I met a little girl today with my name. She was probably around eight, which adds up. It was approximately ten years ago that the country singer Shania Twain became popular. Suddenly, I wasn't the only one who had ever heard my name. And I didn't have to spell it every time I said it.
Her popularity was both a blessing and a curse. As she got more popular and the name became more familiar, it was a relief not to be looked at askance whenever I introduced myself. Instead, I would get an "oh, like the singer?" More than once, I'd get an accusatory "that's not your real name, you changed it to be like her!" Which, no I didn't, but even if I had, how is it your business?
Living with an unusual name, you can understand my sympathy for children who have the same burden to bear. My compassion was kicked into overdrive at tennis roll call.
Argyle? Here.
Stetson? Here.
Paisley? Here.
Wrangler? Here.
Those poor kids.
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12 comments:
Shania is a beautiful name. Though I do understand about unusual. My real first name is Audra - yeah, like Linda Evans on Big Valley. *sigh*
Oh mah holy hell. Argyle? WTF?
I think celebrities started the whole 'make the name ORIGINAL' thing. I mean, Apple?
I think you have a pretty name. =)
But I'm laughing and shaking my head at the whole sock/cowboy name theme going on for those poor kids at tennis. LOL
i had quite the thing for shania when she first became hot.....
Oh my. Please tell me those are quirky nicknames and not the honest-to-goodness-what's-on-the-birth-certificate names.
Seriously, people needs to stop naming their kids from things they see and hear in western wear commercials.
I can empathize. When I was growing up, no one else had my name. Now it's around a fair bit--and I feel like every little dear named Jocelyn is a bit of an interloper into something that was mine alone.
But I'm petty like that, not gracious like yourself...
I came over by the way of Hotfessional.
I understand your plight. My real name is Sophie, and I was often alone in that honour until it suddenly jumped onto Top Ten lists.
My daughter (9.5) has 3 Shanias (or variations of the spelling) in her class.
I LOVE your name! Growing up I had the curse of Vanessa Williams. What's so funny is that for the longest time I didn't even know who she was!
You have an awesome name!
My name sucks when shortened it is
con...man
SERIOUSLY! LOL
when I was 20 the most popular name was Jessica. I'm now forty four and every time I meet a jessica I ask her if she is 24 years old and nine times out of ten I am correct. When my mother named me Jessica people thought she was nuts which she is but not for that reason
Whahahaha...
Wrangler?
The worst is people who use their surname as a cruel joke when choosing their kids' first names. I knew brothers called Ben and Neil, surname Down.
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