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Friday, January 20, 2012

Names


People ask me all the time if my real name is Ruth & the answer is no.

My real name is Ruthie. Ruthie Lynn. I was named after my great grandma Rainey, Versa Ruth. I share my middle name with both my mom's sister, Jacki, and dad's sister, Tracey. So my name is pretty darn meaningful.

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One of my biggest pet peeves (and if you are friends with my on Facebook, you have probably seen my posts) is when people call me Ruth.


It happens a lot at work. And I am confused as to why. I sign my emails Ruthie, my email address is ruthie.hart, and my email signature is Ruthie. NOT RUTH! I don't go around calling Katherine's, Katie. I am not shy about correcting people (I have to do it often!). I even had someone ask me over IM at work (different office) how old I was and when I told him, they were like wow I thought you were a 65 year old woman with your name being Ruth. Funny thing...my IM name is RUTHIE not Ruth! 

(Ruth is a Hebrew name from the bible that means friend to all...so I like it for that aspect!)

So enough of my rant...I wanted to share some of the meaning behind my family members names because I think they are pretty darn cool.

My dad's name is Todd. I don't think there is family meaning behind his name but I love his name because it is unique and not too common. My mom's name is Jimi, yep like a boy (and like Jimi Hendrix). My grandparents had a baby girl after 9 years of infertility and when they got pregnant with their 2nd soonafter, they decided the baby would be named after my grandpa, James/Jim, regardless if it was a boy or girl. And my mom is a TOTAL Jimi. 

Here are my gorgeous parents at our wedding last year...

So continuing with the boy name trend, my older sister's name is Cori. She was named after another great grandmother, Cora. And she shares her middle name, Suzanne, with my dad's little sister, Jamie, and 2 other girl cousins. Her husband started calling her Suzy about 10 years ago when they were dating and it has totally stuck. It is weird to actually call her Cori, she is Suzy to me!

Here is Cori/Suzy and her hubby Jacob

You thought 2 boy names for girls was a lot? Well I present to you my little sister...Tomi

TO from Todd + MI from Jimi = Tomi

How cool is that? I guess Jon and I could do Jonie (like Johnny?). Eh isn't as neat as hers. Tomi shares my mom's middle name which is Beth.

Here is Toma-sina (nickname)

And last but not least...there is little Jamesie. There is a 12 year age difference between my big sister and little brother. We love it! The dynamics of our family are so much fun and even though he is bigger than me now, he will always be my baby brother. James was named after my two grandpas who are both James. Each of my parents also has a brother named James so it is a popular family name. James' middle name is Todd, after my dad. We've always called James "bug" or "buggie". 

Here is bug

I love that each of my siblings has such an original, unique, and meaningful name. You don't meet very many Cori, Ruthie, and Tomis on the street. In fact, I've never met anyone with my own name. Yes I know of a few Ruthies....Ruthie Foster and then Ruthie from 7th Heaven but I have never met someone with my name. I love how my name is kind of old fashion. And funny to think I am married to a Jon which HAS to be the most common name for men, right?! I do love that he is a Jonathan though. He was named after the story of Jonathan and David in the bible (his middle name is David). I call Jon big Mister, Mr. Daddy, daddy face, and all the regular husband pet names- honey, babe, etc. (daddy references come from us calling each other daddy and mommy to Ernie haha).

We have some names picked out for our future babies and they too, are meaningful and family oriented. Oh and I did a whole post on how we picked out Ernie's name. Find it here. I am sure every dog has a million nicknames...Ernie's are pretty weird/unique. Chunkles, Piggles, Mr. Piggy, bubba, Mr. Bubbles (came from bubba), Chunk-o-lina (the feminine version of chunkles) and anything pertaining to fat, chunk, pigs, etc. We are so sweet to him!

I realized I wrote about my siblings nicknames but not my own. My family and family friends call me Rudy. Always have and I hope always will. It is actually weird for them to call me Ruthie. I've even signed emails Rudy at work...whoops. Jon doesn't call me Rudy though...that would be weird! His nicknames for me (which I think I already shared) are girlie, chicken, smoochie, and moo goo (as in moo goo gai pan).

