Choosing a name. A name that might please everyone (including the named)

We named our three sons Bran, Aron, Brian.  Short handles for the long family name, but not to be common.  Something new and different, we hoped.

Brad was easy, but Aron was a last minute choice just to get him out of the hospital.  My parents had a real fit on this choice of a name.  No one in the family tree had this name and they mentioned the treasonable Aaron Burr of  US history and I suspect they knew of a person bearing that name that they did not like.

The single A in Aron's name eased their grief somewhat so they struggled to make Aron sound different than Aaron when spoken (difficult).

We thought Brian had a pleasant sound to it, but we called him Bill to get away from the B and R of his older brothers.  These names of our sons kind of bled together in a way, that to this day causes me trouble in correctly fitting the right name to the right son on first try.  (Brian didn't like Bill so he made us discard it.) (He probably didn't like a person called Bill.)  Brian's middle name is William.

As is typical of all new and emerging generations, fashions, lifestyles and also names must change.  Old things put aside.

Now I am of the old generation and I value traditions and old ways and morals.  I want to preserve something of the past to hold on and build family traditions, including names.  (What goes around, comes around, doesn't it?)

A  new arrival to the Schlumbohm clan was soon to make it's arrival.  Modern science declared it to be a male child some wee
ks before the event.  Names were suggested.  The parents, being of now the new generation seemed to settle on a name I did not particularly like.  (Not in the family tree of the Schlumbohms.)  It seemed to fit a different religion and nationality than mine.  Turn to an ancestral name I implored.  Roberts and Richards were plentiful grandparents on both sides plus other old fashioned names.

And so I wrote a poem (to no avail) and sent it to Aron and Marie Schlumbohm

To Name a Grandson

I'll soon count the  years of three score and ten

While memory bids childhood relived, not and then.

Life seemed more easy some sixty years back 

and kids had simple names like Tom, Dick and Jack.

My wife and I, our wits strained with try'n

Came up with our boys' names of Brad, Aron and Brian.

To be different and be modern was thrust of the game

When it came to the searching and finding the right name.

Who thinks of tradition or ancestor remembrance,

Strike a new course, declare independence,

Make it short and impressive, we strove for that angle

What resulted there of was a tongue twisty tangle.

It didn't end there with those particular persona.

Now it's Tad and it's Chad, Coy, Levi and Jonah

Though short and impressive I tangle them still.

O, for a common name as John, Fred or Bill.

(to Aron and Marie)

To tag him to please me may put strain on your will

If not Robert or Richard, maybe John, Fred or Bill.

These names are of ancestors, present and past,

Names to remember, names that should last.

Seriously now, let's give this new member 

a handle so common that I can remember.

For I'll soon round that year of three score and ten

When memory bids childhood relived, now and then.

Grandpa Bob.

(They named him Mike)