What’s in a Name? Like it or Leave it

/ Sheila McIntrye Good, Author

DAILY PROMPT : Say Your Name

Write about your first name: Are you named after someone or something? Are there any stories or associations attached to it? If you had the choice, would you rename yourself?

newspaperNames are important. New parents, in particular, spend weeks or months picking out the perfect name to attach to the 3-D face of their child.

Books listing baby names from the most popular, gender, or meaning line shelf after shelf.

Family names are passed from one generation to the next with surnames becoming the first, middle, third, or hyphenated name. We chose them based on our belief systems, ideology, favorite fruits, hobbies, movies, idols, or the desire to be different. Take your pick.

My mother, a voracious reader, chose my name, Sheila, after a character in a book. I don’t know the name of the book and the last time I asked mom, she couldn’t remember. But, my grandmother hated the name and for the first few months of my life refused to call me Sheila; instead she called me Shitty.

No wonder I’m such a sensitive soul (Not). However, starting life out with the nickname Shitty is  probably why I grew up to be the strong woman I am.

What’s in my name?

51n3k6ijdxl-_aa320_ql65_According to the baby name books, Google, and Wikipedia they’re a few things worth mentioning about my name.

The name Sheila is from the Latin Caelia, which is a feminine form of the Roman clan name Caelius or dimintitive of Cecilia — meaning heavenly, or of the heavens. Yes, those are angel wings you hear in the background.

It is also, derived from the Irish name Síle/Sìle, which is believed to be a Gaelic form of Cecilia, meaning “blind,” from the Latin word caecus (Am not!).
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And in Australia, Sheila, is slang for “woman,” derived from the Irish girls’ name Síle (anglicised Sheila). Take notice the next time you go to the Outback Steak House – I have my very own room.
Would I change my name? No. What would I call myself? Do I like it? Yes. I mean, as a writer, what’s better than being born a heavenly, feminine, woman, named after a character in a book? Okay, I left out blind. I’m Scottish, not Irish and if that sounds a bit snobbish or shitty – well, what can I say?
The name fits.

 

10 thoughts on “What’s in a Name? Like it or Leave it”

  1. I have always liked my name (Stefanie), except that for some reason, when people get it wrong, they call me Jennifer. ALWAYS have. When I was in school, I never really thought about it, as my best friend was Jennifer, we looked alike enough to be thought twins, so I just assumed everyone got us mixed up… But then I went to university and got jobs, and 30 years later, I still get called Jennifer!

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  2. Growing up with the last name Gayer wasn’t so easy either. When I was in high school people were still using the terms faggot and queer, but my the time my kids made it to Jr. High “gay” had come into vogue as common terminology for homosexuality. The question on everyone’s lips was, “Gayer than who?”

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  3. I was born a poor, bla… wait, nope that’s wrong. Funny though. Anyway, I was born Jeffrey, and shortly thereafter my mother decided to change it to what it is now. My aunt (her sister) hated my new name and refused to call me by it, and I have been Todd (my middle name) ever since. True story.

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  4. LOL …. your grandmother has/had a great sense of humor. I can just imagine the look
    on the faces who would hear her call you that name. Somehow, we manage to rise
    above the nicknames, with their adversities, to become strong, confident women with a
    great sense of humor. 😆
    It’s a pleasure to meet you. I hope to pop in and read more of your wonderful posts.
    Isadora 😎

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