“What’s in a name?” Trouble, that’s what.
When people hear the name “Healan” for the first time, the usual reaction is, “What is your name again?” The second question is “Where does the name come from?” And the third question, “Would you spell your name?”
After many years, I have a succinct response. I say, “‘Healan’ was my grandmother’s maiden name. She didn’t want it lost to history, so she gave it to me. You pronounce it HE-lan. But I’m very forgiving when it comes to mispronunciation. Just don’t call me ‘heathen.'”
I’ve never had a nickname. By the time someone gets used to the pronunciation, they never think of calling me anything else. That’s a compliment, I think. Someone once told me that I was the only woman he knew with two last names.
The man who started all this name-calling mess was my ancestor, Michael Healan. According to the family genealogy, he was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1760. I am assuming his name was not spelled this way originally since I have not found the name in Irish name books. However the unique spelling means that most of the people with the surname of “Healan” in the US are probably related to me. And, believe it or not, there are also a few people who have “Healan” as a first name, as I do.
There is only one time the name gets me in real trouble. If people say my name correctly, I assume I know them. When I don’t recognize someone’s face, I’m in trouble. He or she has recognized me and remembered my name, and I haven’t given them the same courtesy. How much easier it would if had a common name, like Mary or Sue. Then I could say, “Are you sure you have the right person?”
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