One week ago today, our editorial planning manager delivered a precious baby boy. After we’d heard that Mom, baby, and Dad were doing fine, we had to ask, “What’s the baby’s name?” You see, it became crystal clear leading up to this
grand event that Mom and Dad were on different pages of the baby name book! All the talk of possible baby names surfaced a little known secret among our editorial staff–teachers: sometimes the name of a former student is off the list.
I’m not saying it’s reasonable to reject a baby name simply because a former student with the same name generously contributed to a superchallenging year in the classroom. (Ah, Arizona. After all these years, you can still make my left eye twitch!) But then again, I can rationalize that, at times, being reasonable is simply overrated. 🙂 Thoughts?
Welcome Baby Anthony!
Diane
I didn’t know that was a big secret!! I had taught for 10 years before I had my first child. I rejected a few names that my husband would suggest because they reminded me of someone. Dominic was out for sure!!
A name can conger up some strong emotions! Damian is one name that I could never use. I love the name Michael, but after this year…that one is no good either.
Jill
There were a couple names that were crossed off due to classroom conflicts and that was after only a few years of teaching. We just know! Congrats to the new family. Hope they get some sleep and enjoy every min, it goes way to fast!
Thank goodness I didn’t become a teacher before I named my kids – but I dont’ think I would have changed my mind — thank goodness I haven’t had kids that were too, well, memorable that had the same names as my own kids. But there are some – I won’t even use the name for a dog anymore! Love getting that list at the beginning of the year and this year I have some crazy names no repeats either – and I couldn’t wait to meet these kids with these really interesting names – well now I wish I didn’ thave a couple of them!!!!!
Oh how funny this was to read, as it is exactly what I an going through. I am expecting and after 17 years of teaching the name game has become quite the challenge! I’m trying to think of names that I haven’t had yet.
Congrats to the new family!
I began teaching after having children so I didn’t have that problem. But with the birth of my grandkids I sure did. They laughed at me but did not give their Children any of the names I had issues with.
But has anyone found the opposite issue of being partial to a Child because they have the same name as your Children or grandkids???
I am always thrilled to meet a Daniel or Karlie in my classroom.
My grade level teachers were talking about this during lunch yesterday. We all had names that we would never ever want as a name for our own child, or in their cased grandchildren. We also went the opposite direction with names that they had chosen, because every child they had with that name had been wonderful.
Ha- this really made me laugh! I have told both my sons the name Landon is out when they have kids. My apologies to any of you with one. It has been a challenging name for me over many years. Maybe it is just their personality at the preschool age!
Jill E. – I totally agree with you about the name Damian!!! 😉
Over the years I have learned that most boys names that begin with “J” are totally out — except for Jacob. Joshuas and Jonathans, though I love both names, have always seemed to spell BIG trouble. I have loved every one of my Jacobs, Anthonys, and Seans. For girls, Jennifers have been difficult, and the funny thing is that my own daughter is a Jennifer. I had her before I started teaching, but I was warned about the name by the mother of another Jennifer, and didn’t listen. Too bad, because she was so right! My years in the classroom have also shown it to be right on! Michaela and Kristen are two other names I would avoid for girls!
In nine years of teaching, I have had three different students named James. . . . and each one confirmed the fact that James will never be a name I would use for my own child! Luckily, I’ve only had one Nicholas and one Jacob (the same names as my children) and they were both dolls!
Congrats to the family! Yes, there can not so good associations with names so it’s quite understandable!
My husband and I are expecting our first child this fall and have been discussing names. I’ve been teaching for 10 years, and he’s taught for a few himself. We both have a few names that we’ve vetoed because of the reminders of difficult students.
My husband and I have only been married a year in a half so we don’t have any children yet. We have talked about names before as we plan to have children in the future. I have ruled out names because of difficult students. At the same time though, when I get a student with a name I haven’t ever taught before, I often think, “Well, that’s a nice name I have never thought of.”