Once upon a time many years ago, a little girl was born and the name of "Jocelyn Rebecca" had been decided on for her months before...
The mother was named Juanita and the father was named Joe.
They were living in a rented apartment where NO children were allowed...uh-oh...
*
The nice land lady they rented from was named Bonita...
After the baby was born, the landlady and the father were visiting the mother in the hospital....they were standing on each side of the foot of the bed. Just then a nurse came into the room carrying a clipboard and asked the groggy mother what the baby's name would be. The mother opened her eyes and said the landlady's and the father's name to acknowledge them...the nurse wrote down what she said and that's how I became "Bonita Jo' instead of "Jocelyn Rebecca"....
*
The landlady took me to town for my 3rd birthday and had a permanent put in my hair, bought me this beautiful dress and off to the photographer we went. I was petrified! Look at my "white knuckles" clenched so tight... I wouldn't smile, so they...
gave me a book to try to make me relax and smile, but...
I only wanted to do was look at the pictures...still NO smile.
My dear namesake died on my 7th birthday and here is how I looked then...a school picture wearing my Bluebird Uniform and the awfulest bangs haircut ever...no, I didn't cut them!
So, why were you named whatever? I'd love to hear your story!
60 comments:
What a sweet story, Bo. I loved the pictures of you with the book, even though you didn't smile ... and I like your curls, too!
Morning Bo, GIRL!!! I LOVED this post! Sooooo sweet. And your pictures are beautiful.
What a sweet story Bo. And a cutie you were too.
Hugs,
Chris
Awhhhh, Bo...this is a precious post ! Such a cute little girl !
love, bj
Yes, that's a sweet story. I love the pictures.
LOL!! Well your planned name went right out the window, due to anesthesia!!! But...I like the NEW name that your mom (or the nurse) came up with!!!
Kind of reminds me of the commercial where the guy's eating soup and another guy comes around getting everyones names for name signs...and he says Num Yummy!! That's what his name sign on his cubicle says!!! Ever seen that commercial?!?
Your photos are so cute...even though there's no smile. It shows your serious side.
Oh...did my mom cut your bangs, too? That's how mine looked, more times than I care to remember!!!
~Blessings,
Jan
Oh girl that is the sweetest story! My original name was suppose to be Harold James...but once I entered this world they had to do some quick thinking! lol lol So I became a Dorothy Jean (Dot)..4 years later there was suppose to be 'another' Harold James on the way..."he' quickly became a Helen Jean! lol lol See there..they were so upset they gave us the same middle names! lol lol
Great story, Bo! I think you have a pretty name, even if it wasn't the orginal one! And the pictures were precious!
Love your banner header! Your home is beautiful! ~Rhonda :)
We got our names from our grandmothers. My dad's mom was Fern and my mom's mom was Fran....pretty convenient huh? We've never loved our names but atleast they go together. I guess it could have been worse.LOL
Ah This was a great little story;) I was suppose to be a Desiree which is what my mother wanted my real father wanted Anastasia~~~somehow they compromised and I ended up with Lise ( its' French) and I dropped the E and made it an A and have gone by Lisa for years;) French
What a cute story! The closest thing I have to that is I celebrated my birthday a day early till I was 17! When my parents took me on my first visit to the US my passport reavealed my true birthday!
Your three year old pics are just too cute!
Oh Bo, what a sweet little story. Your photos are adorable! The curls are precious. My mom cut my hair to look like a little chinese girl when I was little. My parents (mom) got my name from a soap opera, As the World Turns, I think, but they found out later that my great grandmother also had my name. Have a great day!
Great story! You were such a cute little girl even with the bangs! I was going to be named Danielle but then my mom heard the name Kristen, and when my brother was born she named him Daniel.
That's a cute story.
My mom wanted to name me "DeeDee Diana" my dad (thank you dad) didn't like that name at all (sounds like a stripper name doesn't it?), so she came up with Cheryl. My dad didn't like that name either unless it was spelled Sheryl. Thank you dad. Whenever someone misspells my name with a C. . . I don' mind at all. I just think. . . oh I could have been worse. I could have been named DeeDee Diana :(
Blessings,
Sher
What a wonderful story!!! Can you now imagine ever being named anything else? Since I was adopted, my name, Laurie, was given to me when I was almost 4 yrs. old. I recently learned what my birth name was, and it just sounded so strange to me. I cannot imagine ever having a name other than "Laurie". Those pictures are wonderful. Great post! laurie
Bo,
Thanks, for you visit yesterday.
