Ten on Tuesday (Again)

Once again, I am unoriginal and can't think of my own blog posts, so I'm Ten on Tuesdaying without any blogs in between.  This week’s questions were provided by KEZ from Sinner Following Jesus.  

1. How did your parents decide on your name?
My parents (actually, just my mom) had to choose a name with the same initials as my older sister's name along with the same rhythm and stressed syllables.  Hence, "Kristen Michelle" and "Katy Marie."  My dad's requirement was that I would be named the same thing I would be called.  In his world, if I was going to go by a nickname, I may as well have that be my proper name. 


2. Do your initials (First, Middle, Last) spell out anything fun/funny?
Nope.  Unless KMK or KML are something funny!

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 let "Kemp" go.  There are plenty of Kemp men to carry on the name, and I still feel and sometimes act like a Kemp without having the name.  I like my middle name, so I kept it.  I never really though about not taking my husband's last name.  I actually didn't realize until I was at least in high school that people sometimes turn their maiden name into their middle. 

4. Are you or will you name your children thematically (ie. same first letter, all of same origin…)
Probably not.  In fact, when a name pops into my head that also starts with an "M," it actually discourages me from wanting to use it in the future.  If I have two M's, then it might start sounding themey, and then I would have to carry it on!  It becomes too complicated then.

Case in point:  My parents never thought of another same rhythm and initialed name as my sister and me.  Good thing there's just two of us!

5. Did you decide on baby names as a little girl? Did you stick to them or change your mind?
Yes and no.  When playing house as a kid, I always named my baby "Elizabeth" because she was one of the twins in the Sweet Valley books I read growing up.  I just thought it was a pretty name.  I don't actually plan on using it, though. 

6. Does your family have any names that have been passed down through generations?
"Will Allen" is a family name on my dad's side.  Starting with Dave's Poppop (and maybe even earlier), the dad passes down his first name as the son's middle name.  I don't know if I explained it well, but Dave's middle name, Jeffrey, is his dad's first name.  If we have a son, his middle name will be David.

7. Do you look at the meaning of the name or just the name itself?
I tend to look mostly at the name itself, but Dave cares about the meaning.  When we were trying to name Myla I would try to persuade Dave to like certain names when I knew they had a cool meaning he would like.  It mostly didn't work...

8. Do you name pets with human names (Sally, Henry) or with pet names (Fluffy, Mr. Bo Bo)?
Every pet we have ever owned as a family has a human name.  The least human-like name would be "Chipper."  That was also the most awesome and ugly dog you've ever seen. 

9. Are there any names that you have an affinity or dislike for based on a childhood experience/someone you once knew?
Of course.  It's also terrible working with children, because names have serious associations.  I had to explain to my mother that I could only honor my name associations while naming Myla, not mine AND hers!

10. What are some of your favorite names? Why?
They change a lot.  Dave thought I was crazy, because I had this idea that I wanted to name our kid something that was not in the top 100 popular baby names.  I like names that are kind of different without being super-weird.  I also kind of like androgynous names for girls, which Dave hates.  He likes girl names to be girly.  Because of that, I'll just say some of the possibly boyish girl names I liked : Rory (a front-runner that I'd still like to use), Parker, Reese, Avery, Camden, Rylan, Lynden.  I kind of liked country-sounding boy names.  Blame it on my Texas roots.  I just don't think Dave will ever let me have a Ryder, Sawyer, or Walker. 

Too bad.