What's in a name

[Maureen K Clifford]

I am sure that psychoanalysts could give a very good explanation as to why we do what we do - I started thinking about the sounds that we seem to lean towards and wondered why it is so.

My dogs names all end in the Aah sound. Mahalia, Ellyssa, Khadizia, Anushka, Samantha, Jessica, Buster and then got abbreviated to Molly, Elly, Caddy, Nooshy, Sammy, Jessy and Ralph Patrick became Ralphy. Buster became Boo. Likewise with our family names...Mauzie, Jacky, Stephy, Beanie, Louie, Pammy, Neally, Harley.

Anyone else noticed such weird things in their families???


WHAT’S IN A NAME?


They used to call him Teabags, a strange name there’s no doubt
but gained because he always used to hang used teabags out
to dry. He’d hang them from the roof rack of his four wheel drive
so that he could use them once again - one extra cup in five.

And then there was the bloke called Frog – not for his bulbous eyes
which in fact were quite alarming – a thyroid problem most surmise,
but that’s not why he was named Frog, his job took him on the road
which any Aussie worth their salt knows as the frog and toad.

It’s something quite peculiar to Aussies – so it seems
that we alter names that Mothers gave the children of their dreams.
If we can’t find something obscure we will just attach an ‘O’
as in Johnno, Davo, Jacko – why that is most folks don’t know.

When they’re little kids, we seem to add a ‘Y’ sounded as ‘Eee’.
We’ve a lot of kids called Billy, Timmy, Marty you’ll agree
but with maturity they drop that laid back Aussie drawl
and are known as Bill and Jack or John. A man’s name after all.

Do other nations do this? Can’t recollect the fact for sure
though the rappers names are quite insane on other foreign shores.
Puff Daddy’s worth a bob or two and Snoop Dogg has a quid
but our home grown ‘ Cross Bred Mongrels’ are all Aussie billy lids.

A name is just a name. A tag, a way to get attention.
With a dog you can just whistle – they don’t need as much pretension.
But some folks attach importance to the name with which they’re tagged
and other poor unfortunates for their name are soundly bagged.

In a perfect world you’d choose your own – indeed in fact you can.
So if you think you should be Marilyn and never fancied Anne
you can change it if you want to – be who you want to be.
But no doubt it will be altered by adding ‘O’ or ‘Y’ or ‘ Eee’.

Maureen Clifford © 10/11

[Zondrae]

Morning Maureen,

Quick off the mark this morning. You are a busy little poet.. Lovely to read something lighthearted to greet the day. Thanks for that. On the topic .. Do you get 'Maw'? and I know most people (who know me) are aware that I refuse to accept anything other than my complete given name. So do I do this? That is shorten people's names? well If I meet someone and they introduce themselves as 'whatever' then I call them 'whatever'. It is a personal preference.

It was a rare event in 1975, that three baby girls were born within three weeks, at Lightning Ridge, and all were named Amanda. However at aged 6 months, one was called 'Mandy', one 'Moo' and one 'Amanda'. I know which I would like if it was me or mine.

[Maureen K Clifford]

Thanks Zondrae - I get called lots of things but not that and confess to being one of the worst when it comes to giving nicknames out - so I never complain

My little Ellyssa gets called Elly but also Grizelda because she whinges when I leave her, Moo, and Toad whilst Mahalia gets Molly, Molly grubs, Baby cakes and Precious. She seems to answer to all of them or at least wags her tail and smiles.

[Bob Pacey]

Some nicknames just come naturally. My Dad was Robert William and his Dad Robert Phillip, my older brother is William Robert.

Dad was called Bill or Blue because of his red hair and my brother Young Bill. Just saves the confusion.

Some good nicknames out there though.

Like " Singlet " cause he was always on ya back.

" Opium ' A slow working dope "

Gotta love em.


Bob

[Neville Briggs]

Anyone else noticed such weird things in their families???

Who said other people have weird things in their families, Maureen !!!

[Bob Pacey]

Yeah Missed that bit about weird things Maureen !!!

The answer Is NO


Bob

[Maureen K Clifford]

Well I didn't think my mob were that weird...we are only slightly dysfunctional