What's in a name?

There are several friends and friends of friends that have been having new babies and I'm always curious to hear what names they have picked for their children. There are common names, long names, short names, hard to spell/pronounce names. I always find it interesting how a persons name can influence how you see them. When you first meet someone who has a the same name of that girl in elementary school that always used to make you cry, the first thing to pop in your head is probably a negative thought or feeling (even if it is only for half a second). If you meet someone with the same name of your best friend, you are more likely to have a positive first impression. It just seems to work that way - it's the same way with smells or sounds that are associated with memories, positive or negative.

I have an uncommon name. Although it has been made famous by a certain Ellen. When I was working in the service industry I would get wisecracks from guys on occasion, 'No, just because my name is Ellen does not mean I am gay!'. Seriously! The other day when I was calling the toll free health line in our area, when the lady took my name she gave me quite the compliment - she exclaimed how my name was so refreshing and she really liked it :) I have only 'met' a handful of people with my name. I say 'met' because I have only actually met one of them in real life, and it was brief. It was my friend Emily's sister Ellen. My insurance agent's name is Ellen, although I have never met her in person, just talked on the phone. A blogging friend Allie has a friend Ellen; I stop by her blog on occasion. I just found another Ellen through blogging, and this Ellen has one more thing in common - she is an Ellen B. too :) That's it - those are all the Ellen's I know! No, I am not an Ellen stalker, but it does make me curious about the other few people who also share my name :) So here's a shout-out to my fellow Ellen's :)
**Ellen means light**