"What's in a name? That which we call a rose/By any other name would smell as sweet" is a quote from Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet that seems appropriate to start this post. Why? Because this post is all about names!
According to Juliet in this quote, it really doesn't matter what the name of an object is, as the name does not change the essence of the item. Therefore, if a rose was called something else, it would still be a red flower with a nice fragrance. A television with a different moniker would still broadcast television shows. A lamp with a different identifier would still provide light in the dark. Basically, Juliet is saying that the name of something is trivial compared to what it is. This is likened to the notion of not judging a book by its cover, and in theory is a great notion.
There is some truth to this statement, even in terms of names of people. Whether a child is named Robert or John or Sampson, it is still a little human with arms, legs, eyes, nose, hair, and a personality just waiting to be discovered.
However, if this were true that names do not mean anything, why do parents-to-be stress so much over naming their children? The answer is simple: because, in reality, names do matter.
Think about it. Names can help to form and shape who the individual becomes, and could even effect their self-esteem. Someone who is named Cornelius or Birdie is probably going to have a harder time fitting in than someone named James or Elizabeth.
Even though human beings should be treated as equals and it should not matter what their name is, unfortunately in our society they do. People are made fun of or judged based on their name, even before meeting and getting to know a person. This is why picking out the "perfect" name is such an obsession.
It isn't helped by celebrities. For some reason, celebrities seem to really subscribe to Juliet's suggestion, as they name their children after inanimate objects and other things that are not traditionally names. For example: Apple, Sailor, Free, Egypt, and Knox. These are all actual names of celebrity children, even though none of these sound like names of people.
Maybe the fact that their parents are rich and famous will keep these kids from getting teased or beat-up on the playground? I sure hope so, for the sake of these poor children.
The trend of celebrities giving off-the-wall names to their children continued in January when superstars Beyonce and Jay Z named their daughter Blue Ivy
The couple has not explicitly explained why they chose this name for their new bundle of joy, but there are several theories. The number 4 seems to have a lot of significance for the couple, as their birthdays and anniversaries are on the 4th of various months. This could explain Ivy, which is a play on the Roman numeral IV. Jay Z has many songs with the word "Blue" in them, and it is his favorite color, which could be the justification for the first name.
If my parents had named me this, my name would be something like 5 Blue 15. The only thing missing from that name is a "Hike" and you've got yourself a football play. If these truly are the reasons behind the name, all I can do is shake my head and thank God my parents were not famous.
For me, the name "Blue" conjures up several images, none of which I would want to be associated with my child. Blue describes the mood of someone who is sad, lonely, and down on life. It has this gloomy connotation that just doesn't jive with the joy and excitement of the life of a newborn.
The couple also made headlines for the way little Blue Ivy was brought into the world. Check out these photos of their alleged hospital room. Never before did I think I would be envious that my house did not look like a hospital room, but these photos certainly change that!
As if this wasn't enough, the power couple is in the news again with this child's name. Now, the proud parents are attempting to trademark the name Blue Ivy for a future company. Although it seems unlikely that anyone else would want this name, apparently others have already tried to trademark this moniker.
According to an article from the LA Times, the couple want to use their daughter's name for a future line of baby items. They also want to ensure that this name is not only owned by their daughter, but legally owned as well.
To me, this whole circus Jay Z and Beyonce have created with this child is unnecessary. They act as if they are the first people in the world to create and deliver a child. News flash! Women give birth every day. While it is wonderful and beautiful, certainly not original.
Personally, I would like this couple to get in the news for what has made them famous: their music! To end this post, I think I will leave you with an example of how talented baby Blue Ivy's parents are, and how they should be making headlines.
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