Please don't name him Owen
- Thread starter Data Soong
- Start date
A college friend whose dad was from Italy and mom was from Spain had quite a long string of names in her name, because of both those cultures and because of family traditions that almost border on being obligations. She simply went by her nickname "Yoli", though; the rest of the names were kept in storage 'if/when" needed. So, although my own family does not have the tradition of creating a string of names, I appreciate the practice and have no problem with this being the case with Little Picard.
In my own family (with the shorter names), my cousin and his wife liked two different given names for their kid, but had a bit of a dispute regarding which name would come first (vs. the middle name), and would thus be used day-to-day for their child. My cousin eventually lost out, but my pain-in-the-butt aunt would call the child by the 'middle' name that was preferred by my cousin whenever the mother was not around. Not a helpful, tactful adult, that one was.
Choosing a name can be very important to the parents and the families. And if you later decide to give yourself a name, it is even more so. The name you choose, it's like a promise you make. Oh wait... wrong franchise....
In my own family (with the shorter names), my cousin and his wife liked two different given names for their kid, but had a bit of a dispute regarding which name would come first (vs. the middle name), and would thus be used day-to-day for their child. My cousin eventually lost out, but my pain-in-the-butt aunt would call the child by the 'middle' name that was preferred by my cousin whenever the mother was not around. Not a helpful, tactful adult, that one was.
Choosing a name can be very important to the parents and the families. And if you later decide to give yourself a name, it is even more so. The name you choose, it's like a promise you make. Oh wait... wrong franchise....
In my first published story back in 1998, I named a 22nd-century female character Zena, because I figured we could expect a wave of girls named Xena and Gabrielle in the near future, and that in another several generations the TV origin (and spelling) of the name Xena might've been partly forgotten. I'm actually a bit surprised that we don't now have a large cohort of Xenas and Gabrielles in their late teens.
What's wrong with having more than two given names?
What about "Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs"? You know, the Wizard of Oz? In Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (the fourth of the 14 canonical Oz books), it's revealed that he went by his first two initials, because the rest of the initials spelled "PINHEAD."
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James Harlyn Hayden Lampert
What about "Oscar Zoroaster Phadrig Isaac Norman Henkle Emmannuel Ambroise Diggs"? You know, the Wizard of Oz? In Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz (the fourth of the 14 canonical Oz books), it's revealed that he went by his first two initials, because the rest of the initials spelled "PINHEAD."
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James Harlyn Hayden Lampert
For those (probably few) familiar with The Vicar of Dibley, and combining the "many names" approach with the named-for-fictional-characters angle, the proposed name "Wendy Nana Peter Pan Tinkerbell Tiger Lily Captain Hook Crocodile Horton" is a favourite of mine.
Julia Paris is wearing the pants. Like it or not, her grandson's name will be Owen. That name will be at least included in the full name. Then there are Michael Thomas Paris and Cole Paris. Tom won't deny his mother the honor. Julia will be disappointed when her grandson is named Johnny or Reginald or Harry or Neelix......
But they're in the Delta Quandrant and she's...not. Plus she's old. And we're not sure that B'elanna has forgiven her yet or not.
That's why I hope like the OP that Tom and B'Elanna pick another name. At least a first given name. With Owen in the middle I could live.
Hmmm.....well, it's a little late now.
I won't tell you the name but as I tell you my thought process, you'll probably end up in the right ballpark.
Choosing a baby's name is a really hard thing to do. Like I had no idea when I was pregnant how hard it would be. I knew I wasn't going down the family names road. My maternal grandmother's name was in the running as a middle name for a long time more because I think it's a beautiful name (Jewell) than out of a sense of obligation.
But my choice was...in a way...a tribute to my parents. I wasn't named after anyone in a previous generation. My parent's second choice included naming me for an aunt, but their first choice and the one they settled on immediately after I was born was simply one they liked the sound of and one they thought was unique, especially at the time. It was also interesting that they chose Andrea Kirsten, but always called me Kirsten. Most kids I knew growing up were called by their first names, not their middle names. I've always been Kirsten. It's hell when it comes to filling out forms. Doctors will insist on calling me Andrea until we've gotten to know one another. But for the most part, it works for me.
So I tried to do the same thing with my daughter. Two beautiful names that sounded lovely together, that was a unique name while still having a history, and as a bonus, was derived from a word I found totally appropriate under the circumstances...Honor. She's Anorah Grace.
