When we’re painting we talk about all sorts of weird things that we probably wouldn’t otherwise get around to. And while painting the bedroom we got to the topic of “names that our parents almost gave us.” Get this. My mom wanted to name me Gina. We would have been John & Gina. That made us titter. Not sure if it’s a had to be there thing though. Either way, John’s dad’s choice of names takes the cake. He wanted to name John… wait for it… Lars.
Lars Petersik.
How funny is that? If I had seen tall dirty blond John at work and asked a coworker “oh who’s that?” and heard them respond with ” that’s Lars Petersik, he’s an account manager.” Let’s just say I would have been all “niiiiice to meeeeeeet you Laaaaars” with that over-enunciated-because-I’m-not-sure-you’re-great-at-deciphering-super-speedy-NY-talkers connotation. The same long drawn out delivery I use with my only-speaks-Italian grandmother. It would have been hysterical. John probably never would have let me live it down. Or asked me to marry him a year-ish later.
But that’s not all. Apparently John’s dad also wanted to name John “Vector.” Because he liked math. How I was able to continue painting with tears of laughter streaming down my face is beyond me. So it got us wondering what you guys were almost named. Come on… someone out there can beat Vector and Lars, right?
Kate says
My last name is Dobie and my parents always joke that if I’d been a boy they would have been Obadiah Dobie. Let’s just say I’m glad they went for Kate rather than Obie Dobie!
Jessica M says
My grandma wanted my mom to name me Fern!
If I was a boy, I would have been Brian. That’s my younger brother’s name now. :)
lauren says
i have to agree with joyce. i had been thinking the same things lately, that a lot of your posts seem like filler. personally, i would rather see less posts (maybe not even daily?) with more diy projects and serious content. not to be rude but we’ve all taken down mirrors and towel bars.
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lauren & Joyce,
Please see this post and this post for more info about our new post-what-and-when-we-want approach. We have learned that the fastest way to please no one is to try to please everyone, so we just blog about our adventures, whatever they may be, and share them for anyone who’d like to drop in on us. Some people want more personal or Clara related posts, others want more anyone-can-do-it easy & cheap projects, others want more major demo and expensive full-scale renos. Or fewer posts. Or more posts. The list goes on and on. We just can’t keep up, so we’ve decided to trust ourselves and write what we love. Whether it’s major, minor, personal, or project focused. While you two may not call this post a favorite, it seems like hundreds of other people are enjoying it, and for that we’re oh so grateful!
Nothing but love,
Sherry (& John)
megan says
gabe gorden if i had been a boy. how torturous!
JenniferK says
Not me….but a friend. She was named Riley, her older sister was named Techla but she went by Tecky. A third child was all ready to be named Echo but alas it was a boy….called Petey.
Shannon says
OOOOh, I love this topic!! My mom wanted me to be Taryn and my dad wanted Jessica, but Shannon was the one they agreed on. The best names I’ve heard though are friends of mine (Amy and David) who would have been Belinda and Dwayne. I love it!!!
Angie K says
I was almost named Veronica. Which isn’t so bad, but not me at all. My mom heard the Rolling stones song, Angie, on the way to the hospital and that was it. Nobody really believes it’s Angie on my birth certificate!
I almost gave my poor daughter a doozy though! We wanted to name her something Irish and I almost named her Grainne. Yep, Grainne. I pictured her on a cliff with long flowing hair, all free spirited. Fortunately her dad said nuh-uh and we went with Erin instead.
btw, I like you posts like this just as much as the others. Pictures of boxes in a room, almost names, cute Clara pictures. It’s all good :)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw thanks Cordia, Angie, Jennie, Samantha, Michelle, Kayla! We appreciate the love. Right back atcha!
xo,
s
Serra says
My maiden name is Shore…I was almost Sandy Shore and my brother was almost Rocky Shore.
Thank goodness my mom didn’t curse us with those!
I do have a cousin named Misty Cie (pronounced sea) Shore.
