Comments on: what’s in a name?

By: abby mumford

abby mumford — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 01:16:40 +0000

I’m grateful your endless searching led you here! And a fellow preemie! It’s nice to “meet” you. The story of your middle name is a fascinating one – legal or not, the middle name of Leah is a wonderful way to honor the memory of your sister. And I love how you’d choose a new name each week during senior year. It’s a wonderful way to figure out your identity!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 16:02:14 +0000

Hi Abby, I found your blog through endless searching. I just wanted to say as a fellow preemie, HEY! :) My sister and I were 1lb each and were named Rachel and Leah because…my parents liked Leah and my name Rachel was in honor of my mom’s grandmother Regina. My dad actually called me Rebecca a few times while in the NICU because they were between Rebecca and Rachel. I don’t have a middle name**long story** and my sister Leah was Leah Beth in honor of my dad’s mom Bess. Unfortunately my sister passed away soon after we were born.
I’ve never been anything much other than Rachel, although sometimes I get Rach from friends and Rachy from my mom and grandma.

**Long story of my middle name = I was told my name was Rachel Leah and Leah in honor of my sister. I signed everything this way, etc Rachel Leah ____last name____. When I got to the DMV to sign my driver’s license at 17 or 18, the DMV lady at the desk said I had to erase my middle name/initial. I was confused, lol, and told her so. Apparently…my parents had never legalized my middle name. I ran home to tell my parents they’d given me an identity crisis and I no longer knew who I was… LOL, Was I even Rachel anymore? After that-I ended up going through a phase where I gave myself a new name every week of senior year. Some days I was Queen Elizabeth, other times I was the name of every single wife of Henry the VII’s. Most of the time I was Rachel. :)

Its nice to meet you & I look forward to poking around your blog more :)I’m also from boston!

By: abby mumford

abby mumford — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:46:13 +0000

yeah, that’d work, that is, if i knew you were actually talking to me! ha.

By: briaq

briaq — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:31:13 +0000

When I want to annoy you, I’ll call you Jeremy.

By: abby mumford

abby mumford — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:28:35 +0000

actually, some of my college friends would randomly call me gail — to annoy me. just like my older bro and and sis would call me abigail — to annoy me — when we were younger.

now, both names make me giggle. :)

By: briaq

briaq — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 14:12:19 +0000

Wow, that’s a GREAT story. And you’re such an Abby to me. I’d never call you Gail LOL

It’s beautiful, strong, traditional but not outdated and classy.

By: abby mumford

abby mumford — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 13:42:43 +0000

so you’re saying that when you married julie, you fulfilled your parents’ life long dream. what a good son you are!

By: Dan

Dan — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:18:31 +0000

The name my parents had picked out for me was Julie!!! ironic huh? (married a Julie for those that don’t know)

But since I turned out to be a boy.. I got the reciprocal name of my dad!

By: abby mumford

abby mumford — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 20:09:06 +0000

actually, in comparison with the rest of my family, i’m still small/short! i guess some things never change. and i’m happy to share some news with YOU for once. :)

By: Grandpa

Grandpa — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:11:10 +0000

I hadn’t heard the part about your first name before. That’s a good story. I do remember well when you were born – so small and early. I also remember when your parents brought you to Michigan in June that year. You were still small but OK. Love Grandpa