Week #33: Names on the Family Tree

The Internet is an interesting place.  In my weekly search for blog inspiration, I came across a song named after my niece, Kendra.  What's interesting is that the title of this song is my niece's FIRST and LAST name!  Kendra McCormick is a nice name, but for sure, this song never made it to the Billboard Hot 100.   My niece would probably agree.

Kendra McCormick

I'm not suggesting that Baby Girl Mulvaney be named after her raven haired cousin .... but the link certainly caught my attention!  Don't you wonder if there's a song out there named after you?

ANSWER:  YES!  Actually, NO!  I don't wonder.  There are plenty of Susan, Susie, and Sue songs out there!   Here's one from the Everly Brothers that was released in 1957, the year that this grandmother-to-be was born.   To be honest, on more than one occasion, I had to endure this being sung way too loudly by many well-intentioned friends whenever it was played in our company.  Sort of "in your face" singing, if you know what I mean . . . 

Wake Up Little Susie

FACTS:   1)  Wake Up Little Susie was banned on Boston radio stations when it was released because of objectionable content of a sexual nature.  (My, how times have changed.)  2)  It is ranked as #311 on Rolling Stone Magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time;  3)  While on the Presidential campaign trail in 2000, then Governor George W. Bush told Oprah that Wake up Little Susie was his favorite song. 

Okay...my strong hunch is that Baby Girl Mulvaney's parents will choose something a little more unique and she will not be named after her female relatives ... at least not after her cousin or maternal grandmother.  So let's just throw out another name this week that hasn't shown up yet on either the Mulvaney or Quevedo family trees, as far as I know. 

The selection for Week #33 is rising in popularity due to renewed interest in "old-fashioned" names.  While this name is of English etymology, the longer version is Greek in origin and means "pearl".  This week's choice is also connected to the song that launched Rod Stewart's career as a solo performer. Without a doubt, it is one of the British rock star's best known songs.  

Just seven more weeks to go, EQM and MSM, assuming that Baby Girl Mulvaney makes an on-time arrival.  Personally, I like the song and I think this would be a sweet little name for your precious pearl.   Just sayin'! 

Rod Stewart, 1971

Week #32: Beatlemania, Peanuts and I LOVE (This Comedienne)!

Already it's Week #32!  EQM is well past the baby "bump" stage and there's no mistaking her for being pregnant!  She's lookin' good and I'm happy to report that she's feeling pretty well, too!

I would be remiss not to suggest at least one name inspired by the legendary Beatles, the most famous British pop rock band ever.  The music of the Beatles includes at least two dozen songs that reference girls' names.  Michelle is certainly one of my personal favorites, but a French name for a little girl born to a Cuban-American mom and an Irish/Portuguese dad just doesn't make any sense to me ... (and I actually did grow up with a girl by the name of Michelle Mulvaney, so that name is taken!)

Another of my favorite Beatles songs is reported to have a hidden reference to LSD.  However, as the story goes, the lyrics were actually inspired by a nursery school drawing created by John Lennon's son, Julian.  Thank you, Julian!  I'm good with that.  

This name, like so many others, is of Latin origin, and its meaning is "light."  It's an extremely popular choice in both the United Kingdom and the United States, where it has firmly held its position on the list of the top 100 baby girls' names for the past several years.  This is also the name of the bossy little girl in the Peanuts comic strip created by Charles Schulz. And we certainly can't forget the hilarious housewife portrayed in a TV sitcom by one of the most talented American comediennes of all time.   

I'm sure you don't need any other hints to guess the name for Week #32!   Could we soon have a bossy little girl or a hilarious little comedienne on our hands?

From Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

Week #31: Writer's Block.. Family Guy to the Rescue!

Okay.  It's Week #31 and I'm coming up short on ideas for a nice name for Baby Girl Mulvaney.  (And by the way, I realize that she probably already has a name, but that's beside the point.)  I even resorted to Family Guy for inspiration this week.  Parental Advisory:  The following link contains profanity:

Family Guy - Songs Named After a Girl

Please forgive me if you're offended.  That's probably not a very grandmotherly link for a blog about naming sweet Baby Girl Mulvaney, but it definitely amused me!  And in all honesty, the Griffin's dog, Brian, actually does have a few good suggestions.

So after more searching, I finally came up with a pretty sweet name for Week #31. The baby name websites out there are a bit confused.  According to several, this name is of Germanic origin and means "gentle horse".  No.  Whoever wrote those websites obviously do not understand Spanish.  This name, when translated into Spanish, means "Pretty Rose".  And that's a really nice name for Elena and Matt's sweet little baby girl.

One of my all time favorite artists, Billy Joel, wrote the song.  In an interview, he indicated that he penned it for his mother, and it was a song that his father should have written for her.  Sweet.  I love the music.  I love the lyrics.  And with her Cuban heritage from her mama's side of the family, we'll always find our Cuban skies in Baby Girl Mulvaney's eyes.  Enjoy.

Billy Joel, 52nd Street - 1978

Week #30: A Name for the Newest Member of Red Sox Nation!

Week #30.   In spite of the fact that Baby Girl Mulvaney will be living on the West Coast, sooner or later she will find out that she has been born into Red Sox Nation. This is a special time of year for Red Sox fans who anxiously await opening day at their beloved Fenway Park.   So as the big day approaches (Monday, April 8th), this week's name salutes what is sure to be Baby Girl Mulvaney's FAVORITE baseball team!

While the history of this name is a bit uncertain, it appears to be a  diminutive of "Theresa" which may have first been used in Spain or Portugal.  This is an interesting connection since some of baby Mulvaney's maternal and paternal relatives hail from the Iberian Peninsula.  "Late summer" and "harvester" are two meanings that have been attributed to this unusual name.

So where is the connection to the Boston Red Sox?  Well, this name is the title of a longtime Red Sox anthem which was resurrected in 2004 by the punk rock group, The Dropkick Murphys.   The newer version of the song recounts how the tune became the rallying cry of a fan club known as the "Royal Rooters" which helped the Boston Americans win the World Series in 1903.   The Dropkick Murphys brought the song alive again in 2004 and the rest is history!  It is now the second of three songs played after every Red Sox win at Fenway Park, the first being  Dirty Water by the
Standells and the third being Joy to the World by Three Dog Night.

This would be a perfect name for the newest little member of Red Sox Nation.  Nuff said!

The Dropkick Murphys