What should you name your kid?...My Gemma and St. Gemma

My Gemma

If God blesses you with children, name them after Saints.

Why?

Why not? 

Two reasons.


First, a recent study came out which showed that 1 in 5 parents admit that they regret the name they gave their child. Did you think some movie was so awesome and the actor so cool that you just had to name your child after him? Do you now (since you've grown up) think the movie is a dud, and is the actor punch-drunk all over the front cover of tabloids in the supermarket?

Bummer. 

My daughter Leah (3 years ago), who
probably will not be the next soccer star.
Yes, her name is not a saint name.
We were not Catholic.

Another study showed how influential a name can be on even the types of activities your child will pursue. Wonder if your little darling "Jazzy" might have a thing for art and the occasional promiscuous night out on the town? The answer is "probably" because his little darling parents gave him that artsy-fartsy-rebel-of-a-name. Just sayin. It's possible, not necessary, but why not give your child the best chance possible...to not be a delinquent. 

Lastly, a gambit of studies (here's one) demonstrate that people don't trust names that are not common. In fact, only a century ago, choosing a common name was the thing to do. Parents didn't think it was cool to "show off" or demonstrate their own personal "uniqueness" on their child's name. Instead, the names "Mary" and "John" were the most popular (saint names). But then again, neither did society think that a child was an object to be thrown-away at epic rates. Think about it. If I said, "Will you let _________ borrow your car, or Frank borrow your car," which scenario makes you more comfortable? Just like the blank space, a name we are unfamiliar with breeds an immediate suspicion or lack of trust. One might even say that such behavior is a necessary, evolutionary mechanism by which we protect ourselves. In other words, the "dark alley" of the unknown is never the better option in whatever form it may take.

Second, name your children after saints because...well...YOU WANT THEM TO BE SAINTS! In most instances (barring "Scholastica"), the name is (1) a common or familiar name and of course (2) one that will give them a fantastic example to follow! That is what I like to call a parent WIN/WIN! Parenting is already difficult -- especially in the world we live today. We are given our children for such a short window of time, and our primary role as parents is to set them on the road to heaven.

Of course, Holy Baptism, Confirmation, Holy First Communion, Holy Confession, and catechesis in the home are the major ways that we work to accomplish that goal. However, choosing your child's name can help too.

St. Gemma Galgani,
ora pro nobis!