Oh, What’s In a Name?

I’ve seriously been reconsidering naming our baby Rosetta. I’ve been set on the name ever since I saw it on my great grandmother’s head stone (a little creepy maybe?). What a pretty and unique name. It’s perfect, except… “What are you naming your daughter?” “Rosetta.” “Oh, like Rosetta Stone” (said with a twinkle in their eye.). Sigh. “No, like my great grandmother’s name,” I respond, silently thinking (for the 100th time.) I know it’s not a big deal. Rosetta Stone doesn’t have bad connotations; people think they’re being clever. But after hearing it dozens of times, it gets pretty old. Honestly, it makes me kind of mad. It’s not their fault they associate the name with a language learning company. I think it distresses me because my whole life people have confused my name with “Christina.” There’s nothing wrong with the name “Christina,” it’s just not my name. I don’t want my daughter growing up feeling upset when people joke about her name or resentful about our choice of her given name, even though it’s such a pretty name. (FYI, I love my name, I'm not resentful of it, I'm just driven mad when people insist on reading "Christiana" as "Christina".) My inclination is to switch it to her middle name, since it is a family name. I suppose this is why people don’t tell people what they are naming their unborn child, in case they change their mind. What I had picked out for a middle name (I say “I” because Jeremy’s hasn’t given his approval yet) we could switch to her first name. It has more spiritual significance and it’s still unique. I shouldn’t tell you what it is, in case I change my mind. Oh well, who cares. Eliana. I found it while searching for Biblical names online. Eliana is Hebrew for “God has responded/answered.” Given our difficulties conceiving, there couldn’t be a more appropriate name. We prayed for a child, many others prayed for us. Although we did do IVF, I firmly believe prayers were what made the first IVF cycle a success. Our child will be dedicated to God, why not honor Him with her name as well. Jeremy is pretty easy going, so I think if I make up my mind to change her name to Eliana he’ll probably agree.