"I love the name of honor, more than I fear death." - Julius Caesar

I'm rethinking why I decided not to use my real name on this blog. I guess it was for security reasons. I cringe whenever I see someone posting information that would make them easy to stalk, but I'm pretty sure that most people who take a minute to look at this page already know at least my first name. I've wondered if it threw you for a loop when they see "Honski" if you don't know it's a nickname mostly used by my family members. I think I've concluded that if someone didn't already know my name they probably don't care enough to require such level of anonymity. I don't mean to have an invincibility complex, but even if someone knows my last name, I'm pretty much unGoogleable. It'd turn up a bunch of references to scouting events and court cases.

My name is Honor.

I've never met anybody else with the name. I think the most well known Honor I've heard of was the Bond girl named Honor Blackman. I've enjoyed having a unique name. It's a little more simple than some attempts I've seen parents make in hopes that their child's name will stand out. It's a relatively straightforward spelling unless your CanadiUn or EuroUpeUn and then you expect to throw U's in anywhere just for fun. I've wished that I could hear it with fresh ears to know other people's first impression.

I've never felt made fun of for my name. People try to joke about it, but it's never felt condescending. The most common response is probably, "It's an honor to meet you Honor! Hahahaha!"

Followed up by these other popular groan-worthy lines:

"Were you on the honor roll?"

"Do you honor thy father and mother?"

"Are your sisters named Faith, Hope and Charity?"

"You should be a judge, Your Honor."

I laugh. It's not really annoying. People are hearing it for the first time and I can't hold that against them, but my levels of genuine laughter vary. It's an ice breaker really, and I think most everyone I've met has meant it as a compliment. I really do enjoy people who are creative with it and I have had my dorky moments when I laughed to myself at jokes, phrases or quotes I've run into, which include:

The chorus of Peter Cetera's "Glory of Love"

"What is left when honor is lost?" - Publilius Syrus

Song from Disney's Mulan "Bring Honor to us all"

"Ici l'honneur m'oblige, et j'y veux satisfaire.(Here honor binds me, and I wish to satisfy it.)" - Pierre Corneille

"Honor does not have to be defended." - Robert J. Sawyer

There was one missionary that served in my singles ward in California. When he heard my name he said, "Hey, I've got your name on my arm!" as he proceeded to pull up his sleeve and revealed a Return With Honor tattoo. I didn't know if I wanted to laugh or smack him upside the head first.

I know it sounds immature, but when Jessica Alba had a baby girl and named her Honor Marie, I had a moment that I'm sure most of you experienced and got past the first day of kindergarten, when you realized that you weren't the only Katie, John, Elizabeth or Mike in the world. I was thinking, "That's SO not fair! My parents picked it first, and now SHE is going to get the credit for it just because she's famous!" Thankfully, it only lasted a minute, but I'm sure I'll have to relive something similar if I ever meet another Honor. I'm just used to being THE Honor and never having to refer to someone else as such. Does that make me a name snob? In a way it makes me feel very naive. Did you ever think that if you have a more common name, you'd be more well adjusted at an earlier age?

I'm often asked how my parents came up with my name. Honestly, they each claim the credit. When my mother was pregnant with my older sister, she came across it while doing some work in the temple. She says that she suggested it to my dad but he kinda shrugged it off and didn't think much of it so she let it go. Then 5 years later when they were expecting me, he came home and said he'd thought up THE BEST NAME EVER! I can imagine the exact look on my mother's face. He had no recollection that she had suggested it before and to this day denies that she did. By then, my mother was campaigning for the name Claire. For the first 3 days following my birth, I was referred to as Honor, Claire or The Baby. Eventually, my mother relented, but I will forever give the credit to each of them. My younger sister ended up Cambria Claire, which I think is an adorable combination. I think it works better for her than it would have for me.

For being so uniquely named, I sure have accumulated a lager collection of nicknames than my parents might have guessed:

Hon ("On")

Honorski

Honski

Honker, which then became Honky, which then became Cracka

Honor Mitch (soon thereafter shortened to Mitch)

H

Honow (started by my younger sister who couldn't pronounce her R's and carried on by 4 year olds to this day)

Nonner

Ogre (ok THAT one was meant to ridicule, but it was from one of the shortest kids in my graduating class and I chalk it up to his own insecurities since I hit 6' my sophomore year and well.... he didn't)

What are your likes/gripes about your own name and what are some of your nicknames not everyone knows about?