So where did your name come from? And if you are a parent, how did you choose your child's name??




29 comments:

Courtney B said...

I think Ruthie fits you perfectly! I don't understand why anyone would call you Ruth instead?
My older brother actually picked my name. It was between Courtney and Brittany, and he chose Courtney! But my middle name is the name that is passed down to the first born girl in each generation on my mom's side of the family :)

Leah said...

I didn't know that was the story behind Tomi's name. Cute! I also really like Tomi Beth. And with all the Lindsays/Alyssas/Stephanies in our circle of friends, I love that I can just say Ruthie with no explanation of who I am talking about. Leah would work too if it wasn't for Lia...

Lauren H Edmondson said...

My name, Lauren isn't too original, but I named my son Sawyer Lang. Sawyer because I loved Tom Sawyer growing up and was convinced I'd be a river pirate someday. Lang because it is my Papa's middle name, and was my uncle who passed away's middle name also. They got Lang from Langley, my great-grandma's maiden name, whose house we live in now.
I love ya'lls names, epsecially Tomi!

jessi bridges said...

Good to know!

People always call me Jess.. I hate it so much. My parents named me Jessica but haven't called me that a day in my life. In fact, I won't even answer to it because it never registers that that is actually what my name is (I also hate it). I only like Jessi, which I changed the spelling of when I was in high school. It used to be Jessie.

Christina L. said...

These are such good stories!!! I love when names have meaning. I share my middle name, Marie, with both of my grandmothers (which I did not learn until about 2 years ago!!).

Also, there is a 12 year gap between my sister and I (and it's just the two of us). I agree - it makes for the best family dynamic, and I wouldn't have it any other way!!

Whitney @ EHFAR said...

I'm a pretty new follower :)

My first name was either in a tv show or book that my mom liked in the 80s. My middle name is after my dad. It is Shandra. People always called it Sandra or Shaundra or Chandra. It is neither. It is different and it was a take on his name. It mad me so irritated. My first name is Whitney. Relatively common. Now I just have people mispronouncing my last name.

Amanda said...

Love reading about all the meaning behind each of your names! It's awesome! I like that you guys have "boy" names. I love the names Peyton for a girl, and Farrell (mom's maiden name) for a girl. M nixed Farrell, but we already have our BOY children's names picked out. Yes, he has names picked out. You read that correctly ;) HAPPY FRIDAY!

Nina Tank said...

Awww, I love this! I remember even in elementary and middle school loving all of your families names...I LOVE "boy" names for girls or gender neutral names.. We were going to name Amelia, Noa but almost everyone HATED it. We either wanted a biblical name or a family name so we went with my great grandmothers name (who raised my father) and so glad we did. It is an old, deep rooted name (most popular name in 1813 haha). As for me, "Nina" my dad named me after the lady that sang "99 LuftBalloons" because it was the first song he learned in English :)

Christa Cox said...

Love your blog Ruthie :)
Im your newest follower :)

Lauren said...

I love this! You see so much negativity about unique names on baby naming sites, etc, but I think the child makes the name (not the other way around) and if you have a meaningful name it's SO much better - the hell if it's "uncommon" or could be made fun of. We ALL know if kids want to make fun of you, they will, even if you're a Steve or Lindsay.

We chose our daughter's name, Brielle, initially because we loved the sound of it and I loved the meaning "God is my might" (from Gabrielle). I thought the nicknames Brie or Elle were cute, if she was going to have one (turns out we call her Brielle or Pookster 99.9% of the time). Later I found out the name had ties to where I was born, as well as where my husband was born - so weird. At that point we thought "this was meant to be". I could never see her being anything other than Brielle. Her middle name, Elizabeth, is after my grandmother whom I'm very close with.

The daughter I'm pregnant with now, will be Genevieve Victoria. The name Genevieve popped into my head before we went on a family vacation to Germany. I just knew we would get pregnant on our trip - I don't know how but I just KNEW. When we got back, I had a feeling we actually got pregnant in Paris. When the pregnancy test confirmed it, I started looking up the names we were thinking about - particularly Genevieve. It turns out Genevieve is the patron saint of Paris. Not only that but it has Germanic and French heritage. I know it's crazy to think I already have an idea of her personality but the meaning too, "Woman of the people" just seems right for her. Her middle name represents a personal struggle I've dealt with this pregnancy with just trusting God that everything will be fine - that love and hope will be victorious. It also sort of works out that Victoria was another queen of England, so it ties in well with Elizabeth.

