Are you someone's namesake? Does your name have a story?

@MarieCoyle (27154)
February 3, 2023 12:07am CST
Some people are named in honor of another person, a parent or grandparent, other relative, someone famous, and so on. And of course, some people just have their own name because one or both of their parents decided that was the name they wanted to give their child. My sister and I were both named after others in our family. I was named after my mother's sister, who was more of a mother figure to me than my own mother was. I am so proud to be named after her, as she was beyond lovely and so kind. She died in 2010, and I still miss her so much. We were extremely close. My sister was named after one of my Dad's aunts. I do not know what her ''real'' name ever was, but she was a Catholic nun in Pennsylvania. She, along with my Grandma's other sister, were both nuns there. My sister got her first name from the first sister and her middle name from the younger one. They spent 3 weeks with us every winter, and a month in the summer, for many years. I had such a connection with the aunt I was named after. She was unable to have children, so we were very important to her. She referred to me always as ''her namesake'' and taught me how important it was to know someone was proud of you, and no matter what, would love you forever. This is a picture of her from the year I was born. The colorful painting was done years ago by a friend, who fell in love with the original photo and painted the other one to suit. I will always miss her.
17 people like this
16 responses
@noni1959 (9842)
• United States
3 Feb 23
My dad named me after Loretta Young, his favorite actress. What's neat, I found out Loretta Lynn was also named after her.
4 people like this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
I met Loretta Lynn years ago. Of all places, a cemetery office, I was helping a friend track some gravesites as she wanted to find ancestor's graves. Loretta was the only person in there besides the caretaker person, who was there to help people find the graves on a chart (big, huge cemetery). She had a lot of class, Loretta Young was lovely, and how nice your Dad picked a name he liked so much.
3 people like this
@noni1959 (9842)
• United States
5 Feb 23
@MarieCoyle I always wanted to meet her but now that she is gone, I know that was just a dream. I did go to Hurricane Mills in 2019 and met one of her daughters, a niece and think was a cousin. So many wonderful down-home people. I stayed in one of the cabins, did the tours, visited and enjoy the quiet there.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
5 Feb 23
@noni1959 I haven't gone to Tennessee in a while, before the pandemic. It's a pretty place to live. Well, that is nice, that you got to meet some of her family at least. I bet it was nice, so glad you got to go there, Loretta.
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 23
My father decided to call me Anna, because it is short, because it cannot be "abbreviated" (thing that he hated) and because it is a palindrome, you read my name the same backward or forward.
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (454979)
• Switzerland
3 Feb 23
@MarieCoyle Anna is the most common name in Italy, I thought it was "too common" and this is why I asked who and why decided to give me that name. After what my Dad told me I always loved my name.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
Yes, some names are easily abbreviated, and some are not, you are right. Your name only sounds right if you use the entire name. It's nice to know your father cared enough to pick a good name for you.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
@LadyDuck I actually have 2 family members named Anna, one an older great aunt, and another a 1 year old. I always thought it was a pretty name.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (93535)
• Marion, Ohio
3 Feb 23
My first name is from my dad's name and my middle name is the same as my mom's middle name
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (93535)
• Marion, Ohio
4 Feb 23
@MarieCoyle Thanks. Mine is probably pronounced differently. Dad's name was Everett. Many people just used the very first syllable when talking to him. So Mom and dad just added a short A sound to that
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
4 Feb 23
@wolfgirl569 I like it when people have unusual names or pronunciations. A different take on things is often good.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
I always liked your name, I had a friend named Eva when I was very young.
1 person likes this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
3 Feb 23
Your sister’s namesake is a nun? Wow!
2 people like this
@sol_cee (38224)
• Philippines
3 Feb 23
@MarieCoyle I have a neighbor who was named after his priest uncle and he became a priest himself
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
Yes, she was one of my paternal grandmother's sisters.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
4 Feb 23
@sol_cee There were some priests way back in my Dad's family, as well. But they stayed in Ireland.
@Shivram59 (31260)
• India
3 Feb 23
@MarieCoyle Yes;I'm a great Hindi author's namesake.Hid name was Jaishankar Prasad.My. father liked him and he named me after him.
1 person likes this
@Shivram59 (31260)
• India
4 Feb 23
@MarieCoyle Thanks;my friend.I'm the one in our town who is named after that great writer.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
That's really nice, your father picked a good name for you.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
4 Feb 23
@Shivram59 My oldest grandson was named after a character in a famous book that my daughter has always loved, as well as me. It is probably not a popular book where you live, but in the US it has been popular for years, ''To Kill A Mockingbird'' her son,my grandson, his name is Atticus.
