Names v. Nicknames

Have you ever thought about how when naming out children, we choose names that have personal meaning? But when they get older, other kids give them nicknames that have other meaning?

When our children are born, the names we choose for them are given to them with much love and sometimes a LOT of thought. Take William for example,(which happens to be my middle name).

From the Germanic name Wilhelm, which was composed of the elements wil "will, desire" and helm "helmet, protection". The name was introduced to Britain by the Normans. It has belonged to several rulers of England, Prussia, and Germany, including William the Conqueror, the first Norman king of England. Another famous bearer was William Tell, a legendary 14th-century hero from Switzerland. In the literary world it has been borne by dramatist William Shakespeare and poet William Blake, as well as contemporary authors William Faulkner and William S. Burroughs. Or, David.

Possibly derived from Hebrew dod meaning "beloved". David was the second and greatest of the kings of Israel, ruling in the 10th century BC. Several stories about him are told in the Old Testament, including his defeat of Goliath, a giant Philistine. Jesus was supposedly descended from him. Other famous bearers of this name include the 5th-century patron saint of Wales, two kings of Scotland, empiricist philosopher David Hume, and explorer David Livingstone. This is also the name of the hero of Charles Dickens' semiautobiographical novel 'David Copperfield'.

Regal names with almost definitions behind them. We give our children these names because we want,hope, and sometimes pray that our children will grow up to be of strong character and sound mind. But then, school comes and with it, a whole new set of 'names' for our loved ones.

"Butthead". "Buttmunch". "Buttkisser". (see a trend here?). Not much thought goes into these names but still, they seem to stick.

While we give our children names hoping to gain some sense of molding, is it possible that nicknames, not for the best mind you, aid in the shaping of them?
Could it be that sometimes our children take these schoolyard given tags to heart and as they grow older can't shake how they were taunted as kids?

In most cases, no. They/we get over it and realize that kids can be mean and move on.
But sometimes I wonder. I wonder about the Charles Mansons, the Ted Bundys, the Michael Jacksons (here comes the hate mail!). I wonder that as these people were growing up if they weren't the targets of ridicule on the play ground and that they just didn't get over it.

I also wonder about the types of parents these 'nickname slingers' have. What kind of family life do these kids have that they feel the need to lash out at others causing hurt and self-doubt.

In the end, it all comes down to us, people:the parents.
Make sure that you provide a loving and nurturing environment for your children so that they don't feel the need to be so hurtful to others and maybe we can return to the time when the "Williams" and the "Davids" filled the world with happiness and harmony.


(HEY! A guy can DREAM, can't he??)