So today (okay, why do all my posts start with the word “So?”), I got to ruminating about what to name my plucky little heroine. I started this story right after I saw SatC The Movie so the name “Carrie” stuck with me and that’s what I’ve been calling her ever since. But the name doesn’t sit right. For one thing, my heroine is a twenty-year old Filipino girl. And another thing, she has immigrant parents. I can almost guarantee you that no Filipino immigrant mother would have named her newborn daughter “Carrie” back in 1988. (Egads! 1988 is TWENTY FREAKING YEARS AGO!) “Carrie” just isn’t a Flippy-American name. Maybe I’ll go over to FilipinaMoms and ask them to name my girl.
What’s a Filipino name then? For a girl circa 1988, she will probably have the name “Maria” as a first name (abbreviated to “Ma.”) followed by a traditional Spanish name, e.g., Teresa or Carmencita or Pamela as her real first name. I actually have a cousin named Ma. Pamela. But we don’t actually call her by her long names. Girls with the double MARIA/SPANISH NAME are given cutesy little nicknames for everyday use. Like “Pia” (for Patricia) or “Menchie” (for Pamela) or “KC” (for Kristina Cassandra). I think new moms are slowly moving away from this naming convention, but back in 1988, it would have been in full force.
So I’m thinking my heroine will have a long U.S. government name but her friends will call her something else. For the purposes of my U.S.-based story, it can’t be too ethnic (the nickname) and must be easily pronounceable. How about Pamela/Mia? Or Graciella/Gracie? Or Kristiana/Kit? Any suggestions?
Hello Karmela,
I’ve been following your blog for some time now, and wondered why it was so silent…then I found this one. I like it.
I’ve followed the ups and down in your writing life, always enjoyed your unique perspective and energy.
At some point we become saturated with life and things and above all, our to do lists. We need to hunker down and follow our own path. I’m grappling with that now, and my list of things to do to reclaim my life is to stop the blog readings and internet use. Which means I won’t be keeping up with your path toward publication (and you will publish, I know).
I wanted to wish you well, wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your blog, and wanted most of all to wish you luck and continued energy in writing.
Susanne
By: Susanne on August 1, 2008
at 3:27 pm
Hey Karm, nice blog! I haven’t been blog hopping much lately, so I only found out about your move today.
How about Gloria/Glo?
I like Pia too.
Kate
By: Kate Donovan on August 1, 2008
at 4:57 pm
I’ve read your post in filipinamoms. I wish you well in your writing endeavor. I am gonna start mine soon but it’s not about anyone else but my life in America narrated and written in the 3rd person. Well as for names, although I’m too old (I’m 40), I know a lot of girls born in that year …although they’re American not Filipino-American. I know them because of my husband’s band’s fans are mostly girls on that age group (my husband is a musician). I am also suggesting names that are names of real Filipino-American girls born in that year—-kids of friends and acquaintances;
American names; Amanda, Krista, Kristine, Emily, Jena
Filipino-American; Vida, Karina (Karry), Jicelle (Jicelle), Acela (Ace).
Hey…I have posted in my blog about “Filipino names”…..though not related to your topic.
Please check it out.
Thanks.
By: Bingkee on August 1, 2008
at 5:29 pm
Susanne, welcome to the new blog! And (sadly) goodbye! Thank you for visiting and sharing my ongoing journey. This new blog is an attempt to start afresh. I went through a bit of a slump and needed to shake things up. I too don’t quite bloghop and websurf quite that often any longer, a deliberate removal from ‘net on my part. If you ever feel like blogchatting away, I’m here for you. Good luck to your journey as well and may The Force be with both of us.
By: karmelajohnson on August 1, 2008
at 6:57 pm
Hey Kate, thanks! [aside] Did you see the new X-Files movie yet? [/aside] I just announced the blogmove the other day so you haven’t missed anything at all! Welcome and we need to catch up v. v. soonest!
And Gloria/Glo…I like! It’s got a street vibe to it. “Maria Gloria” could be shortened to M-Glow. Hehe…
By: karmelajohnson on August 1, 2008
at 6:59 pm
Hi Bingkee and welcome! I like your Filipina name suggestions. It shows another aspect of our personality–the way we like to make up names that we think sound aesthetically pleasing. I also know a “Rican” and “Jenicelle.” I will check out your blog posting about Pinoy/ay names.
By: karmelajohnson on August 1, 2008
at 7:02 pm
Hello Karmela
Here are my suggestions:
Cristina – Tintin/Tin/Cris
Maria Isabel – Isa/Ria
Margarita – Margie
Cindy
Maria Catherine – Cat
Michaela – Mick
Marianne
Gabriella – Gab
Maria Luisa – Isa/Ria
Eleanor – Elly
Carla
Shiela
Anna Lisa – Ann
Odette
Jasmine – Jas
Leticia – Lette
Rowena – Weng
Marjorie – Marj
By: ime on August 1, 2008
at 10:42 pm
Hi Ime, nice suggestions! I’m going to pick “Maria Catherine/Cat” I think. It just fits her personality. Thank you!!!!!!
By: karmelajohnson on August 2, 2008
at 12:55 pm
Hi Kalay!
A week late here, as I’ve been busy w/ back to school preparations. Anyway, I’m quite partial to Pamela/Mia… obviously… hahaha! Back home my nickname was Mae. Didn’t get called Pam until my first year in AZ when my 5th grade teacher gave me the new nickname. Oddly enough, when I started teaching Pam transformed to Pami. Why as I grew older did the name become younger? hahaha!
Incidentally, some family friends have three daughters born in the late 80s and their names are Kristina (Kris or Nana to her family), Kathleen (Kat or Len-Len to the family), and Kimberly (Kim).
Have fun naming your heroine!
Pamela
By: Pamela on August 9, 2008
at 4:27 pm