Arrow-right Camera

Color Scheme

Subscribe now

Called by name

FILE-   This July 26, 2010 file photo shows a rescued rabbit as it feeds at The Bunny Bunch, a rabbit shelter in Montclair, Calif. There's more to the Chinese Zodiac than a quick hippety hop into 2011 for people born in the Year of the Rabbit. (Damian Dovarganes / Associated Press)
Catherine Johnston

“What’s in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;”

So says Shakespeare. But what significance is in our name and how does our name influence how we are perceived?

Last week we were traveling and I learned two children’s names (in different families) and wondered who would be more harassed as they grew up.

The first – a lovely girl of six years old – was named Darling . Yes, it is her name. She is adorable, but how will she survive middle school and will her name allow her to be taken seriously?

The other child, a little blond-haired toddler, belonged to young parents. When a stranger asked them about their child – his age, name, they replied, “His name is Rabbit , and he’s about 15 months old.”

Good luck, children.

(S-R archive photo)

* This story was originally published as a post from the blog "EndNotes." Read all stories from this blog