Also, our babysitter’s last name is Ford. They named their older daughter Lexus. Yep, Lexus Ford.
Allyson says
Good day to Gina & Lars! :)
These are priceless! Keep ’em comin’, folks :)
I’ve heard some good ones over the years, but I once worked with a lady named “Udine”…which is just typo away from being named Urine :)
Good thing she didn’t marry a dude with the last name “Fortenninetynine” :)
Emily says
We’re having a baby in June which, of course, has prompted everyone we know to offer their opinion on names. One friend keeps coming up with the strangest combinations…. Mirkensie and Randice…. I finally told her to choose her own names for kids and I’ll pick mine :) Currently we’re at Kyra for a girl and Gavin for a boy. I would have been plain old boring Brian if I’d been a boy
Cordia says
I like all YHL posts, DIY related or not. This blog is about their life. I find them entertaining, as do a lot of folks. If you dont like what they post, then dont read it. Just sayin!
Mary-Carolyn says
My mom wanted to name me Harland McFadden, had I been a boy. Growing up, my dad knew a girl whose name was April May June.
Jennie says
Well, I would have been Jason if I had been a boy, until a woman told my mom that “she had never known a Jason that wasn’t a criminal.” (Sorry to all of the Jasons out there! I’m sure she didn’t know many Jasons!)
The other girl-name possibility was Noel, which I would have loved! Jennifer won out, however, and I’m at peace with it.
I must add, I love what you guys are doing these days and it does not feel like filler. It feels like real life, and I find that aspect very enjoyable. The spontaneity is great and I really enjoy the non-DIY posts as well. I personally cannot get enough of Clara-related posts and posts about everyday life. I enjoy the diversity and the fact that you don’t allow yourselves to be pigeonholed. You provide a great forum for sharing, making even trivial things interesting!
As for your DIY work, I’m continually amazed at how a small change (like removing a towel bar!) can make a big difference in a room. Your attention to aesthetics is inspiring and I always take note!
Kayla says
I already commented on page one about the names but I had to stop in again after reading the earlier comment about this and some other recent posts being “filler”. You guys are full-time bloggers you put up nearly 10 posts a week which I think is phenomenal. And in terms of quality/quantity I can relate – my husband is a cartoonist and does a weekly strip. He doesn’t always have knock-your-socks-off ideas for the strip so some weeks are funnier/more interesting than others. It’s kind of like how you have to eat everyday but some meals are run-of-the-mill weeknight dinners and some are spectacular, fancy restaurant extravaganzas. I appreciate that you post about little things (towel bars/random thoughts) as well as the big reveals/how-to-build-it posts . It really adds dimension to the blog overall and I think it makes it more interesting because I never know what the next post will be about! Anyway just wanted to tell you I appreciate that aspect of your blog and all the hard work you do to post so often! Keep up the great work!
Shannon (in VA) says
These are so great, love reading the comments.
I wanted to name my daughter Andromeda (from the 80’s Clash of Titans movie) and call her Andi for short. Her dad said nooo way. She is 18 years old now and loves the name she almost got!
Liz says
My dad was so sure that I was going to be a boy that whenever my mom asked for a girl name he said “If it’s a girl, we’re going to call her Fluke.”
Thankfully they found a better girl name!
samantha owens says
i love all posts! some DIY, some fun- yall are so entertaining! actually, i check almost daily since a girlfriend sent me your blog for an idea on dog bowls. which, i loved. i thought i was being super creative and put my own twist on it and used a silver serving platter w bowls.
needless to say: cheap fake silver + water= bad idea. currently on the hunt for a new bowl-holder haha.
keep it up- it is ALL fun and this blog is a blast :)
Michelle says
I am so with you on the Lars thing!! I totally would have assumed he was uber german fresh of the boat. :)
My friend’s niece is “Snow” and guess what? Her last name is White. Not even kidding.
