A name I'm kind of liking lately is Conrad, mostly because there's a doctor here named Conrad who is just an absurdly stellar human being in almost every way.

The one Conrad I know was also totally incredibly awesome as well. Aw, I miss him!

It's one of my favorite girl names, too. I had the biggest historical girl crush on Eleanor d'Aquitane.

Me too. Fascinating woman.

A name I'm kind of liking lately is Conrad, mostly because there's a doctor here named Conrad who is just an absurdly stellar human being in almost every way.

When I hear the name "Conrad," the first thing that pops to mind is an image of a guy with a battery on his shoulder.

Please know that I really like the name Emmett, and as your Emmett is the first modern Emmett I "know" I like it even more. But, I would think it has as much kick-me quality to it, as does Alistair.

Emmett is an Irish name not a British name. Much less of a kick-me factor. And while he hasn't had any classmates named Emmett, it is a name which is heard around the Bay Area.

I think an Alistair would be JUST FINE.

Somebody else's child named Alistair can do just fine, because there's no freakin' way I'd name my son Alistair. I'd sooner name my kid Poncey Fruitbucket.

Though I did talk to Alistair Cooke on the phone once when I worked at WGBH and he was very cordial.

Conrad gives me a Bye-Bye, Birdie earworm.

connie, actual pirate? Coolness. You know, Talk Like a Pirate Day is coming up. Arr.

I think what sounds odd to my ears might not to others'. Just my perception, of course, but when I was growing up, in the rural deep South, the only names I ever heard were Biblical or "traditional" Scots-Irish and Teutonic names. (Unless, like my grandmother's name, somebody just made it up.) The oddest ones were the obscure Biblical ones, especially if the parent got creative with the spelling. I remember the woman named Vashti pronounced it "vash-TYE" and I always thought it was "VASH-tee". Anyone know the correct pronounciation?

So, ita, going from what you just said, is ita your actual name? As opposed to an internet name?

Dammit, now I'm going to have to dig up the family tree, which is in my keeping and so I should probably keep track of where it is. I just know there's some men with odd names that I'm forgetting.

Much less of a kick-me factor.

Dude, if you think the kids care about British vs. Irish, you're delusional.

is ita your actual name?

Ayup. I managed a normal middle name, but my sister has a fragmented first name too (though Yoruba, not Spanish) and a Ghanaian variant of a day name as her middle name.

My parents like crack.

Two words for you, Hec:

Jug. Band.