Fearless Females – What’s In a Name

March 3^rd – Do you share a first name with one of your female ancestors?  Perhaps you were named for your great-grandmother, or your name follows a particular naming pattern.  If not, then list the most unique or unusual female first name you’ve come across in your family tree.

Well, I have to say that I am unique in that I am the only person in all of my family tree, both maternal and paternal, to have my name.  When I was given the name Alana back in the beginning of the 1960’s, it was not very common and I used to always think it a strange name.  It stills amazes me when total strangers say how pretty my name is.  In fact, the lady in the cafeteria at work just complemented me on it!  Today however, Alana is a very common name. 

I have seen it spelled many ways, from Alana, Alanna, Allanna, Alannah.  My name was supposed to be spelled Alanna but my mother never doubled checked the spelling on my birth registration, which has it as Alana.  We actually only noticed the error when I had to get my first passport when I was 11 yrs old and had to send away for my birth certificate, but I and everyone else continued to spell it with two “N’s”.  It wasn’t until I had to get my Social Insurance Card and went for my driver’s licence, that I was forced to adopt the legal spelling.

And how did my parents choose this name, you ask?  Well, my mom always said that she had had a crush on the actor, Alan Ladd back in the 1950’s (have to admit, he was a handsome devil!)  In 1960, the movie “Guns of the Timberland” was released.  Alan Ladd’s daughter had a part in this movie and her name was, you guessed it, Alana!

I, on the other hand, like to tell people that I was named after my father, Allan.  That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

As for the most unique or unusual female first names I’ve come across in my family tree, I’ve so far found two.  One of my great great grandfather’s granddaughters was named Hughena, after her grandfather, Hugh.  The other unique name is my aunt’s name – Ludivina, but she goes by Vina.

©2013, copyright Alana Farrell