In my town, its relatively normal to name your kid the alcohol you blame for the conception. Remy (a la Remy Martin) lived down the street from me, and I went to high school with Tequila!!!
Btw – I love these posts for their fun to read smile moments. Its silly, but the “getting to know the non-renovation” side of yall makes the design posts more endearing. :)
LittleMissEclectic says
It doesn’t get any better than Lars or Vector. You take the cake John.
Lauren says
I could maybe see Sherry as a Gina, but John as Lars?? My parents didn’t have any strange names picked put for me but a friend’s husband wanted to name their twins Luke and Leia because he loves Star Wars.
Not related to the names, but I was wondering if you guys changed the format for viewing the comments on each post. I thought their used to be a “view all” option and I don’t see it anymore. Is it just my computer or did you make a change?
YoungHouseLove says
Hey Lauren,
Good eye – I actually took down the “Show All” option because it wasn’t working on some posts and making the blog run slow. Sorry that it’s not there anymore – I didn’t think anyone even used it!
-John
Caitlin says
My parents wanted to name me “Amy Stacey Steiner” after my aunt, but soon realized my initials were a little off… :-)
My dad also SERIOUSLY wanted to name my brother magnum. Not like the condom, but like Magnum P.I. My mom had to shoot that kite right down haha. They settled with Ian instead!
Kat says
My dad wanted to name my sister Popeye or Israfel, but got vetoed on both accounts. My sisters name is Emma.
Michelle says
My dad is Norman Norland, Jr., and i look just like him, so my aunt tried to get my parents to name me Norma Norland. I’m really happy they went with Michelle.
Jenn says
My brother was thisclose to being named “Seth Poole”. Say it three times fast, you’ll discover why it’s a terrible name.”
Meghan says
My father would NOT commit to a boy’s name option when my mom was pregnant with my sister, so my mom decided to pick the craziest possible name she could come up with. My sister was almost “Oliver Norbert.” The quickest way to tick my sis off when she was young was to call her “Ollie.”
Caitlin says
“Funzanella” after my Italian great-grandmother. They used to call her “The Funz”
She only spoke Italian… when I was a baby, she thought they named me something in Italian that meant “little chicken” (what exactly she heard I’m not sure) and started hitting and shouting at my father.
Hannah says
So my name is Hannah, and by some adoption that happened a long time ago, our original family last name was changed. The original name: Fontana.
I would have been Hannah Fontana. How cruel would that have been?!?!
BTW, if my husband had been a girl his name would have been Pricilla. I’m not sure if that’s better or worse than my situation.
RM says
Can’t beat it personally, but I went to high school with 2 brothers whose last name was Haus. Their first names were Brick and Stoney. No joke. How awful is that? Anytime Brick House played at a school dance, there was a lot of teasing, but I think he thought it was cool more than embarrassing.
eva says
My Mom wanted to name me Roxanne, after the police song. Thank all my lucky stars that didn’t work out. Then it was going to be Zoey. That I could have lived with. I’m glad I have my name which wasn’t really popular until recently. Eva.
I do have a cousin named Heaven Lee Aires. I changed the spelling but that is her name. I always feel a little weird saying Hey Heaven come here.
Jessi says
My maiden name was Roots. Before I was born, my parents told anyone who asked about baby names that a boy would be Rocko and a girl would be Ruby. I’m glad they went with Jessica.
Hubby was almost named Courtney even after they knew he was a boy.
Mary says
My dad’s mother suggested Otto if I’d been a boy.
Kristen says
Had I been born a day earlier than I was, my parents would have named be Beulah. Beulah Boswell.
I honestly believe the fetus me heard that and waited an extra day. And so I was named Kristen, after a good family friend.
trish says
My twin sister and I were going to be Zebedee and Zoe which were the last two names in the baby name book. Zoe is popular now but Zebedee?? Not sure which name was to be mine!
