What's in a name??
A few people have asked us about where we got the name Lucy. There's no one answer, frankly. It was not a name that either of us had on our "lists," and each of us nixed the others' original girl name ideas. We wanted a name that was old fashioned, easy to spell, not too trendy, and cute. We *think* the idea first came to us because it was one of Nathan's dad's nicknames (his name was Luther). Since he passed away in May of 2005, and we already had a boy name picked out (Asa, Nathan's grandfather's name), Lucy seemed a fitting tribute to Pop.
Since we found out we were pregnant, we kept trying out other names, but we have never come across anything we like as well as Lucy. We also like that there are a bunch of great and inspiring Lucys from history. Of course, there's Lucille Ball, the first lady of comedy, and Lucy Stone, an abolitionist and women's suffrage cruasader who married Henry Blackwell in 1855 and yet kept her own last name. There's also Autherine Lucy, the couragous young African-American girl who first tried to integrate the University of Alabama in 1956, and also Lucy Kaplansky, a spunky acoustic singer-songwriter we love and have seen in concert several times. So, while we can't say that we are actually naming our baby after any one of these famous Lucys, we are certainly glad to find a name that seems to capture many of the values that we hope to pass on to our child: humor, creativity, courage, independence, and a passion for justice.
As far as middle and last names, we're not completely sure. We're currently mulling over Lucy Anne S**-M** or Lucy Anne M**-S**. Anne is nice because it goes along with a naming tradition in Sheri's family. And in the past several years, we've started referring to ourselves casually as the "S**-M**," so that kind of has a ring to it. On the other hand, M**-S** might be preferable because it's not at the end of the alphabet! When the time comes, we might just end up flipping a coin. . .
9 comments:
I love this. I always asked my parents where my name came from and, though I love my parents dearly and don't mean to critique them and their choice, the answer was uninspiring: "We stole it from a birth announcement we got before you were born." Lucy's fortunate to have such a thoughtful reflection on her name to call upon when she starts asking that question.
--brooke
Lucy is a great name.
Thanks! Being at a Catholic university, I have recently also heard from several people about St Lucy, a martyr who had her eyes plucked out and yet she could still magically see. Let's hope that OUR Lucy will have vision--but that she won't have to be a martyr with no eyeballs.
I have put some thought into this recently, trying to arrive at a good compromise last name. The obvious approach was to combine different syllables of each of your last names. So here are some suggestions:
1. Morler or LerMor - these two seem to me to have some Harry-Potteresque ring to them. (I say 'seem to' becuase I've never actually read the books or seen the movies. Maybe they're more "Lord of the Rings.") Either way, these two options would serve Lucy well should she, in a fit of teen angst, decide she'd like to be referred to by one name and prefer that name to carry some connotation of other-wordly power. PS - note the capitalized M in the second variation. I consider it essential.
2. Shugan or Ganshu - These two have something of an Asian ring, but perhaps only becuase they seem perilously close to Shogun and Ginsu. Again, might be useful should Lucy Anne decide to go with only one name. "Where's Ganshu?" Has a ring to it. (Or not.) Biggest drawback: should some precocious classmate know of Shogun or Ginsu, this could leave her open to teasing. For example, if she has braces: "Hey Ginsu, open up this aluminum can for me."
3. Shumor or Morshu - The first one of these is too close to Schumer and would be subject to frequent misspellings by those assuming it was Schumer. The second sounds too much like Moo-Shoo, which, while delicious, especially with pork, seems somewhat inappropriate as a name.
4. Ganler or Lergan - The first of these I don't particularly care for. Lucy Anne Ganler doesn't sound quite right. However, the second one is mellifluously delightful: Lucy Anne Lergan. Say it out loud. It works. Therefore, my vote, though I'm not sure I have one, is for Lergan; Lucy Anne Lergan.
No need to thank me. It's what friends are for.
Will, I think it is a crime that no one has yet responded to your brilliantly crafted comment! Your name selections are both creative and convincingly supported. While Lergan has a special ring to it, I must admit that I am most seduced by LerMor, with the auspicious M.
Would you mind clarifying the relative strengths and weaknesses of Lergan vs. LerMor, and perhaps comment on the centrality of the capital M. I'm thinking it must be some sort of code for "feminist Mafia"? I've tentatively eliminated Muttonchops or Marijuana--but perhaps I was too hasty?
Please advise.
Valerie
Marijuana is interesting. Perhaps that should be what the M stands for. But Lucy can only use Marijuana if she shares with her old Dad
Well...following in the spirit of Will's comments:
Smhourlgearn
(Sounds like som Finnish goddess of the Fjords)
Msohruglaenr
(Sounds like a weapon of the thunder-god)
And I would have no flippin' idea how to pronounce those.
--Jerry
Lergan v. LerMor
First of all, Lergan is easier to pronounce. LerMor seems as though it would be prone to mispronunciation as LeMor.
Secondly, there is a symmetry to Lergan that is not present in LerMor. Lergan contains the second syllables of both last names, unlike LerMor which contains one second syllable and one first syllable. This makes Lergan less of an etymological hybrid. (Sidenote: Can something be more or less hybrid? I'm thinking not.)
As for the capital 'M,' in my opinion, based on the hours of experience I've had considering the subject, the capital in the middle gives the name a more thaumaturgical mien that should attach to the owner of the name. It would also give Lucy Anne something to be indignant about, e.g., "That's a CAPITAL 'M'!!!! Don't you know anything?!"
I'm not sure I want my child to know any of you people! Then again Sheri's not sure if she wants me to know her anymore either after my breakdown outside of Babies r Us
Love,
Nathan
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