10 on T

I have missed the last 438 Ten on Tuesdays,
and I tend to exaggerate.
It's nice to be back, and the questions are fun this week!


1. How did your parents decide on your name?
Every time I asked my mom, she'd simply say, "I just liked the name." It tends to confuse people because they assume I was born in September, October, or November. Nope - December. Before the 1st day of Winter. So, technically speaking, I am an Autumn.
And you would not believe how many people CANNOT spell Autumn. Even when you say, "The Season... Fall... Autumn." They just stare at me like I'm speaking German with a big piece of lettuce in my teeth.

2. Do your initials (First, Middle, Last) spell out anything fun/funny?
A.R.U.
Nope.
Before I was married, it was A.R.R. Always made me think of a pirate. "Arrrr..."

3. Did you take your middle name from childhood or did you take your maiden name as your middle name? (If unmarried, what do you plan to do?)
I use my maiden name. I think it honors your birth family. But I do like my middle name.

4. Are you or will you name your children thematically (ie. same first letter, all of same origin…)
Ummm... no. I have one, and I don't see any extras in the near future. (Sorry, Nana.) But I do like the origin idea. I like old names... family names and names from way back when.

5. Did you decide on baby names as a little girl? Did you stick to them or change your mind?
Oh my word, yes. They were pretty trendy and horrible. I definitely did not stick to them.

6. Does your family have any names that have been passed down through generations?
"Daniel" (and its variations) is one. I had no clue there was another "E" on Dan/Daddy's side of the family until way after we'd decided what to name the boy. I think that's pretty cool.

7. Do you look at the meaning of the name or just the name itself?
Most certainly the meaning. But, there are names I like whose meaning I don't like... So, I guess both.

8. Do you name pets with human names (Sally, Henry) or with pet names (Fluffy, Mr. Bo Bo)?
Yes and yes. One cat had a human name, and one cat has the name of the restaurant where we found her. We're clever like that. I have always wanted a goat I could name Nigel, so I think I lean more towards the human-type names.

9. Are there any names that you have an affinity or dislike for based on a childhood experience/someone you once knew?
Yes. Yes. And yes. The "dislike" much more than the "affinity." It's strange how you can grow up and move on and forgive, but even just the mention of a hurtful person's name takes you zooming right back.

10. What are some of your favorite names? Why?
I have always said that IF we had another, I liked the name Moses. But then Gweneth Paltrow stole it.
I also like Israel and Judah. Do you sense a trend here?
I have no girl names picked out as favorites, because little girls scare me a teeny bit. So if I don't pick out a girly name, then there's no chance I'll ever end up with one, right?