Miracles and Memories – Part Deux

Do you like your name? Have you always wondered how your parents finally decided to name you what they eventually did? What’s going on in my house right now is hilarious, and I wonder if every family goes through the same nightmare.

Apparently it’s not so common to use common names now. Rohit, Rahul, Karan are a strict no- no. After a few years, a school register will get a complete makeover and read names like Angad, Shlok, Vidit, Rajveer, and names that make you go back centuries. Some people have even resorted to the likes of Amelia and Alyssa because, you know, Indian names are so common in India!

Now when you are looking at uncommon names, you need approval. Everyone has their own point of view. Vivaan, to some, sounds like Vimaan. That ‘someone’ is called Indrani! So would you go by her views? Our maid laughed at the name Vedant saying it sounds like a book. She named her daughter Prateeksha. Should we take into account her opinion? Every name that me and my Bhabhi come up with is rejected by my brother and father. What do people who work with embroidery karigars like Miraj and Shadab know about uncommon names!?

To look for rare names we spoke to our younger cousins in Mumbai, you know, it’s a happp city! A 17-year old and his friends insisted on the name Yudi! They too had an opinion on every name. Virat and Samrat and Ranvir were blatantly rejected. The best was when they said that the kid will eventually grow up and Vivaan won’t suit him.

Oh yes, the ordeal doesn’t end at family, friends and maids. The astrologer has to approve the name. He has already rejected one name saying the kid would be authoritative if we name him ‘xyzee’!

It’s an awesome experience and I’m lovin’ it. I hope I remember this and be able to tell my nephew how many con-calls we had to make to name him what we eventually do. All suggestions from the blog world are welcome. And oh, I forgot to tell you, we’ve even read what celebrities are naming their kids. I’m glad we didn’t like Czar, Diva and Anya (Farah Khan’s triplets), Zen (Tara Sharma’s son) and many more in the name of uncommon names!