What’s In A Name? — a Talking Points lesson plan for English reading and speaking

Read Wayne’s account of his own name.

I never used to hate my name.

When I was a kid, I thought my name was cool. It was cool.

The name Wayne was very different back then. It had an American sound to it and I was the only Wayne in the school.

But then, in the next few years, the name started to sound terrible. The name Wayne very quickly became a joke.

I would tell people my name and they would give me a funny look. Or sometimes just laugh out loud in my face.

It got to a point where I wanted to change my name. I went to the local government office and picked up the forms.

But I didn’t know what name to choose. Trying to pick a good name for yourself is very hard.

Eventually, I got used to the jibes and the laughing every time I told people what my name was. I just thought, well, that’s my name. It’s part of who I am and that’s just the way it is.

Now the really funny thing is my wife’s name is Sharon. This is another name that has a bad reputation.

And when people find out we are called Wayne and Sharon, you should see the look in their eyes.

When we were expecting our first daughter, Sharon said to me we must think of a really good name for her.

A name that is timeless and never goes out of fashion.

Someone told me that names from The Bible are good names to have.

I am not a religious person, but when I think of some of the names of the people in The Bible, they sound great.

None of them sounds naff or silly.

So when our first daughter was born, we named her Lydia.

We saw the name, and we instantly liked it. It has a classical sound to it.

Our second daughter came along and we named her Ruth.

Another name that we both love very much.

But both our girls hate their names.

“Why did you give us such terrible names!” they cry out.

They mention their friends’ names, but they don’t sound like real names at all. One of the girls has a friend called Sevyn.

It sounds so pretentious!

I imagine that name will not stand the test of time.

Just like Wayne and Sharon didn’t.

And the other daughter has a friend whose name I always forget because there seem to be so many vowels in it.

I just think it’s a name the parents made up themselves…

I do think parents have a duty to consider suitable names for their kids. Names that sound timeless and classical.

Because that name will be with them for the rest of their life.

They are the ones that have to introduce themselves with that name.

Better to choose a name that doesn’t sound like a recent fad or fashion.

And avoid Wayne at all costs!