Category: 31days

Toi Thomas’s 2014 contribution to an annual, 31 day, writing challenge that takes place in October and was created by Myquillyn Smith (The Nester). The history, origin, and meaning of names.

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31days

Day 29- First Name: What’s in a Name? #write31days 2014

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Term of the day: first name: individual proper names; names given by parents or guardians to distinguish charges or siblings; given name.

Thoughts:

Let’s just be honest. Unless you have a famous family name or surname that you just love to flaunt, you prefer being called by your first name. While there is a time and place for me to be addressed as Mrs. Thomas, I always feel more comfortable when people call me Toinette. However, I don’t like it when a child calls me by my first name. That’s not how I was raised and not how I roll…Sorry for the rant.

What’s so funny to me about first names is that people tend to either love their name or hate it. Some dislike their names so much that they have them legally changed when they turn eighteen. Then there are those celebrities and special individuals who only use one name to identify themselves. It’s not like anyone has thought, “Cher who?” So I guess that works.

Sometimes I wonder, though, about the names parents give their kids. I get it that sometimes they are trying to be clever, but sometimes I think they are punishing the kid for no reason.

Name of the day: Lisa.

Breakdown and meaning:

Would ever think there was a relation between Lisa and Elizabeth? When I think of pet names for Elizabeth, I usually think of Beth or Liz. In actually Lisa is derived from Elizabeth. With Hebrew, English, and German origins, the name means “devoted to God”.

Lisa is a major character in my up-coming romance, It’s Like the Full Moon. She’s Rebecca’s best friend and the source big drama, but with the best intentions. I can’t wait to share her story.

Well, that’s it for Day 29. See you tomorrow.

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Go back to the beginning to see all the posts in this series.

Outside of my own personal search throughout the years, basic meanings and definitions of the terms used here can be found at the following websites:http://www.meaning-of-names.com/, Google search http://en.wikipedia.org/, and http://dictionary.reference.com/.

Learn more here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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31days

Day 28- Spiritual/Religious Names: What’s in a Name? #write31days 2014

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Term of the day: spiritual/religious names: name given or derived from religious or spiritual texts and practices.

Thoughts:

I’m not going back at this point to see how many names I’ve talked about already that either mean or are derived from the names of Greek gods, angels, and or pertaining to God. What I want to talk about today are names that are given based on spiritual or religious practices and beliefs.

Many native tribes, from all over the world, perform rites of passage at birth and then again at puberty. The names are given based on how a child handles or survives their trails and by spiritual interpretation. I was once given the tribal name of “smiling fury” by a Native American guide who worked at an animal preserve. The name is obviously a pet name, but he said he gave it me to because I always smiled while making bullies cry. I was really good at standing up for other kids when I was younger…Sorry for the tangent.

Let’s take a quick look at Catholic naming rituals. I always thought it was cool that my Catholic friends were given a saint’s name or saint’s day at their christenings. Obviously I don’t know the details about it, but it’s still pretty cool.

There are other instances I could mention here about the use and practices of religious and spiritual practices to give names, but I think you already get the idea.

Name of the day: Chandler.

Breakdown and meaning:

Chandler has both English and French origins that both mean “candle maker”. In my Eternal Curse Series, Chandler is the surname of supportive family, one to which my already mentioned, Jack, character is a member of. They appear in the second book, EC: Battleground and serve an important and lasting purpose.

Well, that’s it for Day 28. See you tomorrow.

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Go back to the beginning to see all the posts in this series.

Outside of my own personal search throughout the years, basic meanings and definitions of the terms used here can be found at the following websites:http://www.meaning-of-names.com/, Google search http://en.wikipedia.org/, and http://dictionary.reference.com/.

Learn more here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords

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31days

Day 27- Moniker: What’s in a Name? #write31days 2014

31day-edit

 

Term of the day: moniker: a personal identifier such as a name, alias, or nickname.

Thoughts:

When I think of moniker I visualize something between an alias and a signature; perhaps even an insignia. Currently, the most popular uses of monikers I can think of are online. People identify themselves with a combination of aliases and or avatars with ease.

My web moniker isn’t too involved; it’s just a cartoon version of myself (my avatar) and the name I publish with (toithomas). Other people have much more involved web monikers. In my first Eternal Curse book, Giovanni’s Angel, both Giovanni and Mira have web monikers they use when first getting to know each other online.

Name of the day: Michelangelo aka Michael.

Breakdown and meaning:

Michelangelo is a very Italian name, meaning it didn’t have to look it up to know that. The name means “the angel Michael”, which is interesting. Michael or Angelo are common pet name for modern mean with the name Michelangelo, though Michael is more common. Michael is also a popular proper name on its own. Michael means “like God, an angel” and Angelo means “angel”.

In my Eternal Curse Series Michael will make an appearance in the second book and prove to have a very important, yet supportive role in the adventures of the character.

Well, that’s it for Day 27. See you tomorrow.

****

Go back to the beginning to see all the posts in this series.

Outside of my own personal search throughout the years, basic meanings and definitions of the terms used here can be found at the following websites:http://www.meaning-of-names.com/, Google search http://en.wikipedia.org/, and http://dictionary.reference.com/.

Learn more here.

Thank you for taking the time to read this post. If you like it let me know and share it with others. See you next time, Toi Thomas. #thetoiboxofwords