tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post512523174074356353..comments2023-12-16T02:44:20.427-06:00Comments on Reginald Shepherd's Blog: What's in a Name? Part TwoReginald Shepherdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11965170916626482963noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-77253168761756008772009-11-07T02:21:59.119-06:002009-11-07T02:21:59.119-06:00after a word on the birth registration form. It wa...after a word on the birth registration form. It was pronounced "Femmaly." Guess how it was spelled... <br /><a rel="follow" href="http://www.custom-termpaper-online.com/" rel="nofollow">Custom Term Paper</a> | <a rel="follow" href="http://www.custom-thesis-online.com/" rel="nofollow">Custom Thesis</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16402675302548615551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-73673234362544914842009-11-07T02:21:29.396-06:002009-11-07T02:21:29.396-06:00the figures perceived as "in." As for th...the figures perceived as "in." As for the traditional elite, they were/are just as ready as anyone else to address each other by nicknames.<br /><a rel="follow" href="http://www.custom-dissertation-online.com/" rel="nofollow">Custom Dissertation</a> | <a rel="follow" href="http://www.custom-essay-online.com/" rel="nofollow">Custom Essay</a> | <a rel="follow" href="http://www.custom-researchpaper-online.com" rel="nofollow">Custom Research Paper</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16402675302548615551noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-47831246650202835532008-08-16T12:10:00.000-06:002008-08-16T12:10:00.000-06:00I have a French name pronounced in the French fash...I have a French name pronounced in the French fashion (accents and all), yet I am constantly being "corrected" and Americanized. That anyone believes that they can fuck with someone else's name is just beyond me. To simplify things, my name has been edited (by me) to a single letter (T.), which often requires spelling-out and explanation. Can't win.<BR/><BR/>Wonderful posts. Thanks!T. https://www.blogger.com/profile/16509409207991963533noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-1518398236074534232008-08-15T20:17:00.000-06:002008-08-15T20:17:00.000-06:00Reg seems very UK and preppy. Some of the names li...Reg seems very UK and preppy. Some of the names like Moesha seem to have a twined purpose of individual uniqueness, like some country names (Shania, etc). My oldest was Katherine after Kate Hepburn and Ketherine Janeway (star Trek), two really strong individuals.Jim K.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16105117011358723753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-15879726055418412862008-08-15T09:14:00.000-06:002008-08-15T09:14:00.000-06:00ps. In all honesty, I was named after Becky Thatch...ps. In all honesty, I was named after <I>Becky Thatcher</I>, Tom Sawyer's friend. It was the only book my young father had read all the way through when I was born, but Rebecca is on my birth certificate.<BR/>RebeccaRadish Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06534752971317927559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-79838775493065045812008-08-15T09:11:00.000-06:002008-08-15T09:11:00.000-06:00Anyone who calls me Becky loses a body part. Like ...Anyone who calls me <I>Becky</I> loses a body part. Like you, I outgrew the diminution, but I outgrew it when I was around 3 years old. I named my son a name that is basically impossible to shorten, though he has become <I>The Surfer</I> through my blog. He doesn't mind.<BR/><BR/>Glad to read you're on the mend and doing well.<BR/>RebeccaRadish Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06534752971317927559noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-45534909650042380662008-08-14T19:51:00.000-06:002008-08-14T19:51:00.000-06:00Reginald:Very glad to hear that you are back home!...Reginald:<BR/>Very glad to hear that you are back home!<BR/><BR/>As I may have mentioned to you at some point, I've never been particularly crazy about my (our shared) name. How much of that is based on being a 'Jr' and my relationship with my father is one for my therapist and I to work out. However, I think part of it must stem from my not knowing anyone (other than my father) who had the same name as me. I was floored that, when you and I met in Chicago, the young black man at the desk in the hotel where we both were staying was also named Reginald -- Three on one place at the same time!<BR/><BR/>Unlike you, I don't mind being shortened to Reg (although that sounds odd to me) or Reggie -- Except in print, where it's always the full first name (and sometimes the middle initial thrown in as well). I also know someone at work who ALWAYS calls me by my full first name, the last syllable ringing off her tongue like a bell.<BR/><BR/>I also remember how 'cool' it was to be sitting in a Medieval History class in High School and hearing the name 'Ragnold'. I thought it fascinating that my name had a history.<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for a thought provoking post! Wishing you increasing health and much success.<BR/><BR/>(your fellow) ReginaldReginald Harrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01318624469970165605noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-35394430035632108512008-08-14T08:37:00.000-06:002008-08-14T08:37:00.000-06:00Pressed send too quickly, I wanted to say and let ...Pressed send too quickly, I wanted to say and let it be the last one! You must be possessed of superhuman strength & I hope this will be it now.Ms Baroquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01836227454899083962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-22991116396179915052008-08-14T08:24:00.000-06:002008-08-14T08:24:00.000-06:00Hi Reginald. De-lurking myself here. Great post on...Hi Reginald. De-lurking myself here. Great post on names. Of course, the public nickname thing is happening here in the UK now, too, thanks to "Tony" Blair. <BR/><BR/>I too names one of my kids Nathaniel, and was fascinated by the responses: American relatives LOVED it - so traditional, Biblical, fine - & my elderly English mother-in-law said, "It sounds like a Hebrew name." Ah, bless. And then most people hearing us call him Nat ASSUMED his name was "Nathan." And we met several Nates at his first school, all black. Nate is seemingly a black name in North London!