What's In A Name

I don't know if we've ever fully explained all the thought we put into Heidi Anne's full name (some of you may have just learned that her full name isn't Heidi), it is Adeliede Annelise. So I will tell you how we picked it, why we choose it, and even how you get Heidi out of Adeliede.

Our pregnancy was a scary one and we knew our little baby was a stubborn and strong willed child. We also wanted a name that sounded sweet, what can I say, we knew from the start she was independent.

Adeliede-Of Noble Kin.

This is the full name of Heidi (well when spelled the old proper German way of Adelheid-thus the nickname Heidi). She is named after Saint Adelaide, who was a German Queen who became a Holy Roman Empress. She was a very stubborn, charitable, loved to serve others, and an important Lady in middle age history.

Heidi is also named after a very sweet childhood friend of my Dad and I just LOVED that book as a child.


Annelise-Gracious, Merciful-- God Is My Oath

Well Annelise is actually after 3 different people. She is named after two of her Great Grandmothers, my Granny Sonia Ann, and Char's Grandma Elise, the third is Anne Frank.


Anne Frank-Yes, her full first name was Annelise. She was such a smart & brave girl-hiding and surviving-yet still living at the same time. When everything was dark and hopeless, yet there was Anne Frank still writing, every little journal entry a testament to her resilient spirit, her unwillingness to give up, to keep on fighting-knowing that just by living she was fighting.---That was so our little baby girl.




Sonia Ann-My Granny was the best Granny Ever. I have so many happy memories of her, and that lady was tough as nails, a great story teller, and had a wonderful laugh. I see so much of my Granny in Heidi, the laugh, the scheming and puzzle solving, being to smart for her own good, and constant tomboy-ish attitude balanced with feminine touches. Sometimes think I see my Granny is standing right next to Heidi Anne encouraging her dare devil or messy ways. I swear I've heard "Where's your hair?" when Heidi has very, very dirty hands.

Elise-Char's Grandma, who was from England and survived the Blitz during WWII. She loves to travel and to be out and about. (Out and about-Sound like any toddlers we know?) A very wise women, very independent, and very stubborn. Whatever life has thrown at her, she just rebounds, nothing keeps her down.


So we knew ahead of time that she'd be stubborn-I just wonder at times if we tempted fate by naming her after so many stubborn and independent women all at once. ;-)