I confess I am finding it increasingly difficult to cope with the world’s problems – with our problems – such as climate change and animal extinction as well as the disintegration of much else that I have valued in life.
I know that every time has been difficult; the Bubonic plague and the Dust Bowl were horrible too. In fact, all times have included the horrific and sad.
But I am noticing that I seek comfort more, both in what I read and watch, in my hobbies and interests, and in my baby names choices.
If I were to have a baby now, I would name it something that would comfort me, something soft and soothing, solid and traditional such as:
[name_m]Chester[/name_m] [name_m]Arthur[/name_m]
[name_m]Archie[/name_m] [name_m]Robert[/name_m]
[name_m]Fenton[/name_m] [name_m]Hardy[/name_m]
or
[name_f]Bessie[/name_f] [name_f]Beulah[/name_f]
[name_f]Jemima[/name_f] [name_f]Maeve[/name_f]
[name_f]Marilla[/name_f] [name_f]Anne[/name_f]
or even
[name_u]Comfort[/name_u] [name_f]Constance[/name_f].
My point isn’t whether one likes or abhors those names, though they are certainly debatable.
My point is that I wonder if others seek comfort for themselves in the names they choose for their children and if that is a valid naming reason.
In other words: does the comfort I would take in naming [name_m]Chester[/name_m] or [name_u]Comfort[/name_u] justify what could be difficult names for them?
And obviously my beloved, old-fashioned (even nerdy) names would cause many others consternation rather than comfort. Nostalgia may be inevitable with aging, but it can be more dangerous than one thinks.
I am just interested in what motivates us to choose the kinds of names we do. [name_u]Comfort[/name_u], adventure, rebellion, tradition, conformity, or what have you.