What's in a name?

[Cinderella]

I just went to a big annual Scandinavian festival in Junction City, OR. I learned that many Danish settlers came there to farm the region and a lot are still here including others from Scandinavian countries. I represented my ancestors that came to America with my Danish flag at the festival.

[weeniegeniewife]

I was named after The Bionic Woman, Jamie Summers. My dad had a crush.

My maiden name is 100% Norwegian. My paternal grandparents emigrated from Norway and changed the spelling slightly to Americanize it.

[weeniegeniewife]

OMG, that is too funny! Yup, loads of Swedes, Finns, and Norwegians in the PNW.

PNW Norwegian representing!

[alison]

I think the UW has one of the very few graduate programs in Scandinavian Studies in the country. . This is the land of Nordstrom after all...

I'm pretty certain Portland has one of the largest Latvian populations in the US. Nothing like the Polish immigrant population in Chicago, but still!

[MDPhDWife]

My maternal great grandparents immigrated from Norway and also got a much shortened last name. I didn't realize there was such a strong Scandinavian presence in the PNW and here on IMSN. Very cool!

My parents were absolutely convinced I was a boy and had planned on naming me Chad. I'm pretty sure they didn't even have a girls name picked out. My dad picked my name after an actress on a popular TV show from the late 70's and 80's. My middle name is after my paternal uncle and grandfather. Same name but feminine spelling. My parents ended up calling me a shortened version of my first name that's traditionally a boys name. I hated it growing up, but have come to love it as an adult. Actually all my family still calls me Charly to this day.