Banana-fana Fo-Fursday
Me-My-Mo-Mursday
THURSDAY!
Three three Bo-Bee--Oh, forget it.
Inspired by my razor-like insight the other day about the occasional folly of researching the meaning of one’s surname, frequent inquisitor Jim Smith wants to use the following for The Axis of Weevil Thursday Three “Name Game” Edition. Anyone who has a name may play along, and no, this has nothing to do with naming baby animals like the question from last week.
SO--
1. What does your name mean—any connection to what you do or who you are?
2. Any problems with your name? Do you wish it (either your surname or given name) was changed ?
3. Were you named for someone? If so, whom?
AND, in order to satisfy Jim’s insatiable need to supply MORE than three questions--
4. Do you go by your first name, middle name, shortened form--(ex. Jim for James)--or by some made-up nickname?
All of you think hard and leave your answers in the comments below, or leave a link to your blog. And if your name is Chuck or Mitch, please don’t do the Name Game song.
My answer follows--
1. As I have already done this one earlier in the week, I'll just say that it's not anything that relates in any way to anything substantive about me or about what I do for a living.
2. It's uncommon, and so I do get some odd pronunciations, but never enough to want to change it. And thankfully, there haven't been any mass murderers or child-molesting pop-stars named Oglesby.
3. Actually, my first name is based somewhat on my dad's name--he was Alfred, and I am Alan. He didn't like Alfred though, and wouldn't let my mother use it for me. Terry came about because my SISTER was nicknamed Terry (short for Teresa) and I guess since they were already using it, they figured why bother making up a new one.
SPECIAL BONUS! Yes, I go by my middle name. It's a fairly common practice in the South, as is naming someone with the diminuitive form of a name, rather than the full name--for example, I'm not Terence, I'm just Terry. I had some doof in college swear that was wrong because no one is named that way.
He was a BIG stupid doof. Read a lot of Heidegger.
Anyway, I had (and still have) a friend from college named Sammy (not Samuel) and his wife's name is Becky (not Rebecca). Go figure.
ANYWAY, there you go.
Posted by Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 08:15 AM1. Son of Ander I suppose or maybe it's Cherokee for "real good looking guy". Doesn't have a thing to do with what I do for a living.
2. Nope, never wanted to change it. Like Terry and "Terence", I get people who insist that my first name must be "Lawrence", but it is just "Larry". I have a co-worker whose name is "Sammy". Must have been in the water at the time.
3. Not named for anyone. Larry was just popular in our neck of the woods when I was born.
4. I go by my first name and only a few people know my middle name.
Posted by: Larry Anderson at April 28, 2005 08:39 AMMy answers
I’m up. As to the extra questions, apparently possums don’t quite grasp the concept of choosing three from a list of four. On the other hand my students always seem to be able to omit some of the questions to be answered.
Boy looks like this one is going to get no business.
Posted by: jim at April 28, 2005 08:39 AMChoose?! And deny our readers the full benefit of Doc Jimbo's Magical Question Generator? PERISH THE THOUGHT!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 08:49 AMWhen I was young I hated Jimbo or Bo. After I grew up I sort of missed it. Strange how that works.
Posted by: jim at April 28, 2005 08:54 AMIndeed so, although you'll probably start hearing it a lot more now that you've let slip that you miss it!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 08:59 AMLong time reader, first time writer.
1. The first name is old and uncommon - Jesse. From what I've read it means "ruddy faced" (Embarassed perhaps?).
The middle name is not quite so old but is from Middle English - Eldridge. I've found slightly different translations. Some say it is "wise counselor" others simply say "old counselor".
The last name is Middle English as well and translates as "small thicket". I think it would probably gets translated today as Smallwood.
2. Didn't care for the first name growing up and started using the middle name after college.
3. I'm named after my dad.
4. See reply to question 2.
Posted by: El at April 28, 2005 09:17 AMHey--thanks for dropping by, Eldridge! I like it when people delurk.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 09:42 AMI'd tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. (evil laugh)
Posted by: sugarmama at April 28, 2005 10:30 AMRemember, you can just make up answers. No one would know. Well, you know, except for me.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 10:36 AMI'm up.
Posted by: Earth Girl at April 28, 2005 11:01 AM1. I've had three different last names, and can't find the meaning of ANY of them.
2. They have all been subject to misspelling and mispronunciation. My first name is Kathy -- not short for anything.
3. Not named for anybody.
4. I go by my first name.
For some reason, Tex is still having some problems submitting a comment for the Name Game, so she asked me to put the link up and bid you all go visit. SO, click right here.
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 12:19 PM1. My last name is of Scottish descent, but whether it ultimately has a Pictish or Norman etymology, no one seems to know.
2. No one in B'ham knows my first name (except the personnel dept. where I work), and I would definitely change it if it was practical. "Stan" is my middle name.
3. Yes, that first name is the result of being named after somebody.
4) I go by my middle name most of the time, though I do have a nickname.
Posted by: Stan at April 28, 2005 12:24 PMI take it this is a nickname other than the one I made up for you, "Stan the Gummint Man."
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 12:32 PMYes, it is a different one, though thanks to Possumblog there are MORE people that know me as "the Gummint Man", probably, than that nickname!
Posted by: Stan at April 28, 2005 01:27 PMAnd Sarh G. is up too!
Posted by: Sarah G. at April 28, 2005 01:44 PMIt's an aristocracy of Sarahs, right here on Possumblog!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 01:47 PMI'm up and there's a story of murdered missionaries involved! Click here!
Posted by: Nate at April 28, 2005 01:50 PMAck! I misspelled my name! Just after I complained about it! It's Sarah G.
Posted by: Sarah G. at April 28, 2005 01:55 PMAnd I thought you were just trying to be different!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 02:11 PM1) Last name in Russian apparently is related to bird of prey or some such. My brother got the more, ummm, aquiline nose, so I personally have no real resemblance. Though the bald eagle and I have a bit in common.
2) No real problems, other than a million mispronunciations.
3) Prosaically enough, there was apparently a calendar with a picture of Daniel in the Lion's den, hence the name. Plus my mom wanted something that was the same in English and Hebrew.
Extra Credit) Can't remember why, but I go by Dan at home/privately and Daniel at work. It's only a problem if I confuse myself. Oh, and my buddy calls me Stupid, but that's another story.
Posted by: skinnydan at April 28, 2005 02:24 PMBut does anyone else call you Skinnydan?
I think I sense a topic for next week's T3...
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 02:32 PMHmmmm...perhaps Nicknames coined by Terry Oglesby?
Just kidding! And I also like your coinage of the term "moronium." I have been using "moronicity" (mentally hearing Ricardo Montalban saying it) for years. Maybe great minds DO think alike.
Posted by: Stan at April 28, 2005 02:55 PMActually, I was thinking more along the lines of how people come up with their various online aliases and such like.
And yes they do!
Posted by: Terry Oglesby at April 28, 2005 03:08 PMFriday, and I'm up.
I love the names Sarah and Daniel. Tops of my lists for baby names, not that I'm expecting any. (Whew!)
Posted by: Janis at April 29, 2005 01:54 PM