Growing up, I would complain that my name was boring old Molly. NO ONE was named Molly (until high school...then there were THREE in one class. I think my school did it to screw with our teacher.) Whenever I would complain, my dad would say "well, I wanted to name you Gertrude Matilda, but it was too hard to say." He usually followed up with what would I name myself?
Completely unoriginal, I chose Christine Elizabeth--two very popular names while I was growing up. Thus, from the time I was about 4 or 5 to the year my dad died, I was called Molly Annabelle Christine Elizabeth Gertrude Matilda (unless I was in trouble.) The Molly Annabelle part stuck until my step-mom died in 2009.
All of the nicknames growing up that I had were LONGER than my actual name. Molly Dolly, Molly Anne, Molly Annabelle, Molly Annabelle CEGM.
I hate when people shorten my name. I don't understand it. Some people have names that sound good (or at least like actual names) when shortened, like Jason (Jay) or Curtis (Curt-my dad) but for the love of god, my parents probably didn't want me called "Moll" or *shudder* "Mols." It wasn't until meeting Todd and having my world expand to the east coast when people insisted on shortening my name. I don't understand it. Perhaps it's the slow westerness in me, but I just can't jump on the bandwagon of insisting that every one have a shorter name.
Please, for the love of all that is holy in this world, STOP CALLING ME MOLL. I don't like it, I'm not a place in which you shop. I am not a gangster, I am not a woman with "loose sexual morals" and I am not a grape. (Thank you, Wikipedia, for enlightening me to a few extra definitions of my "name".)
This is why I was so adamant that my children have single syllable names (or at least names that sound good shortened, if the need arises.) Jack is perfect. It can't be shortened. Sure, there are plenty of word play opportunities and people constantly ask "is that short for John?" (seriously, these people need to learn to count) and no, it is not short for Jackson. What's really funny is I have only been asked if it's short for something while on the eastern side of the country. There is no explanation when I'm over on the west coast. Strange? Apparently I'm the only one that thinks so.
Our eventual second child is screwed.
