“The Name”
July 22nd, 2008
Obviously, with names like TSO Jr, Matman, and Daredevil, I have chosen to use nicknames on this blog but today I am going to share with you Daredevil’s middle name and how it came to be. So sit down and forget about the laundry and let the kids dig into dad’s underwear drawer for a while (they can’t damage anything there).
I took naming my son’s very seriously. The wrong name and they could hold it against me for the rest of my life. For all three boys, my husband and I had their first names chosen well before they were born. The middle names took a little longer but with TSO Jr. and Matman we quickly decided at the hospital and were in complete agreement. Daredevil was not as easy. We had picked a first name months in advance but the middle name was up in the air.
I had my mind set on giving Daredevil TSO’s middle name. Both TSO Jr and Matman had middle names from family members and I felt Daredevil’s name should be picked the same way…with some meaning behind it and after someone who meant a lot to me. TSO did not agree. He had a name in mind since our second son, Matman, but I had refused to let him give Matman “the name”. He tried again with Daredevil and again I refused to let him give Daredevil “the name” as a first name. Now he was angling for “the name” as a middle name. There was just no way I could allow him to name my son “the name”.
We went back and f
orth and round and round in circles. No one was willing to compromise on Daredevil’s middle name. We were not going to budge, at all! We were in the hospital and had to fill out the birth certificate papers so needed to make a decision. Still no sign of compromise so we did what any level-headed adults that take naming their children seriously would do…we played Yahtzee. Yes, we played Yahtzee and the winner could give Daredevil the middle name of their choice.
It was an intense game of Yahtzee, there was a lot on the line. I gave it my all, oh how I gave it my all but came up short. I lost. I lost the biggest Yahtzee game of my life! And because of it Daredevil was given “the name”. My eyes welled up and I fought back the tears. I’m a good sport and could not go back on our bet) but at the same time I could not believe that my son was being given “the name”. Even now I can’t believe that we’ve named our child “the name”. TSO, on the other hand, is just as happy with the name now as he was 2 years ago. He thinks it is a cool name and that Daredevil will thank us for it. I am not so sure and hope he will not need therapy.
So my son’s middle name, the name that is printed on his birth certificate and all future legal documents for the rest of his life! “The name” is Espen…as in duh nuh nuh duh nuh nuh…E.S.P.N. Do you think Daredevil will forgive me? Is it too late for a rematch of Yahtzee?
20 Responses to ““The Name””
Kel July 22nd, 2008 at 6:19 am #
I know I shouldn’t laugh, but I can’t help it! That is funny and I can totally relate to the name picking angst. The hub and I went round and round when the baby was born trying to agree on a name - eventually we settled on one. But he is a boy and who knows, maybe he will think it is cool when he gets older…I mean, how many kids get to say they were named after ESPN?!
Have a great day!
~K
Debbie July 22nd, 2008 at 9:10 am #
I like it! I don’t think I could voluntarily agree to naming my son after ESPN either, but if he grows up to be a sports fan at all i’m sure he’ll think it’s cool.
At least your husband didn’t want to name him after SportsCenter. Hee hee..
Sandy (Momisodes) July 22nd, 2008 at 11:37 am #
I kind of like it. But I can relate. Name choosing was killer. Thank goodness we had a girl because we were never able to settle on a boy name!
Tiff@Three Peas July 22nd, 2008 at 12:03 pm #
LOL that’s an interesting way to settle on naming your child. I actually like “the name”. It’s unique
Tara@From Dawn Till Rusk July 22nd, 2008 at 12:08 pm #
I can’t believe you played Yahtzee over what to name your son! That is hilarious. I can’t believe your hubby did that in your clearly delicate state. That can be your defence if he complains about it in years to come - daddy made me do it.
still, I kinda like it. It’s certainly unique.