More freinds the merrier.
Yes, I love my floral business and I can choose what I want to do and when. I love working from home.
I work full time at our security gate business and The Metal Fab business. I run our Sales and Marketing department. I worked for a fortune 500 company for 24 years as a senior purchasing rep.
So glad to be working for our own company. The bridal business is just for fun; a hobby.
blossom
Oh my dear Bo, your name suits you just fine. This story is wonderful.
Your pics are so good. You are so dang cute girl. Oops I think I am picking up some of the local slang. It works for me. Smile. Finding those photos must have been time consuming. Unless you are way more organized then me. LOL. Everyone who visits me always says, "Your house is always perfect Jeanne." I have even fooled my sisters. I have to have perfect if I can see it, but Lord help me, my closets and drawers are a sight. Boy, I sure did get off on a tangent.
My name is Sylva Jeanne. My grandmother's name was Sylva. LOL. Even spell check thinks I am misspelling my own name. All my life people spell my name as Sylvia.
They say it too. Wrong. That is why I use Jeanne and I never use Sylva except on legal papers. Whats worse, right here in my area there is a town called SYLVA. Now they think I have a connection to that town. NOT. Now you know my name story. LOL I just wrote a book.
Love..JEANNE
How precious you ended up with a name so fitting! "Bonita" means pretty in Spanish. :) Beautiful photos. I was named "Melissa Ann" after a character on the soap "Days of Our Lives".
After that the "M' names stuck. I have two sisters named Monica and Michele.
Love the bangs!
My mother couldn't think of a middle name to go after Dianne so she threw Karen in front of it, which created confusion in school. Now, if someone, like the doctor's nurse calls me Karen, I just go with the flow.
Thanks for the very warm welcome to your blog! You are on my 'fab' blog list too!
Morning, Bo! I just love our little name story! Aren't you the cutest little thing? Well, my mom named me 'Shelia' because she liked it, but as you see, she spelled it differently. Not many shelias mostly sheilas. I like it that my name is spelled differently. My middle name, don't like it, won't tell it - came from my aunt. I have her name. I loved her dearly but didn't like the old lady name added to mine. I'm not sure I ever got over that!
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Bo, I love the story of your name! Beautiful story and beautiful name. My sister's middle name is Jo.
I was named for Patty Ann Johnson..a friend of my mother's.
Aren't those old "painted" photos wonderful. The one of you looking at the book is fabulous!
I never had bangs..my hair was parted in the middle most of the time. I however butchered my girls' bangs, more than once!! Talk about pixie cuts!
Hi Bo - what a wonderful story. I also really enjoyed the photos. In my Dad's family everyone is named after someone - and most of us don't like our given names. I am named after my maternal grandmother, Mary, and my paternal aunt, Virginia. My family used my full name. I hated it. My sister is named after my paternal grandmother, Ruth, and paternal great-aunt, Frances. My paternal grandmother always called her "Ruth." Everyone else called her Cissy. I think that as we get older, we become comfortable with our names and don't think about them so much. My six daughters all liked their names: Sherry, Michele, Sheila, Jennifer, Stephanie, and Amber. The only one with a family name is our fifth daughter, Stephanie. Her middle name is my maiden name and she loves it.
Hugs,
Sweetie
What a great story and I loved the pictures. I absolutely HATE my name. I remember begging my mom when I was about 8 or 9 to change it, but she wouldn't. LOL!! I've just grown to accept it now, but oh, I don't like it!!
Have a good one ~
Lynette
I LOVE the story of how you got your name....that is GREAT!! My parents just liked my name...no significance.
Loved the story of your name. I may have to follow suit on that one..... very fun read.
BO, I guess from what I read the landlady did't make your folks moved out..after all you were her name sake..Loved all you pictures..I have one with me and my Brother with my leg up under me also..wonder if that how they made you sit at that time...also my picture is color tinted like yours.. Thanks girl you sharing...Hugs and smiles Gloria
This is such a cute story! and so well described I was just there by Bonita and Joe that day your mother named you! Yes, that's a perfect name for a "bonita" brown-eyed girl! Bonita means "beautiful" and I think that name suited you better than what your parents had planned for you.... is different, short, and so chic! :) Bo-ni-ta Jo Bo-ni-ta Jo... I love it!
