What's in a Name?

Let me start off with something.

I have LOTS of friends with even more LOTS of kids.  And you all make naming children look really, really easy.  I knew my parents had a difficult time naming me, but I just assumed that was just a fluke. So many people I know just have their children's name chosen from before they were born, or just have these beautiful meanings behind the names, so on and so forth.  I suppose you could argue for both sides - I would say maybe it is easier to have a partner to name a baby with because then you have someone to veto or approve names; others have said, "Yeah, but then you have to get two people to agree on a name!"  So you know.  There's that.  At any rate.  You people should warn us not-yet-parents!

As you all know by now, the little lady's name will be Ella Claire.  No one has really asked, but I am always interested in the "why" behind people's baby names, so I thought someone else reading might be interested as well.  If not, then it's documented for me.

First of all, many people have asked about Ella's Chinese name.  Her Chinese name is An Chu He.  An is her surname and was the surname given to all the babies registered at her orphanage last year (maybe farther back than that).  Chu He is her given name, and was given by the orphanage when she arrived.  It was not given by her birth parents, it does not mean anything particularly special, and it is not likely what she is being called in day to day life right now, so it isn't going to be part of her name.

Ella was my great grandmother's name (my father's father's mother).  I never met her, and my dad never met her, but when about 10-12 years ago my parents and I were in southern Kentucky and found her grave (we weren't sure what her name was), I remember thinking, "Oh, I like the name Ella.  I'd like to use it someday."  Ella means "all/completely," which I just love.  I don't know.  I think it is fitting.  It is also part of my dad's name.  He is a "junior."  His father's middle name, Edell, is a combination of Edgar and Ella.  So I like that it is a bit of his name too.

Claire?  I just like Claire.  I like how the hard "c" sounds with Ella, and I like that it means "bright/clear."  I went through about 10 different middle names before I settled on Claire.  I just like how it sounds.  That's all.

That's how Ella's name came to be!

I will post an update soon on how the paperwork is coming (I just was able to get started!).  I am really hoping that I can post an update on the complete puzzle before Christmas!

Thanks for all your love and support!