Hosoo July 22nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm #
This is funny…but somehow I feel like I heard this name before! Any chance your husband called/e-mailed ESPN and told them about it? My hubby watches PTI (ESPN show) religiously and unfortunately, I somehow listen to sports news or talks even though I don’t pay much attention to it.
BusyMamas July 22nd, 2008 at 2:20 pm #
Kel - you should laugh, it is funny!
Tara - You are right…I was in a delicate state! I will definitely point that out to Daredevil when he’s older. I also saved the score sheet and noted that I had objected to the name but could not go back on our deal.
Tiff - The truth is my hubby is very competitive and I honestly thought I could win. We had been playing Yahtzee to pass the time in the hospital and I had been kicking butt!!!
Hosoo - There was a special on TV while I was pregnant with my 2nd son, some ESPN anniversary thing and they showed like 30 kids with the name Espen…some spelled as Espn, some added the e (like we did). THere was even a girl Espyn!!! Anyway that is how my husband first heard of it and bugged me with our 2nd son but I refused. Finally, with the 3rd he got his wish but if it was up to him it would have been a first name…ahhhh!
And to all of you that said you liked it…you are too kind!
Kelsey July 22nd, 2008 at 3:30 pm #
Very unique i like it!
My Asian Heritage/Angela July 22nd, 2008 at 4:09 pm #
He’s gonna think you’re a hero!!!
Asianmommy July 22nd, 2008 at 6:50 pm #
Hilarious! At least you have a nice story to tell.
Kmommy @ The Poopie Patrol July 23rd, 2008 at 4:46 am #
Yikes!
Hilarious! At least it wasn’t a girl’s name. My brother got stuck with the middle name carroll (my father’s choice and it was a family name). I’m sure he’d much rather have the middle name of espen! I’ll have to remember Yahtzee! if my husband and I are fighting over a name. I do kick butt in Yahtzee! (but of course that would be one of the times I lost)! Great story!
One Mom July 23rd, 2008 at 5:34 am #
I think it’s cool! If he doesn’t like it when he gets older he doesn’t have to use it - who even knows the middle names of their friends? So if he wasn’t upset at the name, why the tears??
Elaine July 23rd, 2008 at 7:05 am #
I think you just sealed his fate as a sports lover that day! : ) At least y’all settled it fair & square!
Colleen - Mommy Always Wins July 23rd, 2008 at 12:40 pm #
Oh my goodness - that’s too funny! At least his name isn’t “Beau Hunter” - my hubby is seriously considering that for baby #3, who thankfully isn’t even on the way yet - I have plenty of time for him to forget about it. Could you imagine?!?
Wanted to say thanks for commenting on my guest post over at Kelsey’s! Stop by my blog sometime!
Mommy Always Wins
Channah July 23rd, 2008 at 12:44 pm #
Oh my gosh, too funny! I’d never heard of someone being named after ESPN. Thank goodness your husband didn’t also watch Fox Sports - you could have ended up with a son named Fox Espen!
Jojo July 23rd, 2008 at 6:59 pm #
Very cool…”the name” is very unique-sounding, and it’s a middle name. We have a great story with LC’s name too, maybe you have inspired me to write the story - hhmm? I love that you played Yahtzee for this, it’s like me and B. playing ping-pong over everything. I have a secret plan that I will name all my children myself but I’m going to let him contribute so he feels like he participated. I have all my names picked out already
Mommy Musings July 23rd, 2008 at 8:15 pm #
OMG that is too funny. I actually love “the name”
kailani July 25th, 2008 at 2:24 pm #
Since we were having girls, my husband had pretty much no say in what their names would be. hee hee
Espen is actually pretty cool. Could have been worse!
LifeatTheCircus July 26th, 2008 at 9:42 am #
Clever… much better as a middle name than a first name I’d say. I actually like it. When he grows up to play for the Steelers, he will thank you for it!!
Heidi July 29th, 2008 at 11:02 am #
Oh he may love it.. His future wife, not so much when he tries to have a JR. with the same name.