Musings & Rants

What's In A Name

I saw a birthday card read out on children's TV today, in celebration of a darling one-year-old boy...

...by the name of Loki!!??

Now, I've never been happy about using the names of deities (if I find another dog named Freyja, I'll scream*), but I suppose some people like that sort of thing; even if it does store up trouble for the kid when sie hits school. But can you imagine the conversation his parents had?

Mum: I've always liked Gordon, and it's sort of traditional in my family...
Dad: Nah... I'd rather go for something a bit more distinctive.
Mum: What, like Dweezil or Moon Unit?
Dad: No, I'd rather have something classical, that means something. Anyway, Moon Unit is a girl's name.
Mum: Well, there's Perseus, Heracles, Ulysses...
Dad: They're a bit poofy; he'd catch no end of stick at school. Something shorter, like Odin...
Mum: What about Thor? Or... I know, Loki!
Dad: Yes! Conman, trickster, murderer, adulterer, thief, father of monsters, tied to a rock by his own son's entrails for punishment... it's perfect!**

I mean, did they bother to do any research before picking the name? What a fate to hang on the poor kid!

What'll their next one be called?

Mum: Well, we were thinking of Beelzebub if it's a boy, and either Kalima or Whoreofbabylon if it's a girl...

Addendum: now I have a daughter of my own. She is named Danae Aphrael. Not after the mythological mother of Perseus, either; after the David Eddings character. Not my idea, I might add...

* - How would these people feel if I called my dog Jesus? (Or Yahweh, or Allah?)

** - Yes, I know that Loki has his good points too, and that chaos has its place in the universe, but his list of bad points is so impressive! Basically, he's someone who can be very handy, but who you Do Not Trust Under Any Circumstances.

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