Heaven as a First Name?

Names are a funny thing. They can date us, empower us or even debilitate us. In my sleepwear line I name the styles after women’s names that are age appropriate for the menopausal woman. These are names of the girls I grew up with: Barbara, Debra, Sandra, Karen, Susan or Linda are plentiful names in the over 45 year old crowd and names that transcend generations like Kathy and Mary and MaryAnn.

Names follow trends. Biblical names catch on and for awhile and it was hard not to see several  in one classroom a Hannah, Rebecca, Rachael, Caleb, Jacob or Samuel. Seasonal names like Autumn, Summer, April, May, June, and Noel seem perennial.

Last names as first names and gender neutral names are very common. How many of us have been around babies and their names are Madison, Addison, Morgan, Taylor, or Griffon and you aren’t sure if it is a boy or girl or if that is their first or last name?

The spelling of names is often used for individual uniqueness. Let me say here that since I have an unusual name, having to spell my first and last name every time I give my name has not made me a more unique individual!

A recent study titled: "People with easy to pronounce names win friends and favor", sums it up. Hard to spell or pronounce names are hard to remember. http://scienceblog.com/52005/people-with-easy-to-pronounce-names-win-friends-and-favour/

When my sister, a 4-letter girl, gave her first born a 9-letter first name and he was in grade school and complained about the time it took to write his name on his papers, she suggested he call me for help.  I told him to write faster. Now as an adult when I see writing from him, his 

penmanship is illegible, I feel guilty!

So if you have not heard about Nevaeh, a popular new name that will have to be spelled for the child’s entire life, Nevaeh is HEAVEN spelled backwards.

Do you have an unusual name, or wish you did?  Have you named your kids with unique names and how is that working?