“But Bonnie is a beautiful name!”
“My Bonnie lies over the ocean…”
“Aren’t you glad you don’t have the same name as anyone else?”
“My Bonnie lies over the sea…”
“My brother Wendell married a Bonnie and I always loved it when he said her name.”
“My Bonnie lies over the ocean…”
“It’s such a unique name, just like you!”
“So bring back my Bonnie to me…”

So here’s the thing: my Mom loves the name Bonnie. She’s affirmed this fact my whole life. And she’s sung My Bonnie Lies over the Ocean to me hundreds of times—beginning in my infancy to most recently, four weeks ago. Arguably, my Mom loves my name more than any of my other five siblings’ name, some of which are far less unique, like Lauren and Will. My sister Audrey’s middle name is unique—Vandelyn— but she’s named after my Grandmother.
“But what would your life be like if you were named Emily?”
I however, am not named after anyone. I do have an aunt Bonnie, though. My Mom’s brother Wendell married a woman named Bonnie. They moved to Florida before I was born. Bonnie does not like planes, trains, or automobiles, so I have never met her. I do know she’s tan. I’ve seen pictures.
“But there aren’t many Bonnie’s out there! You’re a dying breed!”
But I am not named after tan Bonnie. My Mom simply loved hearing Wendell say Bonnie’s name. I am not sure if he said it in a fancy way because she loved her so deeply or simply because she thought it was a pretty name. Nonetheless, the name Bonnie has stuck with her ever since.
“But what would you complain about if your name wasn’t Bonnie?”
Unfortunately, I have never been able to hear Wendell say Bonnie’s name. Despite the obvious barrier of location, he died in a boating accident before I was born. But my Mom does write letters to tan Bonnie occasionally. Sends Christmas cards.
“Well, I’m sorry you don’t like your name. I hope you will appreciate it someday.”
So here’s the thing, she’s probably right.* I may not be tan and live in Florida, but I think I eventually will appreciate my name more than I do right now. I mean, it is kind of nice to not have the same name as everyone else. And perhaps someday there’ll be another Bonnie in my family living with the same plight. And perhaps someday maybe she’ll think about her pale aunt Bonnie who lived in Nebraska, and did just fine.
*Nota Bene: My Mom is right in all things, so even if I don’t buy in yet, I know I will someday. She really does know best.
**Just in case you’ve never heard “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” here’s a link to a children’s version, similar to how my Mom sings it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hp_vkZkMQNU