Hugs
cielo
Can I call you Bo Jo? Just kiddin' lol! I loved your story! I was named by my father since Mom wanted to name me Paula and Dad didn't like it...he knew a model named Suzanne and they both agreed on it so that's who I am! lol!
Hey Bo!!!! What a sweet story!!! I love your name... Bonita Jo!!! You were such an adorable little tot! You are still beautiful as ever.. inside and out!
My mother wanted to name me Cheryl Ann. (After a tugboat.. LOL) Instead she named me Donna Marie. I asked her what made her change her mind... she replied.. "I was afraid you'd be shaped like the tugboat." (LOL)
xoxoxoxo
Donna
LOOK at your adorable self!! I LOVE this story and post. How funny that you were named accidentally. Was your mom upset when she found out what happened? I think it's a beautiful name and it fits you perfectly. My mom worked at MGM studios and there was a pretty dancer on contract with the studio. Her name was Nikki and so my mom decided to name me after her. Back then it wasn't common and I was the only Nikki I knew until I got much older.
Bo, That is the sweetest story! I am so glad you shared that with us! I am named Nancy after One grandmother on my mom's side and one grandmother on my dad's side and My mom's middle name is Nancy...then Rosalina came from a book that my Mom read when she was expecting me...My nickname is Rosey, but I am often called Rosalina by many family members. I wanted to tell you how much I appreciated your email the other day...It meant a lot to me and I will always hold your story in my heart! Blessings to you, NancyRosalina
I love this post. It is personal and sweet and lovely. I have tinted photos of my mom like yours that I just cherish.
Are you still getting perms? lol
I was almost named Roxanne (mom's choice) because my dad's choice was Marie or Lisa Marie after his mom.
And my mom was having none of that as his mom was not very nice to her and so . Luckily, I ended up Lisa Ann. I would hate to have gone through high school as a Roxanne when that Police song came out.
Lisa & Alfie
You and I are from the same moment in time! I'm sure I have a picture that looks almost exactly like that bottom one except I'm smiling (with 2 front teeth missing) and my bangs are probably a little straighter! I was a Bluebird too!! I was name "Pamela Jo" - the "Jo" part is after my dad's best WWII Army buddy. The "Pamela" part was grabbed out of the air, I'm thinkin'! PAM
I absolutely love your story & darling pictures. I'm named Carol because my mother was singing when she was rolled into the delivery room.
Smiles,
Carol
just stopping in to say Good Morning...
Boy, you sure get around fast in Blogland...you are out there visiting every day...way to go,girl !! I move slow...remember...I'm old !!
love, bj
Mother started to name me "Matilda Etoy" after our preacher's wife...but later decided on Patricia Amelia (after the famous female pilot)... and to call me Amelia...my last name was Loessin...so you can see it was a mouthful to speak my name - other people couldn't pronouce it or spell it...I swore when I had children their name would be easy to say and spell...so named daughter Holly Kay Hendricks..simple, yes. Now she is having a daughter and naming her Amelia.
So glad you shared your "name history".
That's a really cool story, and the pictures add so much. Guess the landlady quickly changed her mind when she met you and you were given her name!
Katie
That is such a nice way to get your name, I was named after my mom's friend!
Bo, thank you so much for your sweet comment about Cocoa. We had a poodle we had to put down before Babette and it broke our heart. I bet Sassie and Trippy are great friends. Cocoa is in good company. sigh. Babette is past 15 and in fair health. We dread the near future as her age is against her. Have a great rest of the day.
Hugs...Jeanne
Hi Bo! Thanks for popping in to see me. Wow, more than one layer of wallpaper? I may have begun to pull my hair out!! Redoing is fun, even thought I'm not doing all of it, but where do you stop!? lol
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
How sweet, Bo. Well, my name is a Bible name & it is said that my grandmother loved it & suggested it to my mother. So, that's where I got my name, Rhoda. Only mentioned one time in Acts, she was the servant girl who opened the door for Peter. Turns out, I married him! LOL
I get called RhoNda all the time though & really wish my mother had just named me Rhonda...but, I guess Rhoda is a lot more unique.
Hi Bo
It was fun to read about how you were named and see those cute photos of you from your childhood. I love the nickname "Bo." If you remember I named my cat "Bo" but I called him that after the singer Bo Bice..lol...as I'm a fan of his.
