The Name Game

What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet! I can’t take credit for that. That was Shakespeare, I think.  Maybe it was Ben Franklin!

I’ve always liked my  name, Dennis. It is a good solid name and was very popular in my day.  Even though, spelled backwards it is Sinned! My graduating class had three boys named Dennis. Dennis Solt, me, and Denis Dorward. I’m not sure why Denny Dorward only had one N. Maybe his parents really liked Canada.  I remember reading an article about a decade ago stating that the name Dennis was poised to make a comeback! Yeah, that never happened.

Our class was filled with Roberts and Davids. The girls names were pretty standard then too. We had our share of Brendas, Barbaras, and Debras (Deborah).  Boys names from my class that were a little unusual were Ivan, Maurice, and Leslie.  She didn’t graduate with us, but we did have an Algetha!  And, of course, we had a Dawn who later became a Shawn. Unlike today, that was extremely rare.

I never had a real nickname other than the ever endearing Denny. Here are just a few nicknames from the Slatington High School Class of 1970. Fudge, Bubba, Sam, Super Lew, Special K, Cue Ball, Noodle, Whipper, Snowy, Yum, and Minnow!  Where are they now and would they still answer if called by that nickname? My guess is no.

During my high school years there was a popular song called The Name Game.  It started a trend where everyone would use their name and put it into the song. It was a hoot!   Yeah, we had some exciting times in Slatington.  I am going to try to briefly explain. You take a name, let’s say Shirley.  Here goes: Shirley, Bo ber ley, bo na na fanna fo firley. fee fie mo mirley Shirley!  Yes, It was a simpler time, even though trying to do that to a beat was pretty difficult.  I bet you are all trying to do it with your own names now!  Let’s hope your name isn’t Chuck! We all got a big kick out of that one!

The last thing on names is that it is difficult to have a first name for a last name. My last name is George, a classic first name. Whenever someone asks me for my last name, and I say George, they will inevitably say…NO, your last name!  Arghhh!