So when I realized it was time to name Tom and B'Elanna's son, I didn't look at what I would do, or what most people would do. I looked at Tom and B'Elanna and what we know about them as people to determine what I thought they would name their son. I thought what they named their daughter....which is given to us in canon....was probably the strongest evidence in this case.
Best,
KMFB
I won't tell you the name but as I tell you my thought process, you'll probably end up in the right ballpark.
Choosing a baby's name is a really hard thing to do. Like I had no idea when I was pregnant how hard it would be. I knew I wasn't going down the family names road. My maternal grandmother's name was in the running as a middle name for a long time more because I think it's a beautiful name (Jewell) than out of a sense of obligation.
But my choice was...in a way...a tribute to my parents. I wasn't named after anyone in a previous generation. My parent's second choice included naming me for an aunt, but their first choice and the one they settled on immediately after I was born was simply one they liked the sound of and one they thought was unique, especially at the time. It was also interesting that they chose Andrea Kirsten, but always called me Kirsten. Most kids I knew growing up were called by their first names, not their middle names. I've always been Kirsten. It's hell when it comes to filling out forms. Doctors will insist on calling me Andrea until we've gotten to know one another. But for the most part, it works for me.
So I tried to do the same thing with my daughter. Two beautiful names that sounded lovely together, that was a unique name while still having a history, and as a bonus, was derived from a word I found totally appropriate under the circumstances...Honor. She's Anorah Grace.
So when I realized it was time to name Tom and B'Elanna's son, I didn't look at what I would do, or what most people would do. I looked at Tom and B'Elanna and what we know about them as people to determine what I thought they would name their son. I thought what they named their daughter....which is given to us in canon....was probably the strongest evidence in this case.
Best,
KMFB
My mother named me after her father who was seven/eight years dead at the time. Part of that was he'd always wanted a son and got three daughters, so it was a sort of 'this one's for you, Dad' thing on her part but...
Personally, I don't particularly see anything against Owen Paris, or, say Harry Owen Paris, as their son's name, since not only was it only a year or two before for these characters that Owen died, but also given the strain between Tom and Julia - it seems like it'd make for an olive branch if his name reflected Tom's father, first or middle.
That said, I will agree that Rene's name honoring three dead relatives at once feels a little much to me. I also acknowledge that it makes sense that Picard would want to honor them all, given his feelings regarding the family and the family line, but that doesn't mean I don't still find the name a little over the top.
Personally, I don't particularly see anything against Owen Paris, or, say Harry Owen Paris, as their son's name, since not only was it only a year or two before for these characters that Owen died, but also given the strain between Tom and Julia - it seems like it'd make for an olive branch if his name reflected Tom's father, first or middle.
That said, I will agree that Rene's name honoring three dead relatives at once feels a little much to me. I also acknowledge that it makes sense that Picard would want to honor them all, given his feelings regarding the family and the family line, but that doesn't mean I don't still find the name a little over the top.
At least they should drop René's middle names when they list the participating characters in novels on Memory Beta. They don't cite other people's middle names either. It suffices that his full name can be found in his birth certificate.....
Parallels Deanna had children with Worf, Eric-Christopher and Shannara....... No clue, where Parallels Deanna came up with those names.
Not in mine, My dad threatened to divorce my mom if I wasn't named after him, and she let herself be bullied into it. I got my revenge though. I'm the son who is not only estranged from him, but also, the least like him.
That said, It wouldn't bother me if the kid was named Owen, or Tom jr, or whatever.
Hey.....Whatever Paris.....
My youngest is named after everyone's favourite Capellam Admiral. Eldest son is far more grounded name of "Giles".
In both cases I suspect they'll have unique names in class at school.
Perhaps Belana and Tom should call him Proton, or Flotter, or maybe Sandrine.
In both cases I suspect they'll have unique names in class at school.
Perhaps Belana and Tom should call him Proton, or Flotter, or maybe Sandrine.
I wondered how far along in the writing process you were and if this thread would fall into the whole 'Don't post story ideas in the Lit forum!" ban. Glad to know its already settled but its fun to speculate.
I don't think anyone seriously thought you would name the kid Kodos but you can tell us. Its Kurlarg isn't it?
Basically, it doesn't really matter how any of us feel about a name. What matters is that the choice feels natural and in character for the parents. I'm sure most of us are in agreement that Kirsten Beyer has a keen grasp of the Voyager characters; essentially, the name will pretty much certainly be a convincing one, which I'd say is all that really matters here.
That is to say, if we don't like the name, it's B'Elanna and Tom's fault
That is to say, if we don't like the name, it's B'Elanna and Tom's fault