I was checking out a web site called “The Baby Name Wizard’s Name Voyager” (wait, it gets better...) http://babynamewizard.com/namevoyager/lnv0105.html I typed in “Garwin” and the reply I got was “No names starting with GARWIN were in the top 1,000 names in any decade.” But “Arthur” was really popular in the 1880’s! It was actually the 18th top name (out of 1000). “Edwin” hit it’s stride in the 1910’s, it being the 53rd most popular name out of 1000. And the name “Kayleigh,” invented by the singer Fish of the band Marillion (whose name was taken from the J.R.R.Tolkein book “The Silmarillion”) was ranked 282 out of 1000 in 2004! “Theda” hit her stride in the 1910s, at #467, and “Gianna” hit it’s peak in 2005, with #110. Also, there’s more boys named “Gale” than girls, and also more boys named “Marion.” Fascinating stuff.
I never really liked or disliked my name. It was just my name. Something that people knew me by. There was a time when I wanted to have a nick-name; more out of “something different” rather than out of frustration. I could never decide on a cool enough nick-name though. My sister Theda, in a grade-school fascination for “Dark Shadows,” once tried to insist that we all call her Angelique, but that wasn’t very successful. Now she denies that ever happened. From junior high school on people have called me all sorts of names, with absolutely no prodding from me. “G.” “Big G.” “G-Man.” “G-Dog.” "Garbie." “Gar.” “Gar-Gar” in junior high.... I could never figure out what it was about my name that gave people the urge to change it. Is it too formal sounding? Too long? Is it really that hard to say? Too ethnic? (I’m sorry I’m not very ethnic....) I don’t actually know what it means. My mom says she found it in a magazine. She doesn’t remember what magazine. It might be Gaelic in origin, and, as near as I can figure, might mean “Friend With Spear.” (“Godwin” means “Friend of God,” and “gar” means “spear.” Get it?) Which I kind of like, because what does that mean? You might want a friend with a spear around if you had use for a spear. On the other hand, if you didn’t expect him to have a spear, and maybe he’s a little shifty, well what’s he doing with a spear anyway? You might want to keep an eye on that guy.
There are some famous Garwins. There’s Garwin Sanford, an actor who has done a lot of television, a lot of bit parts, and holy crap! He was in the Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis series! Neither of which I’ve seen. But that sounds pretty cool. “Garwin” is also a last name, and there’s a Dr. Richard Garwin, a well-known nuclear physicist. “Garwin” is also a town in Iowa. I've seen other people on the internet with the name Garwin. None of them look like they should be named “Garwin.” I always ask people if it seems weird talking to other people who have the same name as they do, and I’m always told that no, it’s not weird. I think it would be weird. Especially if he’s a jerk.
I’ve always been aware that, unlike most normally-named people, I only have to give my first name to remind people of who I am. Sort of like Elvis. And Cher. And Godzilla. Most everyone else needs both their first and last names to be recognized. I first noticed this with Thomas Smith, a boy I grew up with, who was always referred to as “Thomas Smith,” even though I think he was the only “Thomas” in the school. I used to kind of like that idea, that all the other people needed two names, until I read the “Thomas Covenent” series. One of the characters is named “Linden Avery,” and is always spoken of as “Linden Avery.” That struck me as kind of strange, but it made me realize that everyone is mostly known by their two names, and not just one. Which kind of sounds more full; more complete. I guess I missed out on that, being recognized by my first name alone. Oh well. I can still hold my head up high and say that I’m part of the recognized elite of the world that can be identified by their first name alone. Like Godzilla.
