Names and Labels

When we were naming our children, there were a few considerations. One, of course, was to name them after relatives who had died. This is a prevalent custom amongst Ashekazi Jews, which we are. So that was easy. I wanted them to have names that moved easily between Hebrew and English, and it was a bonus if the names were biblical.

It was pretty easy to name Sam. We loved the name Samuel Asher. When he was born, it fit him like a little name-glove.

We never really thought about how prevalent the name Sam was, both for boys and girls. Okay, so it was the 47th (and 91st - Sam got its own category, Samuel was 47th) most popular name for boys in 2005. And in that same year, Samantha was the 20th most popular name for girls. So that's a lot of Sams and Sammys running around, if you ask me.

(According to the Social Security Administration, Samuel has been in the top 100 for the last 100 years. So um, there's that.)

You know, it didn't really matter. Sure, there were others named Sam. Big deal.

And now? Sometimes it matters a lot. I hear someone calling "Sam!" out on the playground and I whip around, my heart in my throat. And sometimes I meet someone named Sam or Sammy and I smile, so glad to speak that name.

Maybe you've noticed recently the Coke and Diet Coke bottles and cans that say "share a coke with..." And then there's a name. They seem to be random, each store has a stock of different names. 

 
It seems so silly and yet....I wanted to buy up every Sam bottle in the store (I didn't, just this one). And I wanted to imagine others buying them and sharing a coke with Sam. Sometimes I don't have to imagine - people have shared their pictures with me, when they've found the Sam cans or bottles. Does Sammy diet coke taste different? Maybe....

(Sam, who really didn't like Coke. I guess that's not the point...)

We mention his name so casually in our house. The other day, Yael and Solly were playing a "game" in which she was the "mommy" and he was "Sammy." It made my heart hurt to hear her call him Sammy. 

And it also made my heart feel a little better. I can't imagine never hearing anyone say his name. Sometimes I whisper it in the dark before bed. Just to make sure it's been said enough times that day. 

Sam. 

Feather on the ground at Bay Beach in Green Bay yesterday

2009 at Bay Beach in Green Bay