Monday, September 17, 2007

a/k/a

Poll is now closed

Lori at Losses and Gains just came up with the perfect pseudonym for her little girl, which made me realize that I need to invent one for the woman who I'm very much hoping will be our surrogate. I spoke to her this weekend, gave her the address of this blog, and I'm going to meet her in person next week.

I'm not feeling particularly creative at the moment and she told me that she didn't have any strong preference, so I'd very much appreciate any suggestions that you might have. Once I've gotten a few ideas, if I can figure out how to set up a poll, I'll let everyone vote. So, please, help me out by giving me some pretty, preferably slightly unusual, names.

25 comments:

Bon said...

i put the word "carry" into behindthename.com, Niobe, and got Nikephoros, which means "carrying victory"...and was also a title used by the goddess Athena.

Other Scripts: Νικηφορος (Ancient Greek)
Means "carrying victory" from Greek νικη (nike) "victory" and φορεω (phoreo) "to carry, to bear".

if Nikephoros is a bit unwieldy, what about Athena itself? goddess of wisdom and warfare, possible meaning is "sharp praise" along with, according to some sites, "wisdom."

i have, you know, 700 other name suggestions if those don't strike you. not that i have an obsession or anything. :)

thirtysomething said...

No historical meaning, but the name Jillian has always been a fav of mine and as of yet, it is still rare.

Christine said...

damn, i am so not good at this stuff. but if i think of anything catchy i'll let you know.

Yankee T said...

How about Carrie?

S said...

Ah, right up my alley today -- female names.

Chloe;
Astrid;
Linotte;
Anais;
Kathryn;
Ella;
Judith.

I could go on...

Dr. Grumbles said...

Interesting how folks are going for the "A" names.

painted maypole said...

i voted. :)

Suz said...

Miranda?

M said...

I voted for Astrid - for the mere fact that I went to high school with a gorgeous girl called Astrid and thinking of her made me smile!

The Oneliner (Christina) said...

Don't like Carrie...mainly b/c i am a smart allec and it makes me think of "carrying the baby."

I suggest Althel, meaning 'gift.'

I like the others. But i would feel very cool (which is rare) if you chose mine.

L said...

I like Bon's idea of an ancient Greek name.

How about Aphrodite -- goddess of love, lust, and beauty (among other things)? (Venus if you like your mythology with an Italian flavor and a dose of fertility goddess on the side).

Or Demeter -- Greek goddess of the harvest and fertility?

Anonymous said...

I also think you need a Greek name to go along with yours.

Lori said...

I love Bon's suggestions. I think the name should have a promising, or strong, meaning. And if it were Greek, to go along with yours, that would be cool too.

If I come up with a specific idea, I will let you know!

Sarah said...

i voted for athena mainly because i like the idea of continuing the greek name.

Eunice is another name of greek origin that means "good victory." Of course there is also Hera, which means hero, but there's that whole weird incest thing with her and Zeus, and didn't he eat her kids or something? Demeter means "earth mother" and she was the goddess of agriculture (growing?).

i have to credit www.behindthename.com, which allows you to search based on all sorts of criteria, including greek mythology.

Mrs. Collins said...

I voted for Astrid because I had a wonderful student named Astrid with a quick wit and an even quicker smile. I like Athena too.

Antropóloga said...

I can't see the poll for some reason but I vote for a Greek name, or something mythological at least.

Furrow said...

I went looking for a figure from Greek mythology, in order to keep with the theme, but all of those stories end badly. What was wrong with those ancient greeks? Jeez.

So I turned to other mythologies and found a Hindu story of Rohini, surrogate for Devaki's child. However, the child that was born stayed with Rohini, so it's not a perfect analogy.

This is hard.

Julia said...

I voted for Athena, but I would also like to throw Ariadne into the mix.

jo(e) said...

I like Athena.

MyThreeBlogs said...

I voted for Athena... somehow it just spoke to me...

Anonymous said...

Bon said it correctly - although in a much smarter way than I ever could, even with a BA degree in classics.

Although, I will add that Athena is often portrayed holding a small figurine of Nike on her raised hand, so it would only be fitting that your surrogate would carry you through this process.

Chris, Renae & Annie said...

I like Athena simply for the strength the name possesses. I know surrogates want to do this but I do not think I would have the strength to carry a baby and then part with it. Strength of mind, strength of heart, strength of character - all wrapped into Athena.

Thalia said...

Elpis? It's also from greek mythology (I agree with others, good to keep up the theme) and it means hope - she was the last spirit left in the jar after pandora opened it.

Doughnut said...

I am going to choose: Rhiannon. I like the sound and I don't believe it is that popular in the USA. In fact, I am not sure I have ever met anyone with this name...the others on your list I like are Carrie and Jillian.

Aurelia said...

Athena is my vote, but then I love the whole greek/roman theme. And especially the idea of sticking with a theme once you have one.