Emily says
So, mine are not names that could have been, but are names that are! A Co-worker of my has 6 children two of which are very interesting. I tease her all the time (as does everyone in the office) for naming her children this…(She blames her ex-husband)
Russell Ford Fender. He goes by Rusty. Rusty Ford Fender.
Dustin Dodge Fender. He goes by Dusty. Dusty Dodge Fender.
sarah says
i was going to be jennifer until my mother decided it was too common. so they went with sarah. because, you know, there are way fewer sarahs than jennifers in the world.
Caroline @ The Feminist Housewife says
Baxter!
THANK goodness I was a girl!
Jamie says
My mom wanted to name me Jillian but when my Dad said that my nickname could be Million-Billion-Jillion is was no longer an option.
Britta says
My mom wanted to name me Arvid (after her father) if I was a boy. Thank God she named me after her grandmother instead!
Britta
Sarah says
My dad wanted to name me Gus if I were a boy. He thought it was a great football name. :)
Robyn says
My parents only picked out a boy name when they were expecting my sister, me, and my brother. Girls names were an afterthought that only came up when my sister and I were delivered (as girls). Both my sister and I were going to be named Daniel James if we were boys. The next baby in the family belonged to my dad’s sister, and she up and stole the name Daniel (knowing that my parents wanted that for a boy’s name if they ever had a boy)! My brother was born 9 months after our cousin Daniel and was named Brian. It was a perfect name for two older sisters to make fun of, “Brian is crying like a baby!”
I will always wonder if my sister or I were a boy, would my parents have had any more kids?
Jamie M says
Not complaining, but just letting you know that I did use the show all option. It made looking through the comments quicker.
Stephanie says
If I was a boy, my dad wanted to name me after his grandfather and himself, Izador Donald, so he could call me I.D. for short. Either way, it would have been bad!
nikki @ nikkisnacs says
How awesome would Lars have been…
My parents thought I was going to be a boy so they had the name Nicholas pick out, when I was a girl they got “real” creative and just named me Nicole.
Sarah says
I would have been Gus. Eeek!!
My husband knew a Lemonjello and Oranjello. Like lemon- jello and orange- jello! Lol lol
renee says
My mom seriously wanted to name me Robin Sue and call me BOBBIE SUE. Oh… NO. Thank Goodness she changed her mind and named me Renee. I am no Bobbie Sue!
Nickie says
I’m a loyal follower of the blog but very rarely comment; however, I just couldn’t resist:
My mom wanted to name me Beryl, and yes, that’s pronounced BARREL. It’s apparently a precious stone, but it sounds much more like something you’d roll down a hill. I was a rather husky child growing up – imaginations would have run wild!
I’m thankful they settled on the nice-yet-safe Nicole.
Natalie @ Chadwell Chronicles says
Apparently my Mom wanted me to be a stripper because she was considering the names Cinnamon or Candy for me. So glad she came up and stuck with Natalie.
Tannis says
My name was potentially going to be Tatanisha (pronounced taw-taw-neesha)…I got Tannis instead. Tannis had it’s challenges growing up (being called tennis ball, tennis racket, etc…), and I always got the “Tannis you must love to play tennis”. Even now, in my mid 30’s, some probably-too-comfortable-for-their-own-good-since-you-just-met-me, people ask “hey so you must love Tennis?”, with this look of “I just came up with the BEST joke she’s likely never heard before!” I no longer feel bad to say “ya…I’ve heard that joke since I was 4, not really funny”. Oh and in case you’re wondering, I’ve never played nor been interested in Tennis…guess it was all the taunting. ;-)
Sarah says
Um, my dad wanted to name me tree names. Yes, tree names. I was very nearly Tamarack, and had I been a boy I would have been Oak or Elm. Luckily my mother stepped in and named me the far more boring, but far less socially-bizarre name of Sarah.
Laura says
My Dad’s birth name is Elmer. When he was around 6 his parents had ir legally changed to Robert because of the teasing he endured.
Kids can be so cruel. :)
I miss the “Show All” function already. :(