Monday, July 16, 2007

Prescience in naming children

On my latest train journey to Kuppam (quite frequent these days!), the Senior Ticket Examiner was an appropriately named Mr. Marga Bandhu (A friend for the journey). One of Seshadripuram Rama Seva Samithi trustees (i think it was Mr. Ramadoss) once mentioned that few parents have the prescience in naming their children. He was talking after a wonderful flute recital by Vidwan K. S. Gopalakrishnan and was a very apt comment. I recalled this comment the moment i saw Mr. Marga Bandhu's badge pinned to his jacket.

There is a long tradition of second names denoting the past profession of a family in many countries. I remember an English hockey team consisting of Barber, Potter and Taylor in the late 80s. Michael Schumacher did have very little to do with mending shoes nor did Nari Contractor do anything with women!!

Are there more examples of first names that reveal more about a person or his profession and parents having the prescience to name them appropriately?