What's In a Name?

Our little Lucy Louise

To start picking a name for our baby girl, we went back to all things that have influenced us, made us who we are, tells a little part of our story, or just warms our heart when we think of it. This brought us to looking back to movies we loved as a child, music that moves us, tv shows that influenced us, and athletes that inspired us. With all this criteria to look to, I wish we had 5 slots to fill with names rather than just a first name and middle name. We had quite the list of meaningful names that didn’t quite make the first name cut.

We also wanted a name that was unique. One that she wouldn’t have to share with a few other kids in her class. While it’s not really in our control how many other sets of parents this year will pick the same name, we did our best to go with one that we haven’t heard a lot.

Lucy -

So, where did Lucy come from? No other than the famous and fabulous Lucy Ricardo from the I Love Lucy show. This show pretty much captures all the above name-inspiration criteria for me. I fell in love with Lucy Ricardo’s drive to be more, her passion for the things she loved, and her fun-loving attitude that was contagious to those around her on the show. Also Lucy Ricardo’s bond with her partner-in-crime Ethel was an inspiring bond between two friends that would have done and did anything for each other. More important than who the fictional character was or what she did, are the heart-warming memories of watching I Love Lucy re-runs with my mom. I remember my mom and I watching I Love Lucy in our pajamas with a bowl of popcorn. Together, we still quote the show and refer to moments in the adventures of Lucy and Ethel. And I’ll never forget “Lucy Tuesdays” during the Block Party Summers on Nick-at-Night where they would show 3 hours in a row of the same show. Every Tuesday night my mom and I would gather on the couch to watch 3 hours of I Love Lucy. I hope our Lucy, her dad, and I create memories just like these. Memories that when she’s ready to have kids of her own, she will look back at her own childhood and have memories that she hopes to replicate with her kids. Memories of simple activities that meant the world to her. And if nothing else, doesn’t the title of the show just say it all? I. Love. Lucy. Enough said J

Louise –

Louise comes from my middle name that I also happen to share with 4 other fabulous women in my family: my mom, my cousin Stefanie, my aunt Carol, and my 2^nd cousin Catie. Our little Lucy will become part of the wonderful, loving network of Louises in the family. May the Louises welcome you with open arms!

Last but not least, I realize that Lucy Louise may be shortened to Lulu. While I’m not planning to be the jumpstart for this nickname, if she does happen to be called Lulu from time to time in her life, she will share the same name as her Great-Great-Grandma.

So there you go. Lucy Louise and all that the name holds behind it. More importantly than what is behind the name, I hope our little Lucy takes the reigns and becomes her own, very unique version of the name.