Today I am linking up to one of my favorite RI Bloggers, Carla at All Of Me Now. Carla recently started a series called Mom Before Mom that asks mothers to write about who they are/were before becoming "mommy" and I have challenged myself to join in the fun!
Sarah Elizabeth
According to my mom, my name was chosen because she wanted a name that was old fashioned and not trendy.She didn't know of anyone with my name and apparently she received a lot of funny looks and comments for picking a name so grandma-ish.
My dad liked the name Elizabeth and she loved Sarah so I became Sarah Elizabeth.
I laughed at my mom the other day for telling me that she picked my name because no one else had it because there were always other Sarah/Sara's in my class or at work with me.
Her answer to this is that she started the trend.
And I don't doubt her.
I've never hated my name, but I can't say that I loved it growing up. I did hate that I didn't have an automatic nickname like most of my friends. My mom and some family would call me "Sarah-Barah," my childhood best friend referred to me simply as "Sa," and my grandfather always called me "Sadie." I never knew why he called me Sadie until I was an adult and learned that it is actually a very common nickname for Sarah! Who knew?! I kind of wish Sadie would have stuck so that I wouldn't have had to be called Sarah H or Little Sarah or some variation of my name/last name because that totally annoyed(s) me.
I won't lie and tell you that I never wished for a name like Amber or Tiffany or Kelly, but I am thankful that my name never embarrassed me or caused me any grief. I am so glad I grew out of that stage and into my name.
Yes, I was obsessed with Saved by the Bell. I'm not ashamed to admit it :)
For years I could never find paraphernalia with my name on it and as a kid, that was very frustrating. I didn't get a license plate with SARAH on it until I was much older. I might even still have it somewhere in my basement! I loved the book Sarah Plain and Tall because it was about a girl with my name (and bonus, I have an autographed copy since my grandfather was a professor of the author!) AND because Sarah was spelled the right way.
Uuuuugh, to this very day it frustrates me that I have to spell my name for people or say, "Sarah with an H" so that they don't put me down as a Sara.
Shudder ;)
I am thankful for my name. Even though it is not even close to being a unique name (one of my very dearest friend's shares my name....she just doesn't spell it right and I feel bad for her. Hehe.), it has grown with me and I have grown with it.
It's simple and classic. The exact things I look for in naming my children (although this poor baby still has no name!).
I'd love to hear how you got your name too! Be sure to share your story in the comments!
XOXO Sarah
P.S. My name always had the best meaning...PRINCESS. Can't beat that :)
I always wondered where Sadie came from!!! Now I know. :) How special.
ReplyDeleteI do like the name Sarah. Like you said, it is classic. Classic names are best.
For the longest time I had no clue why he called me Sadie! LOL
Deletexo S
Love this post! I also love the name Sarah!! Beautiful and classic!
ReplyDeleteI just turned 60 and have always loved my name. My Mom wanted to name me Karen, but my maiden name begins with a K and she said it was too much alliterations for her! A neighbor had a daughter named Sharon, and my Mom fell in love with it. I love your name story...
ReplyDeleteI love the name Sarah! Very classic. Although I too know a LOT of people with your name, lol. (Almost as many Sarahs in my graduating class as Megans, haha)
ReplyDeleteOh ya, I had a few Megan/Meghans in my class too!
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Sarah has always been one of my favorites, too :) I wish I had more of a unique name ... can't tell you how many Jessicas there were in my class! Its not much fun always being identified by the first initial of your last name in order to distinguish you from all the other Jessicas. And PS - I was totally obsessed with "Saved By The Bell" too :)
ReplyDeleteSarah, you know all about my name! I love my name, but I hate when people mess it up!
ReplyDeleteAs a fellow Sarah - I never knew that Sadie was a nickname (Sally was the only one I knew about).
ReplyDeleteUnlike you and some of the other Sarah's who have written - I never had any trouble finding my name on souveniers, though.
My aunt is Sara (they call her Sally), named after my great grandmother Sara (that they called Sadie).
ReplyDeleteLove the name Sarah -- Sally is another nickname I've heard a lot for it too. But Sadie is much prettier ;-)
ReplyDeleteSally! I forgot that is often a nickname for Sarah! It's cute :)
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Can't beat having a name meaning princess! I think your name is beautiful, Elizabeth is one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteI'm not really sure how I got "Nichole," but I was almost an "Alexis." My mom wanted to call me "Lexi" but apparently there was a character on General Hospital with that name and she wanted something more unique -- which is funny, because other parents apparently thought the same thing. Nicole seems to be very common, which was annoying in school. I've met a couple of other Nichole's and I feel the same way about the "h" being necessary. It's like Anne with an "e." ;) My dad wouldn't let anyone call me "Nikki," but a few people insisted that I needed a term of endearment and I liked it! Of course, I couldn't demand that *everyone* call me "Nikki." It didn't help that Nick Matrone was "Nicky." So sometimes I ended up with "Nic," which was better than "Nicola" in a yodel, anyway. But I got other variations, like "Nicoli Oli," "Nicolleta" (the Portuguese version.) My grandfather always pronounced it the French way, since he was French. It means "Victory," which has become very meaningful to me. Sometimes I think living up to my name is the only thing that has given me courage to overcome certain things.
ReplyDeleteYou were always just plain up Nichole to me, but NEVER Nicole! You were my "with an H" friend!
Deletexo S
I love this! I have a friend who goes by Sally, but I LOVE Sadie. And, I think it's so great to know you are, undeniably, a princess :)
ReplyDeleteI had no idea Sarah meant princess! That is awesome. I love how your mom "started the trend". Right on for your mom. :) Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteShe starts all the trends ;) Hahah!
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Love the name, timeless and pretty!
ReplyDeleteSarah, I've loved your name from the very first moment we decided on it! As a parent we want to do the very best that we can and choosing a name is that first step for your child . I love you and your name!! I can't wait to hear the final winning name for our new little baby ! Xoxo
ReplyDeleteGreat post! You have a very lovely name!!!
ReplyDeleteI didn't realize Sadie was a nickname for Sarah either, but I like it! My name means "One with the crooked nose" so you definitely lucked out in the meaning department! lol
ReplyDeleteMy mom liked the name Karla, and I think it's unique (I usually see it spelled with a "C," and many people assumed mine was or asked). When she was pregnant with me and my brother, she thought if she had two girls it would be Karla and Karen (not sure how she was going to spell the latter because she wanted it pronounced "kah-ren."). I wasn't crazy about it growing up and wanted something sparkly - like Crystal! - but I love it now. For some reason I think names that start with the letter "K" are feminine. :) Some of my nicknames are Kar, Karl, Karlita, etc. My middle name, Marie, is a family name. It's funny... my first name is the only one among my siblings that either isn't Biblical or isn't a family name.
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