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What's
in a name? The top foreign
baby names for 2001 were: And the
top pets' names for 2001: By Ruwanthi
Herat Gunaratne Can a simple
name and its spellings have such an effect on the character of a
person? The question:
What's in a name? does not seem to arise because a name is evidently
a clue to one's identity. For, once that is down on a birth certificate
in black and white, we are well and truly stuck with it for life. Though naming
a baby is an everyday affair for the Registrars at hospitals, it
can be a mind-boggling and worrying experience for the parents.
Numerous requests have to be considered, the astrologer's suggestions
taken into account and most importantly the name should have some
meaning. I gaze around
Ariesen Ahubudu's consultation room. A number of young parents,
grandparents, aunts and uncles are poring over the selections that
they have been shown. It is after meticulous consideration and study
that the child is finally named. "There are four main aspects
that have to be looked into, when naming a child," says Mr.
Ahubudu, laughing at my bemused expression. "Yahapath namak
thiyanna honda nekathak balanna, jathiya hangavanna namak vennath
avashyayi. Demaupiyangen daruwanta thena vishalama dayadaya nama
neda?" (To name a child, an auspicious time should first be
selected. The name should ideally indicate the child's community.
For isn't the name the greatest gift that a child is given?) I realise that
your name soon becomes your trademark. The one aspect that people
identify you with. It could literally make or break you. Imagine
a scenario where you are asked to meet a Mr. Small. Preconceived
notions of a five-foot nothing, 100-pound man with small glasses
balancing on the bridge of his nose spring to mind. But when you
finally meet him, he is six feet something and weighs a good two
to three hundred pounds! Then follows a conversation full of senseless
spluttering as you try to come to terms with him being quite unlike
the distorted image you had. Numerous are
the people who hate their given names. Every name seems better than
the one they have. Some even go to the extent of changing their
names and publicly declaring it in the newspapers. Take Sonali for
example, her constant protest being that too many people share her
name. She has used alternative spellings to rectify this annoying
situation. Her new letter combination is Shonali. "It is
difficult to hang on to your individuality when at least three of
your classmates share your name," says Shonali forlornly. Many
feel compelled to go by their surnames or second names. On the other
hand, having an unusual name can also result in a series of problems,
especially if there is a double surname. Whenever such a surname
is mentioned, people will keep quizzing the holder on how it came
about. Is it a mixture of your mother's and father's names? Has
it come down the generations? Is it simply a need to be different?
Is it a mix of the maiden and married names? These are the questions
that will follow. It is not everyone
who is unsatisfied with his/her name. For Byron Chang being named
after a world-renowned poet does not affect him in the least. "My
classmates are quite used to it, and do not find it the least amusing.
It's only when we get a new teacher that a Lord Byron joke will
be cracked but that's that!" But for Mihili
(20), introducing herself is a hassle. "I have to repeat my
name a good ten or fifteen times and even then most tend to call
me Mihiri! I usually carry a pen and paper just to spell it out
for them! It can be annoying but I guess that's the price you have
to pay for being given a slightly unusual name!" And what of
those instances that you name your first-born with an exotic name
only to find that it is actually another name for the goddess of
jealousy! It truly is a complicated situation. As Sri Lankans
who are proud of their heritage, we are almost always tempted to
name our offspring after the kings and queens who brought glory
to our country. But the problem lies once again in practicality.
Imagine naming a child after Parakramabahu or Devanampiyatissa,
great men, true, but rather a mouthful for a five-year-old! Or even
those names that we hunt down from old Indian manuscripts? Beautiful
- certainly, but practical - certainly not! Trends can
also have a great impact on the naming of children. Many children
in the US had been named Britney following Britney Spears' entry
to the world of pop! It is the same here, with some parents naming
their kids after their favourite musician, star or even politician! Whether it
is common or uncommon, jerky or musical, it is your name and it
is for life! I'm yet to decide whether I should end my name with
an 'i', 'e' or as suggested an 'ee'! |
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Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
Some
celebrities were not born with beautiful names, but acquired them
later. In the early days, stars were told to use this formula:
