Saffron is a very 'arty' name isn't it. There was a little baby lived next door to my Mum in Brighton, and we used to hear it cry and the Daddy used to say, 'Cool it, Saffron!!!'

We'll call you Mellow Yellow....if you're not careful.

Thomas,

Ahhh, Thomas you are a very interesting gentleman.

Thomas was one of the 12 apostles who doubted the resurrected Jesus. Some say his full name was Judas Thomas.

But alas, it is your avatar that I find interesting. The majestic Cardinal. The male is unmistakable. Originally a bird of the Southeast, noted for their loud clear whistled songs.

Indeed, I believe it suits you.
Di

I have long been perplexed by the internet penchant for anonymity. Life is too short to hide. I am named after my maternal grandfather Robert Grant who was the town doctor in Mackay Queensland. He was born in Queensland and then joined the Black Watch regiment when he studied surgery at Edinburgh University in Scotland. My middle name John is from my paternal grandfather John Tulip, a Methodist parson born in Dalton le Dale in County Durham UK who emigrated to Queensland in 1923. Tulip is quite a common name in Durham. Also, which I like, tulip is the acrostic for the Calvinist doctrine of predestination.

I was born in County Durham, Robert, in Consett. And my great, great. grandfather was a a preacher. His name was Robert Swinburn, the Uncle of Algernon Charles Swinburn the Victorian poet. I still have some of Robert Swinburn's books. Botany and Herbals. He lived in the village of Elchester.

My mother's family still live there and her maiden name was Carrick.

If we talk long enough, we might find we're related.

Penelope wrote: He lived in the village of Elchester.

Does Elchester still exist?

It doesn't Tom. It was on our last road map of England but when we replaced it, Elchester was not included.

Great, Great Grandad lived at The Old Paper Mill there though.

My name is my complete first name(Tara)and the first initial of my last name(V). It is not that mysterious, nor was it meant to be! LOL However, over the years I have found that BookTalk participants often think of me as a male with the name Tarav. So, I guess it does provide some anonymity. I was named for the plantation in Gone With the Wind. My mom read the book when she was 16 and knew she would name her girl, Tara. When I turned 16 my mom gave me the book and I read it. I perfectly understand why she chose to name me, Tara. It's a great name, a great book, and I love the story behind it.

Penelope wrote:But Leroy....that makes me laugh...because it is so American....I don't think there are many Leroys in the UK.

"4,077 people with the forename Leroy" according to Tracesmart's UK Names Directory, which out of a population of 60,975,000 isn't very many, and many may be over fifty.

I am very interested in names at the moment, as I am about to get a new grandaughter shortly and we are arguing about names. And laughing....

Grandparents love to have grandchildren named after them

Thrillwriter wrote:But alas, it is your avatar that I find interesting. The majestic Cardinal.

Show-offs, aren't they? But here's a chance for me to tell a story about how I come by my pickiness naturally.

Tom: Look at the beautiful redbird hopping under the pecan tree.
Mother: (Not turning her head to look) It's not hopping.
Tom: Sure it is. It just hopped again.
Mother: (Getting angry) It's not hopping. Birds don't hop.
Tom: Sure they do. It's in the dictionary. (Gets dictionary) See here, "Birds hop."
Mother: I don't care what it says. They don't hop.
Tom: Well, if they don't hop, what do they do?
Mother: (Now quite angry) They don't hop. Hopping is on one foot. They're flatfoot jumping.

tarav - I love 'Gone with the Wind' too. I book you never forget. I also love the film because it was so well-caste. Every character in that film was just exactly as I imagined them in the book. However, I called my daughter Emma.....after Emma Hamilton, Nelson's lady, because she came from The Wirral Peninsula, which is very close to here, and because she was so beautiful, that all the artists wanted to paint her. Her beauty has never gone out of fashion either. She still looks lovey to our eyes.