Conference oass::babynames

304.0. "IS THIS AMERICAN-INDIAN?" by VLS5::ALEXANDER () Thu Sep 22 1988 17:01

    
      This is one of my favorite names...for a girl and if and
    when my husband decide to have children, if I'm lucky enough
    to have a little girl I'd like to consider naming her....
    
                      Hatter Fox 
    
    Fox being the middle name...
    
    Here's where it came from....I remember as a young girl reading
    a book about an abandoned Indian Child. The story as I recall
    took Hatter through her foster homes and her trials and tribulations
    with prejudice, rejection and confinement to "indian children's homes" 
    There was a caring psychologist somewhere along the line, and Hatter
    emerged into a beautiful and talented young woman who the phychologist 
    (a man) had ultimately fallen in Love with.  She died before he ever
    had the chance to reveal his feelings to her and although it was
    really sad, the strength of the character left an impression on me.  
    
    Now, through your responses I hope to learn more about the name.
    Has anyone ever heard of the name Hatter? That's the Important one
    I could take or leave the "Fox" .... I'm not an American-Indian
    But is it necessarily an Indian name? I like the sound of it....and
    when considering nick-names: "Hattie" (which isn't bad providing
    she never gets fat!-:) The only reference other than this book was
    one time I passed a boutique named "Hattie's Dress Shop"....
    gets fat-:)! I attempted to come up with some more middle names
    that may suit a woman of the 20th century better than Fox:
    Fawn, Camile....please, your suggestions are Welcome but more
    importantly----the name HATTER---any information or references?
                                                                 
    Thank you!

    
    -I love to pick unusual names from novels as well for possible names.
    I hate the ordinary and common, to me they are very droll; however,
    even though Hatter is unique and it would unlikely be a name your
    daughter would come in contact with again-outside of herself- Have
    you thought about the NICKNAMES!
    
    The first pronounciation that came to mind was "Hate-her".  Or even
    Hat.  NO girl would want to be referred to either of these or worse.
    Somewhere in this notes file there is a note concerning possible
    nicknames and if it can be thought of even briefly, it will become
    used by her peers, guarenteeing that they will use the nicknames
    in verbally abusive ways.
    
    You mentioned calling her "Hattie".  That is nice.  If, perhaps,
    you used Hattie as the main-stay name and Hatter as her legal
    name, then perhaps the child wouldn't be teased so much.
    
    Not meaning to be critical, just truthful....
    
    Jeanne

    
    My maternal grandmother was a full blooded Narragansett Indian and her
    name was Hattie. 

    I like Hatter Fox.  Don't change it please.  Its a welcome change
    to all the too common names.