I was named after my maternal grandmother. Her name was Ukrainian, "Paraska," and when she immigrated to America she was called "Pearl." My Mom wanted to name me Pearl, but my Dad thought that sounded too old fashioned so I became "Patricia Pearl" instead, and nicknamed "Pat"
Hugs, Pat
Bonita Jo... It's a wonderful name... I love it... and it fits you don'tcha know??? Your pictures were simply adorable... you were so cute... I was named after a champion Ice skater Donna Atwood.. My mother adored her and they were friends... so there you go... I only tried to Ice Skate once... fell and broke my tailbone so I guess I only got her name... LOL
(((HUGS)))
Donna
Bo..those pics are soooo cute! Love the pigtails! I had one of those bad bang haircuts, too. I think we all ended up with one of those at one time or another...and the dreaded perm! :-) I've been told my dad picked my name Susan and my middle name, Olivia...which was my grandmother's name. So Susan Olivia, I am.
That's my story. Love this post and love your name...it was just meant to be! :-)
Susan
Hi there Miss Bo, I see youre a blogger like me, every few days! Just popping in to say hi! I skipped school today to hang out with the hubby and kids! woohoo! (and the dog ate my homework1)
What a nice blog. I found you through Southern Inspirations.
What a little cutie pie you were Bo!
My name was suppossed to be Eireann (I-re-ann), but my mom thought people would call me Irene, so she switched it to another Irish name... Heather. The year was 1969 and in 1970 a million other women named their babies the same thing LOL
hugs,
rue
Oh! I LOVE your story Bo...Helped you stay in the place too, I'll bet!
My name is quite boring...no family ties...just a pop name in the 60's (yawn)
I'll tell you the story of our 'Bo' however...our beloved Great Dane. He was essentially dropped on our door stop as a rescue at 15 months (we are known to love and take in Danes...he is our 4th) He was named Goliath (but we are not huge fans of BIG names for Danes)...so changed it to something close...Bogart...long O. That quickly turned to Bo Bozo only when he is a pill Bobo when he is a clown. Bozie when we need him to come quick.
Thanks for visiting...Love your site!!
Bo, thanks for your visit. I always love to read your comments. The hummingbirds are always a fun bird to watch and admire. have a happy weekend Bo.
Love...Jeanne
Evening, Bo! Thanks for popping in to see me and I'm hoping you're having a beautiful weekend.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
Evening, Bo! Thanks for popping in to see me and I'm hoping you're having a beautiful weekend.
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
hey girl thanks for popping in for PINK Saturday...I always enjoy your visits..Hugs and smiles Gloria
Good Evening Bo! Just popping in to day Hello! I hope you had a wonderful day!
HUGS
Donna Bo Donna (LOL)
Bo, I adore this post - simply wonderful.
My father chose my first name - just because he like it. And, my middle name is my mother's middle name.
What a lovely story, Bo! My name is Lee (the usual spelling for a male) because my mother thought I was going to be a boy and when I came, she said Oh Well, I will name her LEE also! My full name is Martha Lee. Ihave always loved my name Lee....short and simple!
Hi Bo
I loved this story and the picture of you in pigtails could have been me when I was that age. My middle name is Heather and after my mom had died I realised I had no idea why they gave me Heather for a middle name. By that time there was no one left in the family who might have known! My first name is Rhondalyn and I am named after my grandmother who was Rhoda Tamblyn.
I love the leaves on your background and around the picture.
Hugs, Rhondi
My mom loved the song from the 50's "Tammy" and wanted to name me after it. My dad didn't think it was quite right so they compromised by baptizing me "Tamara" and nick naming me "Tammy". I absolutely adore BOTH my names :)
Thanks for asking!
Hello Bonita Jo, miss you big time, what a lovely story and what a lovely lady Bonita must have been. I am really Kathryn Ann but only to my mum, everyone else calls me Kathy, I asked her why she named me after two of Henry VIII's wives?.
Only another week here in London so making the most of it, there will be floods of tears soon enough but don't want to think about it for now, have a wonderful week Bo and will catch up soon, hugs, Kathy.
You must have been a beautiful baby, cause look at you now! Inside and out! Bo, what a great story!. Your baby pictures are so beautiful! Even with the bangs!Deb
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