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Monday, 10 February 2014

A rose, by any other name.....

Quite innocently, I mentioned that I blog under half an assumed name.  Dunnit.  As a surname.  Because back in the day when I used to sell my cards, I used to 'sign' the back of them with a stamped 'hand made by' and so I started adding Julia Dunnit.  Because I did do it.  
So what about the first name?  The one I didn't make up or choose?  Julia. I've no doubt a quick leap about Google will reveal it as descended from the Roman Julius in a female derivative.  I cannot tell you why my parents chose it from the panoply of girls' names - I'm not aware that it was a particular trend at the time, and every now and then, I suspect it was a teeny rebellion against the name Julie.  Because of course, the one letter difference has caused me a little irritation and some confusion over the years.  But it's all good.  
Until your dearest friends start defining it.
I've no doubt, gentle reader, that this was written with affection.  But I've been considering it a lot.  And I'm still walking around it.  Because you see, although it was attached to a gift at Christmas, I'm not at all sure that the implication was innocent.  And when I asked her, Jan just laughed hysterically. 
So be careful.  It's not how you choose the name, but how it comes to mean something that counts.  Please, live your lives without blemish so that your friends can't write your epitaph on a gift tag.  
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22 comments:

  1. Lunch Lady Jan10 February 2014 at 08:06

    I protest my innocence!! The comment was about the product contained in your prezzy and not about you at all........or was it...??????
    Love ya xxxx

    PS and I'd rather be weird yet effective than straight and boring any day :-) x

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  2. voodoo vixen10 February 2014 at 08:37

    If the cap fits.... LOL
    I have to agree with Jan though, much prefer the weird and effective description to straight and boring!

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  3. Kyla10 February 2014 at 08:51

    Yep I agree....much better to be weird than boring!
    Kyla (i know why my parents named me, and I am glad I was not born a boy as the name would have been Armande!)

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  4. shazsilverwolf10 February 2014 at 15:55

    Julia, being described as 'Weird but effective' is awesome! I'd settle for that any day. Even just Weird will do, lol. I got Sharon as my Dad wanted names for us four that wouldn't be shortened. So there's me, my sister Karina, my brother Byron and my youngest, late, brother Darrell. Over the years mine got shortened to Shaz, (anyone calls me Sharon now, I panic and think I've done something wrong!), My sister got shortened to Nina, as Byron couldn't say Karina when he was little, it came out as Kanina, Byron got shortened to By, and Darrell to Daz. So it all turned into an epic fail. And Kyla, you can't possibly dislike the name Armand, after the character of Armand in Interview with a Vampire was played by Antonio Banderas! Hugs all round, Shaz xx

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  5. Sue10 February 2014 at 18:00

    I have a friend Julie, who is really a Julia.

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  6. Helen10 February 2014 at 18:33

    I laughed hysterically too, I am afraid. I think I'd like to be weird but effective...anyway you're not weird you're lovely! Still chuckling... lol!!

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  7. JoZart Designs10 February 2014 at 18:43

    Jue, Juliette, Julietta, Jude (Hey), Julianne, Julie, Jules.... nah, it's got to be Julia, even if you are a bit of a weirdo! I for one prefer it that way and weird is wonderful.
    Jo x (just don't dare call me Joan!)

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  8. 505whimsygirl10 February 2014 at 18:43

    Hi Julia,

    Haaaa. I knew Dunnit wasn't your real last name and have wondered what your postman thinks of you receiving mail with that last name!

    I'm sure there was no ill intent on Jan's part. From what I've experienced she doesn't have a mean bone in her body!

    Peace,
    Kay

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  9. misteejay10 February 2014 at 19:52

    Weird but effective...I could live with that LOL

    Growing up I hated my name (Toni) because I was always being told it was a boys name but I've grown to like it and currently amongst the 400 staff in my office there are a handful of us but I'm the only one who's name isn't the shortened version of something else.

    Toni xx

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  10. Jackie11 February 2014 at 09:18

    Made me laugh!
    If someone had put that on a parcel to me I'm not sure if I would think it was me or the gift!!!!!...... I would probably worry a lot not knowing which it was!!!!! That's me though I could worry for England!

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  11. Twiglet11 February 2014 at 14:00

    Very funny! I can't imagine what Jan was thiking of! lol x Jo

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  12. Bleubeard and Elizabeth11 February 2014 at 15:37

    I had to laugh, because I never have thought of the name Julia as anything other than a beautiful name for a goddess. And you are never weird OR boring. But you always are effective.

    I was named after YOUR queen, and have suffered through the name being shortened to Liz and Beth. Of course, anyone who knows me, knows I will NEVER be a Beth, which to me seems demure and quiet. I can live with LIZ, but much prefer E if my name must be shortened (grin).

    Now go be effective and a bit weird, dear friend.

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  13. Claire Grantham11 February 2014 at 20:44

    I often get called weird and I embrace it - how fun am I? To not be weird is a bit boring in my humble opinion...as for Julia / Julie...I am Claire with an I..how irritated do I get when I get Clare / Clair...well lets put it this way, its not polite :) Clairex

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  14. Anne11 February 2014 at 20:54

    Hee hee. Have to admit I thought |Dunnit was real :-) then again I'm such a donkey :-) I was names Anne ( after Princess Anne ) but I get caleed Annie cos of the 'e' :-) My middle name is Julia - that's what Mum wanted!!!! Anne - with an 'e' !!!!!

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  15. fairy thoughts11 February 2014 at 23:41

    :-) just priceless
    janet

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  16. Dianne 12 February 2014 at 00:26

    your post is very funny, I think Julia Dunnit is the perfect name for you, Julia is very classy and Dunnit is just brilliant and you run the best blog hop in blog land, full stop :O) have a wonderful day ((( BIG HUGS))) see you tomorrow...

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  17. Winnie12 February 2014 at 01:37

    Thanks for the smiles and chuckle! I never made the connection of "Dunnit" for Done it! How hysterical. Funny how our names come about. I was named Winifred and only my parents called me that when I was in trouble. I was Freddi until I went to school as I thought it was "boy" name, then and now Winnie. The Pooh follows me where ever I go!

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  18. AnyOldCraft12 February 2014 at 10:00

    I would take it as a compliment LOL

    I share your pain at the mix up with the last letter of your first name.
    Mine is Julie but it is amazing how many people call me Julia *rolls eyes*

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  19. Carole12 February 2014 at 13:07

    People are talking...snicker snicker. They're just a bunch of snoops...up to mischief. My sisters always blamed me for stuff...so I'll be Carole Didit.

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  20. Christine12 February 2014 at 13:42

    How wonderful to have friends who say things like that!! great post.

    I was my mother's Christmas present - Christmas Pearl = Christine Margaret. Love my name, but hate it shortened in any way.

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  21. Princess Judy Palmer12 February 2014 at 18:12

    I'd take weird yet effective as a compliment myself. Those non-weird folks are terribly boring. And BTW, I've quite telling people it's Judy not Julie.... except my mom. Cuz you know, she ought to get it right.

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  22. Lisa-Jane13 February 2014 at 09:32

    LOL! Well its better than being weird but ineffective! That would be me :-) Hope you enjoyed the prezzie, regardless of how weird!

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