What’s in a name?

I joked around in my second blog post that I was going to do a blog about Martha (me) doing all of Martha (Stewart)’s Good Things. Although I am not actually going to do that (at least not right now), I am going to write about having the name Martha.

I was named after my great grandmother; my mom’s dad’s mom. My mom has said that when she was pregnant with me, one day she was in the kitchen and all of a sudden she knew what she was going to name me.  I think that is super awesome. I love having a name with meaning and history behind it. I especially love having a name that not everyone else has. I mean, in my life I have had two best friends who are my age and THEY HAVE THE SAME (much more common) NAME. How crazy is that? Anyway, I love having a name that everyone can spell, but usually when someone is yelling “Martha”, they are yelling for me.

Over my life I have been made fun of for having an old fashioined name. I remember in about fourth grade people telling me I was going to grow up and make flour (Martha White products). In seventh grade, this girl in eighth grade would call me Bertha. I wasn’t big when I was 13, I now think she did it just to bother me. I’ve had a bagillion people say “Martha Martha Martha” ala Marcia Brady to me. It doesn’t bother me anymore, but at one time it did.

Then there is the whole Marty – Martie issue. There are very few people who may call me that. In high school people called me Marf or Marfee and I actually like that a whole lot better than Marty. Marty is a boy’s name, and has been to me since kindergarten when there was a little boy named Marty in my class. Maybe if he wasn’t in my class I would be Marvelous Marty today? Hmmmmm, something to ponder. And don’t even get me started on Marty McFly.

When I was younger I wanted my name to be Stephanie. So much so that my confirmation name is Stephanie (well, technically it is Stephen because there is no saint Stephanie). I thought  that having a more mainstream name would make me more likeable or popular or something. Now I know that I would always be best being who I am, Marvelous Martha.

Anyway, I think that my name rocks. I am so happy to have a great name with family history, familiarity, and uniqueness. And I am super happy that my name starts with M so that I can be marvelous. Of course I do call my daughters Amazing Amelia and Awesome Abby some so I would have figured out something out.

So what about you, do you like your name? Did you want a different name when you were younger?   Do you call yourself something fun like Marvelous Martha? Let me know in the comments! Thanks!

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February 27, 2010 by Marvelous Martha in Being Me
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  • Eileen
    Great blog post and I feel compelled to share about my name. My mom tells me that I am not named after anyone despite the fact that my mom had a sister who died in infancy named Eileen Marie. I am Eileen Anne, but my mom says my name has nothing to do with her – she just wanted to give me an Irish name and Eileen won out over Colleen and Maureen.

    Growing up I always said that I was going to change my name to Elaine once I went off to college. Like you, I wanted a more common name like Jennifer, Jessica, Ashley or Heather. People had trouble pronouncing my name and I’d get Ellen and Elaine a lot. My brother lovingly called me Eileenie the Weinie growing up.

    In junior high I was introduced to the song, “C’mon Eileen.” In college this song essentially became my anthem as I was encouraged to climb on tables and dance at parties when the song came on. I thoroughly enjoyed it at the time, however now, I can’t imagine getting on any table to dance no matter what song is on. Also in college I had a short run being called Leenie by a couple friends, but that didn’t stick. “E” was a nickname that I had a little bit at times, but not extensively.

    I think after college is when I came to appreciate my name. I like that it is not common and if I hear someone say my name, they are usually referring to me, except while at work. Then of course there is my assistant who can’t (or won’t) say my name correctly and people end up calling me on the phone and asking for “Irene Mode”, which is neither my first or last name. There is also someone very high up in our department named Eileen so while at work when people talk about Eileen, they are talking about the other one and don’t bother to distinguish because I am such an underling.

    I like my name now and I’m glad that I never changed it. I think it’s fun to have an uncommon name.
  • dennisarah
    I wanted to go by my middle name around 5th grade I think, but I grew out of that pretty quickly. When my Nanny was exasperated with me when I was younger, she would say, "Sarah Jane!", which is not my name, but was the name of a troublemaking little girl I think from when my Grandmother was little. Anyway, to this day when I catch myself doing something dumb, that's the name I use to fuss at myself (in almost the same tone she used. LOL). My middle name, Elizabeth, is a family name from my father's side. Paige is the 7th or 8th first born daughter to carry it. I didn't even know that until a few years ago. I guess traditions have ways of carrying themselves on no matter what.
  • meganmatthieson
    So my orig name was Megan Mary Murphy. And I was raised Catholic (although that is long gone) so when it was time to take a confirmation name...it had to start with M. What was I? Like 12? Geez. Anyway....I chose....Martha! And then of course my married name is Matthieson. mmmmm :)
  • katiepierce
    Well, with a name like Kathryn Ann Elizabeth Purnell Pierce, you can guess that I know what a confirmation name actually is! At home I was know as Kate, gradeschool Kathy and high school Katie, which I kept. Kate always sounded so masculine and harsh. My mom, said she neamed me after, Kate Smith a famous singer of old. My mom was born in 1922, so she was quite familiar with Kate's music. Amazing thing is that I sing very well myself, in fact am not a small woman and have a booming voice- so the name in a way is prophetic.
    Love your blog and think it is a wonderful idea!!
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