“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)