Many parents will agonize for weeks to find just the right name for their new born child. Some will choose a name that they feel is distinguished, maybe a traditional family name, or the name of a famous person. The chosen name might be unique or just whatever is popular at the time. But whatever name a proud parent places on their child, the child will be stuck with it – at least until he or she is old enough to legally change it.
Some people have names where the last name is preceded my three or more names – Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland. (Not sure how you would fill out an official form calling for a first, middle, and last name.) There are those with just two names – a first and a last, and then there those of the music world who prefer just one name – Cher, Adele, Prince. Some people do choose to change their names, but not necessarily because they did not like the name they were given – Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Miley Cyrus.
Even if you stick with your given name, it might be shortened – Madeline could be Maddie, Mads, Maddy or Mae. (Never really understood how Robert becomes Bob or John becomes Jack.) There are names that could be a boy’s name or a girl’s name (with or without trick spelling) – Dana, Robin, Chris, Jordan. There are also names that could be a first or last name – Ray Charles, Jesse James. Names from history can sometimes seem odd simply because they have fallen out-of-fashion – Leonidas Polk.
Let us not forget the trick of being a Junior, the III, IV, V... In my case, James Daniel Hardison, Jr., sharing the same name with my father created mix-ups at times, but it was also a dead giveaway. “Oh, you must be Dan’s son.” Despite the fact that I was called Danny to distinguish me from my father. Then there was the teacher who insisted on calling all students by their “given” name. I had the choice of being called James or Daniel. Nicknames were strictly forbidden. And there are employers who refuse to use anything but the employee’s given name, first and last.
My advice to anyone struggling to find the perfect name for their child would be to choose the name you want to call the child by and make that their first name. A middle name is optional because the “official” world will just ignore it anyway.
ByJames Daniel Hardison, Jr.
James Hardison
Daniel Hardison
Danny Hardison
or just Dan Hardison
Some people have names where the last name is preceded my three or more names – Kiefer William Frederick Dempsey George Rufus Sutherland. (Not sure how you would fill out an official form calling for a first, middle, and last name.) There are those with just two names – a first and a last, and then there those of the music world who prefer just one name – Cher, Adele, Prince. Some people do choose to change their names, but not necessarily because they did not like the name they were given – Bob Dylan, Ringo Starr, Miley Cyrus.
Even if you stick with your given name, it might be shortened – Madeline could be Maddie, Mads, Maddy or Mae. (Never really understood how Robert becomes Bob or John becomes Jack.) There are names that could be a boy’s name or a girl’s name (with or without trick spelling) – Dana, Robin, Chris, Jordan. There are also names that could be a first or last name – Ray Charles, Jesse James. Names from history can sometimes seem odd simply because they have fallen out-of-fashion – Leonidas Polk.
Let us not forget the trick of being a Junior, the III, IV, V... In my case, James Daniel Hardison, Jr., sharing the same name with my father created mix-ups at times, but it was also a dead giveaway. “Oh, you must be Dan’s son.” Despite the fact that I was called Danny to distinguish me from my father. Then there was the teacher who insisted on calling all students by their “given” name. I had the choice of being called James or Daniel. Nicknames were strictly forbidden. And there are employers who refuse to use anything but the employee’s given name, first and last.
My advice to anyone struggling to find the perfect name for their child would be to choose the name you want to call the child by and make that their first name. A middle name is optional because the “official” world will just ignore it anyway.
By
Danny Hardison
or just Dan Hardison