Danielle said...

I found you on Follow Friday and really love your blog!! The significance behind your name and family names is really awesome! I love when names mean something special!! Glad to be a new follower! xo

Unknown said...

I love your name, it's unique. I'm used to people thinking I'm a boy so I feel your pain with the name game :)

xo Shane

Jessica Ruud said...

RUTHIE is the best, :) I'm the same way...I prefer Jess over jessica. Oh well.

Cute blog!! Happy Weekend!!!

Girls Love Fried Pickles said...

Don't get me started. I remember being in the 5th grade, so excited. Went to the elementary school to see who's class I would be in. Went to each room and the posters outside on the walls held the girls names, I saw nothing on any rooms. Then asked a teacher and I was placed on the boys list...and with another boy named Dusty. Seriously, my mom could name me Dusty she could have least game me an "i" on the end. Oh, well. Later in life, when I would go out honky tonkin' my fake name was Beth. True story! Dusty aka Beth! Any hoot! Our names are only identifiers, not our souls. I'd love ya Ruthie even if your name was Zelda!

Breanne said...

Brian + Diane = Breanne

Hollie Ann said...

Ruthie sounds MUCH younger than Ruth. I love that your moms name is Jimi!! I think it's cute!! My best friends name is Ryan (like a boy) and I think it's the cutest! I'd love to name my future daughter that, but most guys are against this? Idk.

Thakns for the button link up, Ruthie!!!

Mckenzie Jean said...

ughh so frustrating!
I'm feelin' ya, though.

My name is Mckenzie..yet on facebook (even after they search my name, or know me in real life) people still spell it all sorts of crazy. I mean come one. My name is right next to where you're typing this.

Jennifer said...

I have to tell you, I'm loving your posts lately! Thank you for sharing your family stuff.

My mom named me Jennifer Lee because she wanted me to be a country singer some day and thought it sounded good. And my husband calls me smoochie pants!

Krista said...

I love these! What great stories behind all your names. I love that they are so unique.

I have only ever met one other Krista in my life so I'm pretty happy with mine. And it means follower of Christ :)

Krista said...

I love these! What great stories behind all your names. I love that they are so unique.

I have only ever met one other Krista in my life so I'm pretty happy with mine. And it means follower of Christ :)

... said...

Love learning about the background of these names! You have such a beautiful family Ruthie :)

Anonymous said...

Your rant about Ruth/Ruthie made me laugh out loud. I'm sorry if I've ever called you Ruth...never again! :) I didn't realize the uniqueness of everyone's names in your family. That's really cool!

Amanda said...

Aw I love this post! Scott's mom who passed away months before I met him her name as Ruthie.. He's always wanted to put her name as his future daughters name! I love how it is so old fashioned and classy! Muah!

Unknown said...

holy cow - its cool how the names have back stories.

The Sweet Life said...

What awesome names. I love your name!! Following from FF. Happy Sunday!!

Stephanie said...

I LOOOOOOVE boy names for girls!! I played softball with a Brett and a Cori and I have forever wanted to name a girl that!

I specifically love that y'all call your brother "bug"! How cute is that?!

Holly said...

My first name is Holly, from my bio mum before I was adopted, and my middle name is Margaret, after my mother's mother :)
Just dropping by from Hollie's linkup. :)

Holly
http://adventuresofholly.com

Cyndi Elise said...

For our little son, we chose the name Lincoln out of the air, but after my husband had joked our son would be named Link and our daughter Zelda (after the video game, Legend of Zelda). Turns out, our son really DID get named Link!! Haha!!
His middle name is Samuel, which means "God hears". He was the baby I prayed for, just like Samuel's mother. And boy, did God grant our prayers!! :]

swopna said...

I found you on Follow Friday and really love your blog!! The significance behind your name and family names is really awesome! I love when names mean something special!! Glad to be a new follower! xoindian names

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