avi@pegasus.UUCP (02/14/84)
I changed my name (to Avi) when I was seven. I have kept it ever since, and even had it legally changed by a JUDGE when I went through the formality of becoming a citizen. My parents had originally given me the nice Romanian name of "Emeric", but never got around to telling me! Maybe they were ashamed. They were forced to give "Romanian" names (isn't communism wonderful!!!!!!) but always used a variant of my Hebrew name (for religious purposes) which is Avraham. (No, I did not spell Abraham wrong! This is the correct Hebrew spelling/pronounciation). When I first found out (from my "green card") I complained strenuously. I just did not feel any identification to this alien name. This did cause me problems when I crossed out "Emeric" each year on my report card -- and replaced it with "Avi". Each new year, a new report card showed Emeric again. In sixth grade, the school caved in without comment and began to use my new name. Needless to say, I kept Emeric as a middle initial. I have been tempted to get rid of the name "Gross" (originally Grosz, but my parents changed that when we arrived) because of the terrible meaning in English. I prefer definitions like "12 dozen", to the unpleasant definitions. However, I doubt that my parents would understand a change to "Grossman" or "Grossberg" or even "Grossinger", let alone "Tiffany-Smythe". I gave my wife-to-be the choice of keeping her maiden name, but she actually is willing to trade in "Diamond" for "Gross"! Needless to say, my kids will all be Gross. :-) Once we choose a name for them, it may be difficult to let them change it. My parents still call me "Abi", at times, even though they know I hate being called that (too childish). Maybe a good solution is to just give kids initials (like T.S. Garp) and let them fill in the details when they feel like it. One final comment. I know my parents will try to get me to name kids after any one of dozens of relatives who died during world war two. Since they were all European, I shudder at even trying to give an American kid some of those names. We will probably compromise and give them whatever Hebrew name my parents want, and a normal American name (or MODERN Hebrew name) that starts with the same letter. How have other people responded to parental demands for naming? P.S. In retrospect, I probably picked a terrible name from an American perspective. Some people think I am female, and few can pronounce it (something like "Ah-vee") properly. Maybe I should have picked a name like my brother dAVId -- who has my name embedded in his. -- -=> Avi E. Gross @ AT&T Information Systems Laboratories (201) 576-6241 suggested paths: [ihnp4, allegra, cbosg, hogpc, ...]!pegasus!avi
marla@ssc-vax.UUCP (02/17/84)
[] In response to Avi's article about naming their children after relatives, in my household, I am also Jewish, all the children are named after someone who has died. This is done by giving them the same initials, NOT the same name. I was named Marla Susan, Marla after my father's mother Molly, and Susan after both grandfathers - Sam. The reason this was done, as I had it explained to me, was to remind me, and others of those who had died, and in some small way keep their memory alive. I intend to name my first child in honor of my father Arthur, who died when I was 16. Marla S. Baer ssc-vax!marla
arwen@sdccsu3.UUCP (03/03/84)
Under Sephardic Jewish tradition, children are named after LIVING
relatives. I feel a strong attachment to this sort of "living tribute."
My brother was named Aaron Raulf after his father, Raulf Maurice, and
his grandfather, Maurice Raulf, and his great-grandfather, Aaron Moshe
(they were all living at the time of his birth).
--
-=< Lady Arwen >=-
...sdcsvax!sdccsu3!arwen