Creighton
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Brandon once told me that he really liked the name Creighton for his first-born son. He graduated from Creighton University in Nebraska and I guess I’m glad he didn’t go to Walla Walla College in Washington, Quinsigamond Community College in Massachusetts, Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, or Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York. As a boy’s name, I didn’t love it at first, but thought it was sort of unique without being too weird. And it didn’t fall into any of my categories that were baby-naming deal-breakers:
1) Someone I know (or knew anytime from kindergarten to college) has the same name.
Dogs included. Doesn’t matter if I liked or disliked them. Exceptions only made for family and middle names.
2) A common name with an uncommon spelling.
This drives me nuts and a lifetime of constant correction (“um, no it’s spelled with two EEs and one M”) seems ridiculous.
So, Creighton was a contender for the name of our first-born son. But back then, who knew when the heck that might happen and whether or not we’d think of something else we liked along the way.
What feels like decades later (but shockingly isn’t), we have thought of a ton of girls’ names, but no more boys’ names have made the cut. And it’s actually really grown on me. I like that it is unique, but not weird. And classic, but not dated.
Plus, I can tell people that we wanted to hono(u!)r our son’s Canadian heritage by naming him after the forefather of organized hockey or a tiny town in my home province. Ha.
Having family names as middle names is a tradition in both of our families. In fact, some of you have commented on the uniqueness of my middle name (also used as the password to protected posts on this site), which comes from my dad’s mother. My sister is named after my mom and my two brothers have names from my dad and maternal grandfather. As an only child, Brandon is blessed with the heritage of not one, but two grandfathers in his name. While it wasn’t as important to Brandon to carry on this tradition, we made a deal: he could pick the first name (even though I knew there was really only one on the boys’ list) and I could pick the middle name(s).
Suffice it to say, Creighton has two middle names. The first one is in honour of my dad and the second is the same as Brandon’s second middle name, after his grandfather.
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
September 3rd, 2010 at 1:20 pm
My baby has two middle names, too! But not for any cool reason like family tradition–we just liked all the names we gave her, and they each have a special significance.
September 3rd, 2010 at 2:19 pm
It is a good name, noble sounding.
As a MichEal myself I go through the ‘that’s spelled wrong” situation quite often, plus the added fun of having official documents, back record, diplomas, etc sent back because Dad thought it would be neat to spell my different.. At least he did it to my brother first; Camron.. lol
September 3rd, 2010 at 3:43 pm
I’m so glad you honoured your dad this way. In my family, the boys got family names (either first or middle) but girls didn’t. That’s too bad; both my mum and paternal grandmother were Mary. I think I should have had that too. BTW my dad’s name is Robert as well as one of my great-grandfathers.
September 3rd, 2010 at 6:13 pm
love it!
September 3rd, 2010 at 10:58 pm
I love the name – very unique and fitting! We have the same sort of criteria and it was important to me that we picked a name that wasn’t someone we knew or in the family as a first name already. I ended up picking the girls name and Heath the boys name and we both agreed. Of course, I still have to keep looking just in case but I think we are set. We also used family names for the middle name, I think that is such a special way to pass something down from generation to generation.
Blessings to you all :)
September 4th, 2010 at 1:41 am
I love it! And I’m going to tell you something I noticed after I read it and thought “wow..love that name”. My own son’s name is Keith…as I’m sure you may already know. Keith has been the best thing I ever did with my time, my love, my effort, my toil…..my tears…my joy..(JOY!)…my life. And Keith’s name shares the eith in your son’s name…yes in a different order …but it did not escape my ever loving word nerdy heart. I agree that a name should have meaning. Keith has his father’s middle name and my dearest uncles name (David) as a middle name.
I have a coworker who keeps “names” written down on a sheet of paper in her wallet. When she hears good ones she jots them down. Her list is always changing. Her first daughters name is Brighton Poppy. And little Brighton lives up to her pretty flowerly name.
September 4th, 2010 at 3:47 pm
i think creighton is a super cool name :)
September 6th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Marakee Marcus Zachara Brown far more fitting love dad
September 6th, 2010 at 9:41 pm
Congratulations!!!
How is Creighton pronounced?
September 7th, 2010 at 9:51 am
thanks all.
“Creigh” rhymes with “sleigh” : )