Socratic Question #2
In the novel The Paris Wife Hadley and Ernest visit Spain to watch bull fighting. The couple cheered for a young bullfighter named Nicanor Villalta. In the novel, Ernest describes the bullfight like a dance and the couple is mesmerized by the way Nicanor moves. Later that year, Hadley and Ernest have a son and name him John Hadley Nicanor Hemingway. Are you or do you know of someone who is named after another person? Why do you believe they chose to do so?
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Monica's Blog 
When I was born, I was given a middle name after my grandmother. Almost everyone in my family has a reference to a relative, usually grandparents, either in their first or middle name. It’s simply a tradition in my family and has been around for several generations. My parents told me it was a way to pay respect to their parents and it was something that meant a lot to them. My mom had told me when I was younger, since I was given my grandmother’s name as my middle name, I would always be her favorite grandchild. Obviously she was joking, but it did make me feel special and I believe me and my grandma share a special bond. By being named after someone, it just extends their legacy, so one day I’ll be able to tell my kids about my grandma. She always told me it was one of the greatest gifts she had ever received when I was named after her, and that really touched my heart. My grandma meant a lot to my mother, just like my mother means a lot to me, and is why I will definitely continue our family tradition.
I believe that many people would choose to name their children after something that they associate happy thoughts with. That is why many people will name their children after a loved one or someone that they truly look up to. I, myself am named after my nana. My nana has always been a huge part in my life and I know everyone in my family looks up to her. She worked very hard to get where she is today. She went to school and worked very hard to better her life and the lives of her children. My dad grew up with a lot of respect for my nana and that is why I believed I was named after her. I think many people will choose to name their children after successful people because they hope that one day their children will achieve the same kind of happiness and success. I think it is quite similar in the case of Ernest and Hadley naming their son after Nicanor Villalta. To fight a bull one must be fearless and strong. One must also have a strong passionate for this sort of sport to put themselves in that sort of potential danger. This shows that Hadley and Ernest hope that their son, John Hadley Nicanor Hemingway, may also one day achieve that sort of fulfillment in life. All parents hope that their children will go out into the world and find something that they are passionate doing. They want them to find something that they can feel strongly in and help make the world a better place for themselves and the generations after them.
– Rachel McConnell
When we were born my sister and I were given our middle names after our grandmothers. Most of my cousins are also “middle named” after older relatives. I’ve never asked my mom why she named us after our grandmothers but I imagine it is almost a way of honouring them. I think it probably is also a way of thanking them for everything they have done for my parents, like a gift. My Initials also spell DEB, they spell this because when my mother was growing up she had a friend named Deb that passed away at a young age from cancer. She did not want to name me Deb because she felt that that would be to close to her friend, but she did want to use her name somehow. She then decided that my name had to start with a D so that my initials would spell Deb. I think that this again is a way if honouring the person. It also is a way to remember them. I know whenever anyone asks for my full name I tell them DEB, they spell Deb and they spell Deb for my moms friend. I think that names can have a lot of meaning. Some names are passed on generation to generation. Whenever we go to baby showers and we start talking about names my mother always brings out the story of naming me. She also tells how my father thought that if i was a boy my name would be John William Brown (my dads name). My mom countered him by saying alright, but if its a girl we will name her Rondalyn Elaine Brown (my moms name). He responded well why would we do that? And she said exactly. When ever I hear this story I think it is funny, because it is very true. People often pass down a fathers name, but never a mothers. Personally I really like my name and appreciate the details behind it and the strange way it is spelt.