1 person likes this
@mrki444 (15150)
• Croatia (Hrvatska)
3 Feb 23
My real name have meaning Mars warrior.
2 people like this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
Most names do have a meaning, or are derived from another name. To be a warrior would be a tall order!
1 person likes this
@May2k8 (17978)
• Indonesia
4 Feb 23
My name is only taken from the name of the month when I was born on earth.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
4 Feb 23
Well, that makes sense. I know of some ladies named April, and some named June. I used to know a lady that was named July, but she went by Julie. She was born on the 4th of July, and her Dad got carried away, I guess.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130088)
• India
3 Feb 23
When I cam back from my first day at school I told my father that I want my name changed. I had heard of so many nice names there Then my father told me I was named after his mother That pacified me (lol)
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
4 Feb 23
It means a lot to the person we were named after, as well. My one and only grandaughter has 2 middle names, mine as well as my sister's, and that meant a lot to me.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40176)
• United States
7 Feb 23
My best friend in high school in Hawaii had the most unusual middle name. It was passed down to the first girl in the family. I may not remember the spelling correctly, but it was Kekuakapuokulaniwahinialiiopuna. Wahini meant female, alii meant royalty, and opuna was the name of the village or? Needless to say she just used a middle initial.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
7 Feb 23
Oh MY! I think it would be rather terrible to be saddled with a name like that, even a middle name! That's just too big, I can see why she used an initial only.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40176)
• United States
7 Feb 23
@MarieCoyle I thought it was so cool that she came from Hawaiian royalty.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
7 Feb 23
@1creekgirl That part of it is neat. It would be hard to have to write that name out all the time. Good thing she just uses the initial.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (40176)
• United States
7 Feb 23
Cool painting! My middle name came from my great great grandmother. We gave that middle name to our daughter, but she didn't continue that with her daughter.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
7 Feb 23
Thank you so much. Well, you tried to pass it on, it made it one more generation, Vicki.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57305)
• Centralia, Washington
4 Feb 23
Lovely painting and story. My answer is yes. I am named after someone and I have a story.
1 person likes this
@sallypup (57305)
• Centralia, Washington
4 Feb 23
@MarieCoyle I live halfway between Portland and Sesttle.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
4 Feb 23
@sallypup Beautiful country, but when I go it always rains, never fails. I got there more often when I lived in Helena, MT.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
4 Feb 23
The artist is not famous, but is rather well known in Portland, OR. or he was in his prime. I am glad you have a name story as well, Lenore. I think these stories are so nice to hear.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (153180)
• United States
3 Feb 23
There was a popular song, "Linda", out at the time. I'm not crazy about the name; but they originally wanted to name me Gloria!
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
Gloria is a nice name as well, of course I think of the song, Gloria.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203478)
• Nashville, Tennessee
3 Feb 23
Nothing to brag about with my name as far as I know. Just Carol. A nice painting.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203478)
• Nashville, Tennessee
4 Feb 23
@MarieCoyle Thank you Marie. Yours is as well.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
I think it's a very nice name, Carol!
1 person likes this
@thebos (5779)
• Kisumu, Kenya
3 Feb 23
I thought that naming was an African tradition
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
I'm sorry, but I am not sure of what you mean. Basically everyone has a name, given to them when they are born, usually by the parents. And very often, babies are named in honor or memory of someone respected or much loved.
1 person likes this
@thebos (5779)
• Kisumu, Kenya
6 Feb 23
@MarieCoyle in African that is a tradition
1 person likes this
@jstory07 (133754)
• Roseburg, Oregon
3 Feb 23
Sorry for your loss but at least you have good memories of her.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
She was a true lady in every sense of the word. And her heart was so big. She planned my wedding, ( it was very small) and helped me through the rough spots of life. I cherish every memory I have of her. Thank you.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (116876)
• Anniston, Alabama
3 Feb 23
My sister and I were both named after our father.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (27154)
3 Feb 23
I heard that idea was kicked around a bit by my Dad's mother, my grandmother, to name me a name similar to his. But Dad was James and Jamia was what was being promoted by Grandma, Dad said no, we aren't going to have 2 so much alike, so that idea was ditched.