Conversation over breakfast

B. Remember the days when lots of girls were named after flowers: Daphne, Violet, Rose, Lily?

G. Oh yes, I remember that fashion. I had a Rosemary and a Primrose in my class at school.

B. Poppy, Daisy, May, Iris. There’s many of them.

G. And how about Ivy, Holly, Olive, Fern – though they aren’t exactly flowers I suppose. 

B. Nowadays no one seems to go for those names…a bit too pretty/pretty for these times, I guess. 

G. Interesting there wasn’t a similar trend for boys. Like Oak, or Mangrove maybe.

B.  Or Cypress or Fir or Chestnut.  

G. They were all called John or Michael or Dave or Steve back then…well the trad Aussie ones at least. 

B. Still are. But I wonder if it’s the same in other cultures?

G. I don’t know about Chinese boys. But Chinese girls seem to be given names that mean qualities – pure, accomplished, graceful, fragrant, quiet. 

B. Hoping for nominative determinism?

G. Maybe. And how about Middle Eastern boys and girls?

B. No idea. 

G. Our ignorance is immense. Better just get on with our tea and toast. The garden calls.

April, 2022