My sister hated her name! Officially she was Gillian but she preferred Gill. Anyone who met her after she was about eighteen knew her as Gill but in the family she was always Gillian. I don't think I've met many Gillians who are younger than me (although I've heard of some) and I think of it as a name of the 1940's.
I can't imagine having any name other than the one I've got. Mary. I don't know any Marys younger than me, or rather I don't know any younger women who use the name Mary. I baptised several girls who had Mary as a middle name, often because that was Granny's name.
I came across a fascinating site recently where a researcher had asked people what characteristics they associated with various names. Here's the word cloud for the expectations of a Mary.
Does it match your expectations? I'm happy to be thought of as dependable and happy rather than confrontational and grumpy.
If you fancy checking out your own name, here's a link. The list is rather limited but you could look for family and friends.
There was a Gillian in my year at Grammar School she would have been born in 1955 but I don't know any others, don't know any Marys either but there were 5 Susans in my year - very annoying it was too!
ReplyDeleteMy cousin Gill was born in 1956.
ReplyDeleteMy grandson came home from his RC Primary school, and told his mum he'd made a bracelet like Mary's. "Is there a girl called Mary in your class then?" " NO Mummy! You know God? Well THAT Mary!"
I'm a Gillian, born in 1953. But I prefer Gill, I always knew I was in trouble if Dad called me Gillian. My middle name is Margaret which was my Mum's name but she was always called Peggy. Xx
ReplyDeleteI had a friend who was always known as Jilly, which was rather nice. Looking at my name shows me as 'old. poor. loud'..........etc!!
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