November 14, 2007
I was in a restaurant late last night, working furiously on When Twilight Burns (after a grueling nine-hour drive home from the UP) when, in my efforts to be distracted and to procrastinate, I began to examine a copy of a Casablanca poster, which hung next to my booth.
I got to thinking about the name Humphrey. What would you call the kid for short? Humph? Hum?
(Guess that's why Bogey was Bogey, eh?)
Poor kid.
My husband's family has a slew of… interesting …names. They're from the South, and the family tree includes genuine, birth-certificate gems like Hassel…and his brother Lassel. Oh, and a cousin called Leward (that's "LEW-erd"). And one called Hurst.
So, yeah. Humphrey.
Maybe I ought to name a character Humprhey Humphrey (if I could spell the blasted thing). He could be a low-talking, smooth, cigarette pipe-smoking detective who doesn't take any crap from anyone. Except pretty women, and even then he knows what they're up to.
Hmmm. There is a detective in my current book. Maybe I'll change his name.
November 14th, 2007 at 7:38 am
Yes because Humphrey is so much sexier than say, Max, or Sebastien…or not. To be honest, the name reminds me of Prince Humperdink from “The Princess Bride”. But hey, if you can make it work, more power to ya.
November 14th, 2007 at 10:53 am
Yeah. Not really a popular name these days, is it?? Can’t imagine why!!! Hey, Hump, let’s go!!
November 14th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Yeah, Stacy. I can just see it: “Do it to me, Humphrey! You’re an animal, Humphrey! Ride me, big HUMPHREY!!!” LOL.
Stephanie. I was picturing the mom standing on the front porch calling, “HUMPHREEYYYYYY, time for dinner!”
Neither of them work.
November 14th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Or maybe you could name them Norman or Eugene.
One of my favorite Nora Roberts book features a hero named Gabriel (great name) but Gabe for short. In my head all I get is Mr. Kotter. Gabe is NOT a sexy name, IMHO. There’s a reason that romance novel heroes and soap stars have “fancy” names, I think.
Colleen, hope you’re recovered from your trip. Sounds like it was a doozy.
November 14th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
I swear this is true: My mom is from the very deep south (though you’d never, ever guess it) she has siblings: Donny, Lonny, Connie and Ronnie. Only one set are twins.
November 14th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
I’ve got some wacky names in my family tree, too. And oddly enough, or not *g* they’re from the South, too. My great-grandmother’s name was Aramantha, though, which is kind of cool. Of course that’s sort of offset by Zoraster, Zollicoffer, and Marzilla. LOL!
November 14th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
ok, I had to respond to the crazy names (obviously). I have a Gretchen in my family, don’t think she’ll grow into that anytime soon (like humphrey, just not used anymore) I have a Balister…Nigelin Balister and his last name doesn’t make it any less pretentious. I am also related to a Halemoon, Harkinson and Hartfordshirley! Here’s the kicker… I went to school with twins called…and you better sit down for this folks…
Lemonjello and Orangejello!!!! yes yes i’m serious, pronounced (lay mahn jello and Or ahn jello)!!! and yes, they are from Louisiana *sigh* Their sister’s name was Echo! btw
November 15th, 2007 at 9:30 am
I have a feeling that a kid named Humphrey would have to go by his middle name or risk being called Humpy by the other school children.
Humphrey might be okay only if you’re planning on homeschooling.
That said, I wanted to name my kid McCartney Lennon if he’d turned out to be a girl. My husband put the kaibosh on that.
Your husband’s family has pretty good weird names, in comparison to my family. I have not one, but two uncle Bubbas and I’m descended from a woman named Euphemie Pickles.
November 15th, 2007 at 10:40 am
Wow…these are some odddd names. Gotta love it!
I once met a woman who was doing research on Black American names, and she said that in one city (can’t remember which one; and this was fifteen years ago), there had been five baby girls named Aquanetta…in one year.
November 16th, 2007 at 8:41 am
Weirdest name I’ve ever heard? I kid you not, it was Moronica.
April 1st, 2008 at 5:43 pm
My wife and I [ from Kent, England ] are about to call our kid ‘Humphrey’. It’s a family name. But then we also have sons named AEthelm, Oswine and Raher.