What are we talking about today?

I'll get back to theme days once I find a groove of posting regularly. In the meantime, most of my posts are about some variation of books, bikes, buses, or Broadway. Plus bits about writing, nonprofits, and grief from time to time.

This blog is mostly lighthearted and pretty silly. It's not about the terrible things happening in the world, but please know that I'm not ignoring those things. I just generally don't write about them here.

01 April 2012

A is for April

It's the day we've all been waiting for-- the A to Z Challenge has begun! No, this is not an April Fools' Day joke, although doing A to Z in the same month as Script Frenzy and while trying to finish my final semester at the University of Texas may be an awful prank I've pulled on myself. Yes, I'm dumb. The posts may get less coherent as time goes on.

I thought this was a good April-
ish photo. Source.
So, my theme (mostly) for A to Z will be names. I'm in the midst of writing a school story, and a few weeks ago I decided it was time to make a list of students & staff for the school. Most of them will never appear in the story, of course; it's just one of those things that I need to know but my readers don't. So, having done that, I was struck with inspiration to research some names for the Challenge. Here goes.

April
From the Latin aperire, meaning 'to open'. A common given name for girls since the 1940s. Reached the peak of its popularity in the 1970s, when it was the 34th most popular name for girls.

Famous Aprils: After an intense 3 1/2 minute Google search, I hadn't run across any Aprils that I recognised. You'll have to tell me who some famous Aprils are.

Fictional Aprils: I knew three from the list I looked at on Baby Name Wizard. Dr. April Kepner on Grey's Anatomy, April Nardini on Gilmore Girls, and April O'Neil on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. (Yes, I do know how ridiculous that is.)

My Aprils: I have no characters named April right now. I do know a handful of real-life Aprils; one of them is a couple of years younger than me and is one of a trio of ladies who are the same age that I grew up with at church. When my dad taught them in Sunday school, he called them "April, May, and June." (Not May & June's real names.) Rather than be offended, they found this endearing, which just goes to show what nice people I grew up among.

Do you know any Aprils? What are some other good 'A' names?

Sources:
Behind the Name
Baby Name Wizard

23 comments:

DL Hammons said...

This is going to be a really interesting month and if I'm not careful I might actually learn a thing or two. :) I'm outlining a new book and maybe your posts will help me pick out some names.

What a great start!

Anonymous said...

I used to work with an April. Other names, Alice, Adrienne, Ann, Agatha, Anthony.

Unknown said...

Didn't know the origins of the word April! In Italian, opening is 'aprire'...so the origin sounded familiar.

Great choice of theme for the challenge!

---Damyanti, Co-host A to Z Challenge April 2012

Twitter: @AprilA2Z
#atozchallenge

Alessa Hinlo said...

You know, that makes sense that April means "to open." Way back before they changed the calendar, April used to be the beginning of the year. It's why April 1 is April Fools because they called anyone that who didn't change over to the new calendar system beginning on January 1.

Donna Shields said...

Can't think of any famous Aprils. I like the names Anna and Anastasia

mshatch said...

What an excellent theme; I love names. I don't have any characters named April either. I do have an Arlen appearing in my latest completed work.

Su said...

@DL: I was thinking that, too! Lots of people seem to be going the educational route.

@Delores: I currently work with an Alice! :)

@Damyanti: The Romance languages seem to have the "to open" verb very close to one another still.

@Alessa: Yes, very good point!

@Donna: I like those, too. :)

@mshatch: Ooh, I like the name Arlen.

Unknown said...

Great theme idea! I am partial to Angelina - that's my daughter's name :)

Miriam Drori said...

I don't know any Aprils, but I know an Arlene and an Adriana. Happy A-Zing!

Aaron said...

I suppose I should be more fond of my name- considering this post, but I'm afraid it is otherwise so. Having a double A beginning means I'm first on people's phone contact list. It also means I get the most accidental calls. I've received more "butt-calls" than anyone I know.
At least your fictional characters wouldn't suffer the same annoying fate.

rch said...

Hi, I didn't know April meant 'to open' but it makes sense, thanks I love learning new things. Really enjoyed your post and an A name that I love is Algernon and I'm also fond of Alabaster.

Anonymous said...

There was a little girl named April that lived down the street from us one house ago and I know one grown-up April. Both are very sweet.

SpacerGuy said...

I don't know any famous Aprils but there is one on Dallas.

Su said...

@Wendy: And a lovely name it is.

@Miriam: Thanks! I like "A-Zing". Must use...

@sparquay: Or will they? Hmmm.

@rch: I like those, too!

@Word Nerd: How could you not be sweet with a name like April. I mean, everybody loves April, right?

@Spacerguy: Ah, Dallas. I probs should have remembered that!

Golden Eagle said...

I used to know an April. :) I can't think of anyone famous, though--the closest that comes to mind is Avril.


The Golden Eagle
The Eagle's Aerial Perspective

Jaye Robin Brown said...

My MC in my current manuscript is named Amber.

Beverly Diehl said...

In The Secret Life of Bees, the Boatwright sisters are August, May and June - with April being the name of a sister who died before the story starts.

There's Avril Lavigne, guess that isn't QUITE an April, but close.

Su said...

@Eagle: I suppose I could have listed Avril Lavigne. It is French for April.

@Jaye: I have a cousin called Amber! :)

@Beverly: Secret Life of Bees is still on my to-read list. And yes, I should have considered French words! :)

Botanist said...

Can't think of any Aprils. Eagle beat me to Avril Lavigne.

I love naming characters. No Aprils in my cast of thousands either, but I do have a few "A"s. My favorite is Supreme Judge Abraham Crode. Great biblical name, but a rather nasty character :)

Unknown said...

Hi, Su. I love this idea! And, the fact that you throw in the meaning behind the name is priceless. I think I might pass this along to any of my friends who are trying to come up with baby names. Looking forward to future posts and name ideas!

Su said...

@Botanist: Ooh, he sounds like an unpleasant character. Good name choice!

@Dawn: Thanks! I've been having fun researching these. :)

Karen M. Peterson said...

I know several Aprils. But you're right. I can't think of a single one who's famous.

Su said...

A list came up on Google, but I didn't recognise any of the names.