The pressure.....of a name.

What's in a name?

Apparently not much if you can't remember it.

One thing that has taken some getting used to out here in the Middle East is the new variety of names. I think we're finally getting a handle on it, but man, it took some time. There's nothing more awkward than offering that deer in the headlights look when someone introduces themselves to you.

"Could you say that again?"

Still, nothing.

Now what?

New names are hard enough to remember, but especially hard when you've never heard a name remotely like it before, not sure exactly what the person said, and you have no idea how to spell it. So, If I'm really clueless, I forego all pride and dignity and end up asking them to spell it and then pronounce it for me a few more times just for good measure. I look like a total tool, but what can you do? There's no faking this one. I just add it to my "Here I am, Stupid American" repertoire.

Fortunately, now that the original shock of it all has worn off, there is some rhyme and reason. As it turns out, the American obsession with trendy, unusual and unique names is missing from the name game here. Here, names are still all in the family and often times Biblical. Of course, like anywhere else, they rotate based on popularity, but in general you end up with a lot of repetition.

So, would you like to do a little Hebrew name dropping?

Chances are if you meet a female here and you can't remember her name, it is probably:

Shira

Orly

Leah or

Dana

For a man:

Gai

Gal or

David (pronounced Dah-veed)

If you have absolutely no idea, you can make a safe bet on a gender neutral name like Lior or Yuval.

In Lydia's class at school there are several Leahs, a Lihi (lee-hee), & a Hili (hee-lee). For boys it's Omer, Omri, Eli & Ariel.

To all of our American readers: just in case you're desperately searching for a new and unusual option for your next baby's name, have a gander at this. Hebrew Names for Dummies.

The name game goes both ways. People here botch our names all the time. First off, they are all said in a thick Israeli accent that distorts the sound of the name. No big deal.... totally expected that, and I'm certain my pronunciation of their names is much more hideous. However, it's our last name that's the real stumper. There is no naturally occurring "W" or "ch" sound in Hebrew, so you have to use two exceptions to the grammatical rules in even attempting to spell it. Then, when people try to say it or read it, it comes out sounding like this: Val-itz. Yes, that means Welch here.

Lydia and Will can imitate the accents really well, and it is so funny to hear them call each other by their 'hebrew' names.

Leeee -dee ah & Veeeeell or Weeeell

So, from our home to yours,

Steeuw-Art, Eeeleetzahbeth, Leedeeah & Weeeell

Shalom Y'all.

[Cue the theme song from Cheers ]