<BR/><BR/>The noticeable Black Names here would be headed by Winston. And then Tyrone. Loads of Keishas, LaTishas, etc, in my kids' school. I find it sort of sad, in a way, like the now-endless (white) Jades and Kylies and Britneys. Antwan I find depressing, it has so much sort of yearning in it, & then spelled wrong... Tawanna the same - though it is very pretty. <BR/><BR/>My mother, when I was a kid, had a race-nonspecific story about someone whose parents had named her after a word on the birth registration form. It was <I>pronounced</I> "Femmaly." Guess how it was spelled... <BR/><BR/>I hope you recover very quickly from your operation!Ms Baroquehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01836227454899083962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-92022433533518674122008-08-13T06:46:00.000-06:002008-08-13T06:46:00.000-06:00Maybe I could start going by my middle name: Jerom...Maybe I could start going by my middle name: Jerome. I've kind of always wanted a nick name. Jack. I kind of wish that one would come back. But NOT Jerry. Too many Jerry Lewis nightmares. <BR/><BR/>Welcome back home. Stay there this time, OK?John Gallaherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02112997671155171626noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-4119579032673043772008-08-12T12:17:00.000-06:002008-08-12T12:17:00.000-06:00Hi everyone, thanks for your comments and your goo...Hi everyone, thanks for your comments and your good wishes.<BR/><BR/>Jarod's comment is very intriguing, and I think that there's a lot to it. Though America obviously has social, economic, and political elites, it also has a strongly anti-elitist ideology, and the public use of nicknames is part of that. The difference between what Jarod and I are talking about and what Alfred is referring to is that Alfred is referring to the use of nicknames among families, friends, and intimates, whereas Jarod and were talking about the public use of nicknames (even politicians use them), and the way that strangers will refer to and address others by nicknames. Alfred touched on this in his earlier comment on poets' use of nicknames as their noms de plum, as if to undercut the pretentiousness of being a poet.<BR/><BR/>Lunch is ready and I must go now. Thanks again to everyone for your comments.<BR/><BR/>all best,<BR/><BR/>ReginaldReginald Shepherdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11965170916626482963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-47327202379495630712008-08-12T09:44:00.000-06:002008-08-12T09:44:00.000-06:00Well, Jarod, I'm not convinced America is really a...Well, Jarod, I'm not convinced America is really anti-elitist. Even poets tend simply to redefine the elite, pledging allegiance to the figures perceived as "in." As for the traditional elite, they were/are just as ready as anyone else to address each other by nicknames. In Proust's depiction of the European aristocracy, for example, you find the use of nicknames like Me'me' (for the Baron de Charlus). And it's known that to family members Elizabeth II was/is known as Lilibet. Fun to think of. Further thoughts, Reginald?Alfred Cornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08120701708290725662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-88957999421802644622008-08-12T02:02:00.000-06:002008-08-12T02:02:00.000-06:00This may be a stretch, but I wonder of America’s l...This may be a stretch, but I wonder of America’s love of nicknames parallels America’s suspicion of anything intellectual, or “elitist.” Do you see a connection? Fascinating Post.JKAhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06803670271920839776noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-3410402015715255402008-08-10T08:57:00.000-06:002008-08-10T08:57:00.000-06:00Glad to hear recovery is well underway, Reginald. ...Glad to hear recovery is well underway, Reginald. I enjoyed your comments about forenames but wanted to point out that new-minted monickers are not solely African American. Consider Oona, Zelda, Delmore, Cheryl (a combo of Cherie and Beryl?), Darlene, Kayla, Britney, LaVerne (one of the Andrews sisters), and Moon Unit (Zappa).<BR/><BR/> Actually, I like nicknames and am aware, too, that Richard Wilbur is known to his friends as "Dick." It's also interesting to reflect on the rise in popularity of poets' use of nicknames as their nom de plume, beginning with the great precursor Walt. Later examples include Thom Gunn, Reg Saner, Tony Harrison, Al Young, Dave Smith, Tess Gallagher, Marge Piercy, Ron Padgett, Ron Silliman, Molly Peacock, Annie Finch, Al Young, Dick Davis, Billy Collins, Don Paterson, Kay Ryan, Nick Flynn, Bob Hicok, and lots of others. <BR/><BR/>Best wishes,<BR/><BR/>AlAlfred Cornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08120701708290725662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4014415529871703586.post-60888393394143416532008-08-08T21:49:00.000-06:002008-08-08T21:49:00.000-06:00Reginald, I love these blogs on your name and name...Reginald, I love these blogs on your name and names in general. Thanks for the opportunity to get close to your origins and to think about the subject in a larger context.<BR/><BR/>Names not only pin one down as to race or ethnicity, but also date one. My mother named me Diane after the 40s song that went "Smile for me, my Diane." My sisters were also named for songs; my brother for someone who lent my parents money for their house.<BR/><BR/>You skipped the whole Black Power naming thing, didn't you? My friend and hairdresser Rafiki was born Henry (in the South). <BR/><BR/>I could go on and on with anecdotes because this subject is so interesting. We (my husband of French-Canadian/Irish parentage) and I (Bronx Jewish) named our son Nathaniel. Both sets of in-laws hated it. We thought it would allow him to be a baseball player (Nat) or president. As it turns out, he is an engineer and his wife calls him Nate (which I don't like at all!) Go figure.Diane K. Martinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03204316534769002428noreply@blogger.com