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Day 13- Meaning: What’s in a Name? #write31days 2014

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Term of the day: meaning: significance, actuality, to be what is intended.

Thoughts:

I get the feeling that most people don’t spend too much time considering the meaning of the words they use on a daily basis and also may not consider the meaning of names. I’m sure thought is gone into the process of naming someone, but I wonder how often do parents consider the meaning as opposed to just the sound, spelling, and or popularity of the name.

There are many cases in history and an almost infinity number of references in religion, mythology, fairy tales, and folklore when it comes to there being power in the name of something or someone. I’ve always liked the idea that knowing the true name of something was important, but also felt that to know the meaning of the name would be so much more.

Consider the story and the name Rumpelstiltskin. Simply figuring out his name was enough to break his spell/contract, but what if there had been a twist using the meaning of his name? What if knowing the meaning of  his name could make it so that he would have to spin for the girl whenever she needed him to, as is typical fairytale lore. Even better, what if by knowing the meaning of his name, the girl was able to break her own contract and one he’d been bound to. Perhaps the meaning of his name could free him from having to serve others and grant him a child of this own…I could go on and on.

Name of the day: Marcos.

Breakdown and meaning:

The Marcos is derived from Marcus or Mars. With Spanish and Portuguese origins, stemming from Roman influences, all these variants mean either “god of war”, “god of fertility”, or “both”. Since origin stories and lore are can be different it’s difficult to pin down an exact meaning for this name. Seeing as how, in my Eternal Curse Series, Marcos is a villain, I tend to think of him more in terms of war. However, I can’t wait to explore the duel meanings of this name down the road. Image the tale I could with a character that at one point gives life and then later takes it away.

Well, that’s it for Day 13. 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 12- Identity: What’s in a Name? #write31days 2014

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Term of the day: identity: to recognize oneself and be recognized by others, to be constant in one’s nature.

Thoughts:

Identity theft makes me angry, but more so it scares me that we live in a world where a person’s name (their character and history) means nothing. If someone steals your identity you become a victim twice over. Not only do you have to fight to get your identity back, but you have to fight to prove you are yourself and not someone who steals and lies. I’ll save my rant about the incredibly flawed judicial system of the U.S. for another day, but in a country where you are supposed to be innocent until proven guilty, the powers that be haven’t figured out what to do about this issue. If “the computer” says you wrote a bounced check for $1,000, you have to prove you didn’t do it.

As scary as the thoughts sounds to me, I’m almost already for a future where your identity isn’t based on your name and your residence, but your DNA…almost.

Name of the day: Seth.

Breakdown and meaning:

Seth is a much more interesting name once you start researching its origins than one might think just from hearing the sound of it. It’s not a very strong or bold name and, unfortunately, many people in modern Western Civilization think of it as a name reserved for humble, meek, smart, and small people.

With origins in Hebrew, Israeli, and Egyptian the derivatives of this name can be applied to a man or a woman. The meanings of this name that like best are: “appointed” and “substitute”. In my Eternal Curse Series, the character of Seth represents aspects of both these meanings. Though he is a minor character in the overall scheme of the story, his impact is great and the story would not hold together without him.

Well, that’s it for Day 12. 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 11- Nicknames: What’s in a Name? #write31days 2014

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Term of the day: nicknames: an addition or substitution for a proper name given with either affection or ridicule.

Thoughts:

Not necessarily the same as pet names because pet names are only given with affection.

Pet names have come into their own in the last century. There was once a time when a man named John would commonly go by Jack, but everyone knew his real name was John. This is not the case anymore. Jack, Mike, Bill, and Bob no longer need to be attached to John, Michael, William, or Robert. Nicknames, however, are another matter.

Unless you are a famous entertainer or an infamous personality, you reserve nicknames for intimate relations, unless there’s some bashing going down. A prime example of this, of course, are rappers. Not only do they use nicknames or “stage names”, their stage names have nicknames; and don’t get me started on aliases. Take rapper Marshall Mathers for instance. You may know him as Eminem, but then again he’s also been known to go by Slim Shady. There’s no point in trying to make any sense of it. If you get hip-hop culture, even if you don’t get this, you at least accept it.

But what about some more traditional nicknames; they must come from somewhere. You don’t have to think too hard about the origins of names like, Slugger or Green Thumb. People given these names are likely good at hitting things and growing things. But as endearing as some nicknames can be, they can also be hurtful. Sometimes calling a big guy Tiny isn’t very funny to him; and how about Four Eyes? I think we’ve all heard that one. No need to elaborate further.

In the best cases of nicknames, or more accurately labeled pet names, the name is simply a shorter version of the proper name that exudes intimacy and affection.

Name of the day: Annabelle.

Breakdown and meaning:

The English version of this name comes from the Latin Amabel. The more common, Annabel, was popularized by Edgar Allan Poe in his poem Annabel Lee. Also with Gaelic and French origins this name means: grace and beauty or joy.

In my Eternal Curse Series this name is given to a character who lives and shows incredible grace. Annabelle, referred to as Nanabelle (Nice nickname eh?), by the younger version of another character plays the role of a mother figure.

Well, that’s it for Day 11. 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