âIf we stick eyes on it, then it will have a name.â
That was my 2-year-old this morning. He was playing with a truck, we were discussing whether it had a name, and weâd been sticking googly eyes on stuff earlier. And bam, a mini insight into name theory, toddler-style.
It made me take stock of what else he knows about names, so far. And now I think about it â names are way complicated for someone whoâs pretty new to the world.
He knows his own first name, has no idea about middle names yet, and probably not last names either. Heâs heard titles like Mr, Mrs and Dr, but the juryâs out on whether they mean anything yet.
Some people have multiple names â like Mummy is also Clare and Mrs Green â and some names belong to more than one person. People can have opinions about their names: my mother-in-law is Nana, never Nanny.
You can be playful with names. He sings âMummy-mum-mum,â I sing âDavey-dave-dave.â
They have very little baggage. I tell him that someone is called Chris or Dick or Vlad or Zeus or Winnie-the-Pooh, and he accepts that as their string of sounds.
Some words can be names too, like Poppy and Laurie (heâs going to be so disappointed when he learns itâs not Lorry). But not all words⊠why is no one called Sunflower or Tractor?
Some animals have names, some donât. Some toys have names, some donât. And apparently the ones with eyes should.
So if youâre finding names complicated? Itâs because they really, really are. It takes us all years to even begin to understand them in our own culture, and some researchers (and name lovers) spend their lives exploring them deeply. But in everyday life, we could all borrow a bit of that toddler acceptance of people's names as whatever they happen to be.
In other newsâŠ
Summer names spotlight đ
If youâre looking for a seasonal name for a baby or yourself, check out our summer names guide and take the quiz (says me, Pearl Waverly Rocque).
More specifically, if youâre expecting a baby this month and need last-minute ideas, here are the best names for August babies.
Or conversely, if you donât like the August/Augustus names but love Gus as a nickname, weâve got you covered with alternative long names like Angus and Magnus.
More to readâŠ
The latest Babyberry announcements: welcome to Gwyniveth, Beowulf and more!
12 girl names that deserve more love (sorry if any are on your âkeep secret till Iâm done having babiesâ list)
And the best horse name pun youâll hear all week.