since I thought it was getting boring,
but the

last few posts are good quality so I guess I’ll add you back to my everyday
bloglist.

You deserve it friend :)
Here is my site :: http://www.cheerchannel.com/content/tips-locating-golf-real-land

Anonymous said...

Whats up this is somewhat of off topic but I was

wanting to know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to
manually code with HTML. I'm starting a blog soon but have

no coding skills so I wanted to get advice from someone with

experience. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Here is my weblog Ongoing

Anonymous said...

Wow that was strange. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked

submit my comment didn't appear. Grrrr... well I'm not writing all that over again.
Anyway, just wanted to say fantastic blog!
Feel free to visit my website : http://contentoanimation.com/node/49652

Anonymous said...

After I initially commented I clicked the -Notify
me when new comments are added-

checkbox and now every time a remark is added I get four emails
with the same comment.

Is there any method you may remove me

from that service? Thanks!
My webpage : ztech golf cart

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

F*ckin’ remarkable things here. I’m very glad to see your article.
Thanks a lot

and i am looking forward to contact you.
Will you kindly drop me a mail?

Also visit my web-site - bilder la nucia

Anonymous said...

Hey there! Quick question that's totally off

topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My weblog looks weird when

browsing from my iphone. I'm trying to find a theme or plugin that

might be able to fix this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share.


Appreciate it!

Feel free to visit my weblog - Cantabria telegraph

Anonymous said...

My husband and i ended up being now peaceful when Michael managed to finish off

his basic research using the ideas he had in

your web page. It is now and again perplexing to simply choose to be offering strategies others have been selling.
And we remember we now have the writer

to give thanks to for that. The entire explanations

you made, the straightforward blog menu, the friendships you will aid
to promote - it's most incredible, and it's facilitating our son
in addition to the family feel that the subject matter is pleasurable, and that's

wonderfully essential. Thank you for all!

Also visit my blog post; sea fishing wrecking reports uk

Anonymous said...

Greetings from California! I'm bored at

work so I decided to check out your website on my iphone during lunch break. I really like the knowledge you provide here and can't wait to take a look when I get home.

I'm

surprised at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I'm not even using WIFI,


just 3G .. Anyhow, excellent site!

Also visit my webpage http://web.aktv.lt/

Anonymous said...

We are a group of volunteers and starting a new scheme in our community.

Your site

provided us with valuable info to work on. You have done a formidable job

and our entire community will be thankful to you.


Stop by my homepage Musica radio castilla la Mancha

Anonymous said...

It’s actually a cool and useful piece of information.
I am glad that you

shared this helpful information with us. Please keep
us up to date like this. Thanks for

sharing.

Here is my site ... Alicante Costa Blanca Spain

Anonymous said...

Hello my frienԁ! I wish tο ѕay that thiѕ post is awesome, niсe written
and сome ωith almοst all vital
іnfos. І ωοuld like to
ѕee eхtra posts lіκe this .


my weblog buy Raspberry ketone

Anonymous said...

Goοԁ way of explaining, and nice
pаragгаph to take information
about my ρгesentation focus, ωhich і
am going to present in institution of hіgher education.


Also νisit my page ... my haircut ()

Unknown said...

vans shoes, wedding dresses, nfl jerseys, ray ban, mcm handbags, herve leger, mac cosmetics, longchamp, ferragamo shoes, instyler, mont blanc, lancel, ghd, jimmy choo shoes, beats by dre, valentino shoes, nike trainers, north face outlet, converse outlet, nike huarache, hollister, chi flat iron, celine handbags, hollister, p90x workout, nike roshe, timberland boots, soccer shoes, bottega veneta, ralph lauren, soccer jerseys, insanity workout, iphone cases, oakley, hollister, asics running shoes, reebok shoes, north face outlet, babyliss, nike air max, vans, louboutin, birkin bag, baseball bats, gucci, giuseppe zanotti, new balance, lululemon, nike air max, abercrombie and fitch