How Piper Got Her Name-O

by Lucky Red Hen on June 30, 2007

“How’d you come up with the name Piper?” I get asked that often when people hear her name.

With Jack, it was easy because my grandpa Jack was dying when I was pregnant and he never had children of his own (married my grandma when her kids were older). Luckily, I was able to ask him if we could name our baby after him if we found out it was a boy. He was pleased and said yes.

With Piper, it was much more tricky. I wasn’t thinking of using a family name (no particular reason, just wasn’t). Pouring over movie credits (am I the only one that does that?), book authors, newspaper articles, fictional characters, books and online… I burnt Ben out by asking him too much (at least 3 names per day). He finally put his foot down and gave me the duty of picking the name and didn’t want me EVER to ask him what he thought of a name again (I was pretty bad). Well, that was even MORE pressure and I got more absorbed into the meanings and history of names. I kept a list of names that were possibilities…

  • Greta
  • Janie (thought I could get a discount at Janie & Jack children’s clothing store)
  • Jillian (Jack & Jill — too much but I almost did… then thought of Lillian)
  • Perri
  • Simone
  • Adde
  • Livi (or Liv)
  • Clarisse (too bad Hannibal Lecter ruined that name because it WAS pretty)
  • Viane (pronounced vee-ann)
  • Quinn (“wise” and Shannon means “old wise one”)
  • Addelade
  • Ava
  • Cloe (what the… that doesn’t look right)
  • Chloe
  • Ivy
  • Demi (Ben really hated this one but it was in my top 3)
  • Julia (“youthful”)
  • Juliana/Julianna (I had crossed out the 2nd N so it’d sound like yawn not ann)
  • Emme
  • Lyla (“from the island”)
  • Lexy (one letter off sexy)
  • Lexi (“valiant defender of mankind” and a former nickname of mine)
  • Ella (“beautiful fairy woman”)
  • Carmella (“golden” – my grandmothers name was Carmen)
  • Carlie/Carly (“little, womanly”)
  • Georgia
  • Marilyn (too Manson these days)
  • Sammi
  • Dior
  • Deja (too Déjà Vu like the strip club)
  • Avalyn (might be a book title or township in Europe)
  • Piper
  • Luca
  • Adela
  • Mae
  • Adel

My mom was at the airport on her way here when I called my dad and told him I thought of the name Piper out of the blue (didn’t read it or hear it although I have heard it through the media long ago). He liked it and called my mom at the airport to tell her the name. Before he could say it SHE said she just thought of Piper as a name for the baby. Doo do doo do!

The next day she and I took Jack to Park City to kill some time. While at the toy shop I found some handmade alphabet bead cubes and spelled out P I P E R to show my mom how cute the name looks. On a whim, I decided to spend the $2.50 and buy the beads whether or not that’s the name because it’d be a fun story to tell later.

The next day was my baby shower. One of the activities (I love to play games) was having the guests suggest baby names. Well, some of the names were ridiculous; Joette wrote down her name, Aunt Diane wrote “Princess Anastasia Diane” and a good neighbor writing Cere (like it’s short for Cereal).

Ben saw the list on the counter when he got home. Glancing through the suggestions, balking at the silly ones I mentioned, he said, “Who wrote Piper?” Because of our little rule about not asking about names I said, “Why?” He replied, “I LIKE it! That’s what we should name the baby – Piper!”

{ 20 comments }

Anonymous June 30, 2007 at 3:02 pm

I’m tearing up remembering. And that picture is fabulous. Kiss my grandbabies for me please. I am so proud of you and amazed at the wonderful woman you’ve become.Mom

Tim Halberg June 30, 2007 at 4:56 pm

see… now that’s a freaking awesome story about a name..me… well, it was my dad’s best friends’ name…

Jamie Delaine June 30, 2007 at 5:15 pm

Adorable name. So original. The only other person I’ve heard of with that name is Piper Perabo, the actress. Love your other list of “possible” names too.

sue-donym June 30, 2007 at 6:26 pm

Great story. Thanks for sharing it.

Kate Benson June 30, 2007 at 8:59 pm

LOVE the list… I’m going to write the names down in case we ever have another girl… it’s a good one. It’s funny because I have only heard the name Piper once before and that was Ellas pre-school teachers little girl, along with Julia and Chloe, weird.

Queen Scarlett July 1, 2007 at 2:18 am

Nice story. Cute name and daughter.

La Yen July 1, 2007 at 4:32 pm

EEEHHHH Wrong! You were at MY house and I said that I liked the name Piper, and you were 7 months or so pregnant and you said “Hmm. Piper. I like it.” That EHH was supposed to sound like a buzzer.

Lucky Red Hen July 1, 2007 at 7:03 pm

Tim, I was named after my mom’s roommate hahaha.Jamie & Kate – glad you like the names.LaYen – I don’t recall your version but I certainly wouldn’t put it past me… I’m losing brain cells these days.

your lisa July 2, 2007 at 8:37 am

I would like to vouch for Lucky’s craziness about the names. With every name suggestion came a detailed internet or baby book definition of what the name meant. I was convinced she would be called Baby forever. And I can admit I wasn’t thrilled about the name when I heard it. “Piper? As in The Pied Piper? Coyote Ugly Piper Perabo?” But it fits :)

Azúcar July 2, 2007 at 2:11 pm

I love that story. Always gives me the chills!

b. July 2, 2007 at 9:57 pm

I love the name, and it fits the beautiful girl!Great story.My sister was going to be named Shannon. Didn’t you make Piper in my mom’s bedroom?Now THAT’s just weird.

b. July 2, 2007 at 10:07 pm

Not only that, but look how cute you people are!ps. My daughter’s middle name is Mae, so is my mom’s, and so is my gram’s.

Jeanette Sanchez Photography July 3, 2007 at 12:01 pm

That was a fun read Shannon! Love the name Piper.

compulsive writer July 4, 2007 at 3:47 am

Love this! Thanks for sharing.Happy 4th!

Melody July 5, 2007 at 12:21 pm

Wow, you really worked for it, didn’t you. I think Piper told you her name and, luckily, you all listened to her. Great name, great story, cute girl. I like your “summer” photos too.

tiff-fay-fay July 5, 2007 at 6:53 pm

i love watching movie credits.

Sarah Anne July 5, 2007 at 8:44 pm

Cute story. I love meanings and meaningful names. I found my Nolan’s name as someone’s last name in the movie credits. So no, you’re not alone.Even after 3 kids, I still do it. A girl name that I love is Alaidis.It was one of the daughters in “Girl with a Pearl Earring”.

Lisa September 22, 2009 at 5:32 pm

for as long as I've lived, I've always wanted a daughter named Piper. Piper is my mom's maiden name, and the middle name of all of my cousins (except for me who is named after my grandfather's mother's maiden name: MacMillan). All this to say … one day (soon I hope!) I will have a daughter named Piper as well …. God willing. :)xoxo

Piperg January 26, 2010 at 7:58 pm

AWWWWW how cute and to make it even more cool my name is Piper too!!!

Piper July 18, 2010 at 4:16 pm

Well, I hope she grows up to like it more than I liked being named Piper. I'm used to it now but HATED it as a child. Parents also gave me no middle name so I couldn't be called anything else. Savvy huh? Well, enjoy!

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