yes, James as in James Dean!
My dad named me James. It's in my Birth Certificate which makes it... erm... official. Which is really no big deal these days but back in my time and that of Dad's, it was quite unusual for a Chinese Malaysian kid to have a Christian/Western name. Unless you were Christian, of course, which wasn't the case back then.
Dad had a great rationale for making our names official. Back in the 60's, thanks to the Hollywood culture, everyone gave themselves a Westernised first name. Which was okay, except that kids back then did sometimes go over the top, with names like Montgomery, Rocky or Elvis! So when my brother Jeffrey was born, Dad decided that he'd give us all sensible names so we wouldn't make fools of ourselves. Kids do that. If Baby had his way, he'd be called Noodle! (read previous post) :)
I remember this kid back in school. He loved Paul McCartney big time and decided to immortalise his idol in his own name. And McCartney Ong was born! Nope, his dad didn't have the foresight my father did. (Hey McCartney Ong, if you ever happen to chance upon this blog do forgive me. But like I said all those years ago, it IS a weird name lah!! Hehhehheh!) But fortunately, his cool Chinese name saves the day.
Anyway, when Mom was pregnant with me, an old flame remarked to Dad that both he and his brother's looks combined, resembled an oriental James Dean (she musta been visually impaired!). Since my uncle's wife was also pregnant at the time, our names were pretty much decided for us. My cousin, Dean was born 4 months after me. And no, neither of us look like James Dean, though that would have helped plenty. *Ahem*
Thank God our dads didn't look like Humphrey Bogart!
James and Dean eh? Now that is one story about names that you can tell to your children.
ReplyDeleteYeah peter! We're already in our 30s and yet this story's still interesting to us! :)
ReplyDeletemy mum gave me the name olivia when i was a kid, so it's not in my IC. she said she chose dat name cos when i was a kid, i was stick thin like popeye's girlfren! :lol:
ReplyDeleteYou make me laugh, James! Humphrey Tan... hmm, just doesn't have the same oomph, does it? ;)
ReplyDeleteMy name 'irene' is not in my birth certificate or IC. I chose it myself when I was baptised at 15. I remember making lists and lists of names and researching their meanings coz I wanted a name that would be meaningful. 'irene' means 'peace', the same as my Chinese name...
The name Gina suddenly got stucked after too many years of IRC using this nickname.
ReplyDeleteYeah, it is subject to all kinds of scorn - in Cantonese, in English, in Hokkien. Jia Lat.
yeah... and the name kurang asam isn't in my birth cert. too *sigh*
ReplyDeleteI used to force people to call me "Ace" when I was in primary school, then when the teacher found out and publicly teased me during assembly, I had to force people to stop!! There wasn't a happier person on earth besides myself when I moved away to a different town. :lol:
ReplyDeleteHehehe... funny story james... You must have been quite the rebel growing up then haha! :)
ReplyDeleteHere's an idea... what about naming the baby Humphrey? :lol:
Have never really met other Roys around. But there's this other Roy I know. We were talking about our names... We think it's an old man's name. Hehehehe.
ReplyDeletebtw love ur blog, and hehehe, honestly I'm kinda excited about your baby too. Ha ha ha... :)
i dont have chirstian name but i will sure give my oldest son name James :)...my chinese name is typical chinese name...so calling me is like calling a precious stone.. :o(
ReplyDeleteYou know, that's interesting you brought this up. I was telling my future-in-laws who are American, about how my dad doesn't have his English name officially documented anywhere, just his chinese name, and how that was pretty common in Malaysia. Me on the other hand was baptised so needed one.
ReplyDeleteWell, Olivia is a lovely name. Much better than Olive Oyl. :)
ReplyDeleteBetter than Bogey Tan, Irene! :lol: BTW, nice that both your names mean the same.
Gina, gina, gina... Hehheheh! :lol:
No worries KA, you can always have them change it in your IC. Do it, man! :)
Hehhhehe, Ace! Now your past has come back to haunt you!
That would make short form Hum Tan, Sara. Hahah! You like salted eggs? :lol:
Thanks Roy. Your parents must have named you for Roy Rogers. :)
Waaah Phoenix, name your firstborn after me ah? I'm flattered!! :lol: And hey, it's not that bad being a precious stone.
If Baby had turned out to be a girl, Jasmine would have been my first choice. Nice name!
james..yes i have my name carved on my bangle...it is so cheap cost RM7 including the carving..
ReplyDeleteWhy, Phoenix? So you won't forget? Hehhehh... :D
ReplyDeletejames..no becos they do carving for u for free if u buy they bangle...:lol:
ReplyDeletepsst james.... is your cousin, dean by any chance used to live in lake view and both of u were from sgi? :)
ReplyDeleteWhoa Annie, you're freaking me out girl!! :lol:
ReplyDeletedon't freak out james... i'm not a stalker or anything!!! ;) cos, dean is my bro's good friend and i remembered that he's a cousin with the name james.
ReplyDeleteHmm, you must be from the Chuah family, yes?
ReplyDeletehello there! small world isn't it..!?
ReplyDeleteIt sure is, annie. :)
ReplyDeletewoo. small world!
ReplyDeletehmm, can't say anything about my name. anonimity online principle : )
Hhahahahaha this is super super funny!!! Sorry, I am just blog surfing. Got into your blog from Anjali's and have added you to my book mark. You are really funny and I am thinking you and Mae must be one of the happiest couples around :)
ReplyDelete