Whatever it is, it’s got your name on it ...

AS Shakespeare was wont to enquire, what’s in a name?

Well, that all depends on the name, could be a surname that past generations have saddled you with, forenames that are not necessarily to your liking, nicknames that you like or not and even derogatory name-calling.

With today’s changes in the meaning of words, many surnames can be an embarrassment and, as far as I know, require a legal change if they become too much to bear, while some ridiculous forenames have parents to blame but here a change is not so difficult as you can choose to be called what you will.

Nicknames are used everywhere and I am sure that all over the world these are applied in every culture, some obvious such as Dusty Miller or Lofty to the over- vertically challenged and I would think these are acceptable.

But what about the Fattie Arbuckles. the Skinny Lizzies and a classmate of mine from ages past whose surname was Droers?

Pronounced as in drawers, she was stuck with the inevitable nickname and sadly her personality was as droopy as the nickname.

How often do children acquire nicknames which are bestowed as a loving gesture by parents but have the danger of being carried on into adult life?

I know one parent of a lovely, vivacious toddler who, depending on how you look upon it, has all the more endearing qualities of a mischievous little monkey. Unfortunately she seems to have been given the pet name of ‘monkey’ which she readily responds to.

I also knew a woman who had been nicknamed Bubbles in childhood and the name stuck with her all of her life; but I could never come to terms with addressing a 70-year-old woman as Bubbles so I never called her anything. In the case of names, I don’t accept that ‘a rose by any other name would smell as sweet’ for like it or not, your given name is an intrinsic part of you, something that is at the core of your being and will live on.

Telephone 01305 822811  hilda@scotia22.freeserve.co.uk