What's In A Name?

Hello!

What's In a Name?

A friend sent me a post that was talking about what 'trendy' names are rapidly dropping off the most popular baby names list. There were a few that I won't be sad to see go. I tend to be a traditionalist with names. Why doesn't anyone pick some of the tried and true regular names...one's that aren't 'trendy' or popular at any one moment but have stood the test of time. Or, hey, how about family names? It seems no one anymore names their children after mom or pop!

Having a trendy name isn't all what it's cracked up to be. I remember being in an art class and half the girls in my class had my name. Not fun and not funny. My mother swears up and down that she had no idea that my name was a trendy name at the time. She honestly thought she had come up with a unique name.

I think if one wants to be unique these days name your little girl Mary and your little boy John. You'll be the original trend-setter!

It's difficult to name your children, but can you imagine having to name ten or twelve children every few months or so...all year long? Canine Assistants has that problem. They try not to repeat a name, and that's a tall order. They've come up with a naming system that is a great idea however. Every litter of puppies has a theme.

My first helper pup was Jet. He was from the 'Rocker' litter. As in rock stars. He's named after Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. It fit him. Cool name for an awesome pup!

My second helper is Frax. The theme of his litter was the 'surfer' litter. All the pups were to be named after famous surfers. However you'll note that “Frax” isn't the name of a famous surfer. In fact we aren't really quite sure what Frax means...and if you knew Frax, that is totally appropriate! He has an amazing story of how he got his name...

Jennifer Arnold, who is the CEO and founder of Canine Assistants wrote a wonderful book: “Through a Dogs Eyes”. A PBS special was filmed about Canine Assistants and her book. The year Frax was born, they filmed the PBS special “Through a Dog's Eyes” at Canine Assistants. Frax's litter was born during the time they were filming. The producer was Danny Moder. The Canine Assistants folks asked him if he would like to name the pups. He said sure! They said, you've got to have a theme though...and since the crew was all from California, they picked a 'surfer' theme after famous surfers! Great idea! So, each pup was named after a famous surfer...till they got to the last puppy...and had no name!

Mr. Moder promised he would email the last puppy's name as soon as he got home. The night he got home he was at dinner with his wife, the actress Julia Roberts, and his little boy who was very young at the time. The little boy heard the story of the baby puppy with no name, and was desperate to name him! He begged his mom and pop to name the puppy! Pleeeease....Finally, they said “alright you can name him!”

That name? Frax.

It means? Dunno. It's after? Dunno. To this day we don't know. But Frax rocks the name anyhow. It fits. Guaranteed he's the only “Frax” that is a service dog. Pretty Awesome, eh?:)

P.S.~ Amazon carries the book “Through a Dog's Eyes” by Jennifer Arnold. Check it out!

P.P.S~ Amazon carries the PBS special “Through a Dog's Eyes” about Canine Assistants. Check it out!

Later...

LV, JT & FX

#popularnames #unpopularnames #bestdognames