Do Names Make the Person?

I'm kind of inclined to think they do. The twin thread got me thinking on this again. I've thought about it often. My mom was originally told she was going to have twins, but later in the pregnancy, it was just me. I think that's called a vanishing twin. Anyway, one of the other names my parents were going to use was Melody. I have often through my whole life wished I was named that because I feel that my life would have turned out totally different and better in a lot of ways. I guess some may think it's weird but I wondered how many other people thought the way I did.

That could be true... but I believe everything happens for a reason... ;) I think you're great the way you are! :)


The doctors had told my mom I was going to be a boy, so she bought all this blue stuff for me... Then when I was born, I ended up being a girl. :p I wonder how different my life would have been if I had actually been a boy.

My mom told me she was going to name me Anna (pronounced like awn-na)... Now you got me thinking!

I really am not sure on this one, never given it much thought, a name is just a name to me, however my daughter Melissa's name is greek and means honeybee, and her name suits her perfect, she can be a real sweetie, but has a bit of a sting to her, I jokingly say, I think some people's names just suit them better.

I don't think if I had been named something else , my life would have turned out any differently.:)

My mom was going to name me Ashlee. I dont know how my life would have been different though. But I'm glad my mom named me Amber though.

Yes. I was nearly Debra! Mom wanted to call me Debbie. I have had so many people tell me over the years that I look like a Debbie.

I once had a friend named Nancy... I INSISTED on calling her Linda. She kept correcting me, and I kept making the same mistake. Later when I finally got it right and we became friends, she asked me where I came up with the name Linda. I said "I don't know, you look like a Linda more so than a Nancy." She said "Thats funny because my sister is Linda." She showed me a picture and even though she was older, they looked like twins.

I think names do make a person. You tend to grow to fit your name. Look at the cartoon "Recess" where they have "the Ashleys" well, evry Ashley looks and acts alike, exept one who fought the "ashley" way of life :D

My parents were going to name me Diane. That was until my Mom found out that my father had an ex-girlfriend named Diane. They decided to name me after my father's deceased older brother, Donald Edward. My name is Donna Ellen. Do I think my life would've been different? I guess I'll never now. I believe that life is what you make it.

I think it really depends on the name -- having the name Jordan while growing up made me feel inferior. I spent most of my life feeling like it was okay for me to be pushed around. Like I was the butt of every joke. I never fought back -- I learned to walk away from my problems which may not always be the best thing. I hated my name -- the kids used to make fun of me; Call me a boy. And alot of it has still stuck. I still feel like people are making fun of me behind my back.


My grandma shared the belief that names can change a person. My aunt and unlce were spoiled brats, so she decided to change their names. Until my Aunty Jewel was four years old, her name was April, and until my Uncle Kevin was three years old, his name was Keith. But nothing happened. They remained little hellions lol.

I don't know if this response really fits, but it is about names...

I think there are certain "types of names" that are easy to confuse. For example, people who forget Ralph's name, will often call him Fred, or Frank. I think it is because they are simliar type of names. Someone whose name is Jane, may be mistaken for Sarah. Same class of name.

I have a fairly common name Sarah. I couldn't imagine being anything else, and it is one of those names that is appropriate for both childhood and adulthood. I always felt bad for those kids who were named something wierd like "Cookie" :rolleyes: (all that I could come up with) because their name would sound wierd as an adult.

Hi, I'm Ms. Cookie ....... LOL

That's an interesting idea Val, I guess I hadn't really thought about it before. When my mom was pregnant with me, she said that my dad had been hoping for a boy and they thought I would be, and had the name John (my dad's name) picked out. In case I was a girl, my mom nearly picked Jennifer but decided at the last minute to go with Jessica. Oddly, when I was in school I was mistakenly called Jennifer quite often.

I think I was always going to be 'Audrey' after my grandmother..I do believe names 'suit' people, but I don't know if they make a person..However, I really wish I was named something different!

Great thread!

I was going to be a boy. I am a twin, I always wonder what it would be like, if I wasn't. My mom was going to name me Ashlee, and my dad walked out of the hospital calling me Ashlee, I hate my name *Beth* because I think it sounds like an old persons name (no offence!) I really wish they would have named me Ashlee, my parents also were going to have it spelt Ashleigh instead of Ashlee or Ashley, I think that would have been cool to have it spelt different. Both of my older brothers have unique names, my oldest brother's name it Barett and my youngest older brothers name is Dallas. :)

When I was a kid, I kept asking my mom why she called me Viorica not Carolina like my sister, I am older. Viorica is a flower and Carolina is such a royal name. But I think it fits her better, she's more of a princess than me, not that I am more of a flower :).

Well, if my Dad had his way my name would be Heidi. I am so NOT a Heidi! My oldest brother named me--he was not happy about my arrival. Apparently my parents thought letting him name me would help. It didn't. 32 years later he still deeply resents me, but he did give me a great name. It's long and complicated though--capital letter thrown in the middle of it. I sometimes think he did that just to make me suffer--always having to explain my name to people, but I really like it now.

I know in the shelter the animals' names have a direct relationship to how long they stay--a dog named Digger, Chaos, ect is not going to get adopted! A dog named Max, Buddy, ect is gone much faster!

lol.

I was going to be named Olivia. No offense to anyone who might be named Olivia, but eeeeeeewwwwww. :p Not that Devon is much better. :rolleyes: I've never really thought about the name making the person.... I guess the main difference would be that I would be in a different spot on the alphabetical order list. :D Besides, Olivia wouldn't have gone well with my last name. :p