Names

More than two years ago, perhaps closing on three, I had chosen my kids' names - a name for a boy and a name for a girl. Years before that I used to play around with names I would call my children, names that I loved, but that came and went as I said that I would have to see child first before actually giving her/him a name. But somehow.. with these two names.. I knew at that instance that they were here to stay (though I am still reserving the right to change my mind once, tfu tfu tfu, I get to see my little one/s). And sometimes I am almost bursting with this "secret" of mine. My sisters do know my boy's name, as it was given quite recently to a relative's new-born son and I was so disappointed that my name was "stolen". But still my two names are my inner treasure and I would so love the day to come when it would be everyone's knowledge.

And yesterday I asked my mother if there were any names she would really rather me not give my child (not that I suspect any problem with my chosen names), well not really. She then asked if I prefer long or short names (long!) to which she asked about the name Yonatan [=Jonathan in Hebrew], and yes I l-o-v-e that name (though it is not my chosen name :-D). She then asked if I will always call child by the long name. Honestly, I really don't know how I will call him or her, but I do find it funny that kids with short names tend to have long nick-names and those with long names - shortened nick-names.. We continued talking a bit about names in the family, well her side of the family to be exact. Which got me thinking.

When I proclaimed those two names, I also declared (to myself..) that I don't want my child to have a second name. Second names aren't common here, and there was something about always having to explain the issue of a second name. I do love both my first and second names, and I am happy these are my names, wouldn't trade them for the world, but still, my second name made me a bit different from the others.
Not to mention the second names my father* would like a son of mine to have - first set of names: one I really dislike so no way my child will be getting that name, the other... I rather not say why not, but again - no. Now he has a new set of names where again one name I completely dislike and the other will be just too weird, though I do kind of like it (as a second name, that is), it just doesn't fit with the first name [o.k will disclose that both are biblical names, one is a father the other his son, and that feels too weird and wrong for me). So I was all about not giving my child a second name.

But I think after that conversation I had a change of heart. I think I do want to give my child a second name (and if I have a boy would have to tell my father no to his suggested names..). I even chose them (well actually it was vice versa - thinking of these names got me thinking that yes, I want my child to have a second name. My child anyway will be different on so many levels, so what's a name :-)). And I love these second names I chose (actually have to admit that with the girl I am less certain how well it sounds, but I think it's o.k.), I love the fact that (in one case together with first name) both the boy's names and the girl's connect to both my father's side and my mother's. If my child has nothing from his/her paternal side, let her/him at least have a strong connection to my family from both my sides!

* Not that he has yet asked me, but he did for all his grandsons and I do know him.. I do hope and believe he will be happy with my choice.