If you’ve been reading the blog for any amount of time, you probably realize that I love babies.
This wasn’t always the case. But over the last 8-9 years (mostly since I’ve become a dad) a whole world of coolness has opened up in my life. Kids are great, and I will talk parenting at the drop of a hat. If I’m out in public, I’m constantly having to restrain myself from asking people to let me play with their kids. (Because I look like a bear, or a hobo. Or a hobear.)
Another thing that’s happened over the last 8-9 years is that I’ve been constantly startled and amazed by the enthusiasm people have shown for the books. People write fanfiction, create beautiful art, they dress up, they tattoo their bodies with my words…
And where fan enthusiasm and babies intersect, we get babies named after characters in my books.
This has happened more than once. It’s startling and cool while at the same time being oddly terrifying. I got my first email about one all the way back in 2009, and I showed off little Andan in the blog. But I’ll be honest with you, even after all these years I cannot fully comprehend someone liking my book enough to name their kid out of it.
Then, the other day when I was at the park with my boys. A couple with a stroller walked up to me, told me they were big fans of the books, and mentioned that their baby’s name… was Auri.
(She obviously doesn’t really know what to think of me. Which means she’s smart.)
Then a couple weeks later, I met this little sweetheart who is also named Auri….
(I like how she seems to be saying: “Eh, you’re not that big a deal.”)
Meeting these Auris in person reminded me that I’d been compiling a blog full of baby pictures that people have sent in over the last couple years.
Keep in mind that some of these pictures are pretty old. I think the first draft of this blog might have been from back in 2014. So some of these kids are years older than what they look like here…
Anyway, allow me to introduce:
- Baby Bast!
Letter from his dad:
“Our son (coming up on his first birthday) was named after your character Bast. We decided on the name Bast initially, but later, upon realizing with our middle name choice that would have left the poor bastard with three one-syllable names, we decided to modify it a bit to “Bastion”. His Grandmother (on his mother”s side) calls him Bass (like the fish) which naturally drives me insane to no end. Some humans, eh?”
- Baby Auri!
“Here’s a picture of our Baby Auri. Technically it’s ‘Aurielle,’ but we only call her by her full name when she’s being a dick . . . which occurs fairly frequently around mealtimes.
Just so there’s no ambiguity, I wanted you to know this is one hundred percent your name. I absolutely snagged that shit from you because Auri’s brokenly bad-assed, and that’s how we feel.”
Looks to me like she is in the perfect place….
- Baby Auri 2!
“Here is a picture of my daughter, born in April. I took her middle name from your books Auri. Her full name is Sutton Auri Prinz, I want to thank you for all that you have done and hope that my daughter will love reading as much as I do. I know that my family will have your books apart of the rest of our lives.“
- Baby Kvothe!
This is Kvothe, who was originally introduced on the blog in 2013. A while back they sent some updated photos of the little guy, and I couldn’t be prouder.
You’ll notice that little Kvothe has a badass-looking dragon foot. That’s because he was born missing one of his feet. His parents tell me that in cases like this, it’s easier for the kids to use a prosthetic later in life if they get used to it very early on…
And so, being forward-thinking parents, they got him fitted for a prosthetic. But also, because they’re awesome, one of the prosthetics is a badass dragon foot.
As a fellow geek parent, I salute you.
- Baby Elodin!
I honestly never expected there to be an Elodin. But I was wrong….
Best smile ever.
- And One Final Auri…
“Some interesting facts:
1. ‘Auri’ means ‘shines like gold’ (apparently)
2. She was born with Auburn hair
3. The first track on the radio taking her home was ‘Gold on the Ceiling’ by the Black Keys (a band my wife and I saw on the first night of our honeymoon in Chicago)
So despite us having decided on the name before we even knew we were having a girl, it is a perfect fit – ☺”
Because I’m as slow about writing blogs as I am with all other types of writing, Auri’s folks have sent some more pictures of her, now that she’s a little older….
That smile though…
There have been more. Many more. I’ve been introduced to Auris, Dennas, and Simmons at cons. And other parents have shared photos with me that they’d prefer to keep private, which I can totally understand.
For those of you who have stuck around to the very end of the blog, I have a special treat for you. A teaser of something that’s going to be happening soon.
In fact, it’s going to be launching on Tuesday (the 15th)…
Stay tuned,
pat
39 Comments
Thank you for this. This was a great way to start my day, although the teaser at the end had me puling y hair figurative. My six year old daughter is reading Harry Potter and I cannot wait to introduce her to your books. She also enjoys beekeeping with me. Kids are great! Enjoy yout family and the end of summer
What a sweet blog posting! It’s so fun to see names that are unusual and subtly geeky, but won’t cause children grief when they’ve in school.
I am unfortunately unable to have children, but when my fiancé and I adopted a kitten in December we couldn’t help but name him Bast. It’s a perfect fit, too!
Yay babies! They’re all so cute. My son will probably remain an only child, despite his constant asking for a brother or a sister, because of reasons, but I had thought about Auri or Denna for a girl.
Did I ever send you a copy of the picture of my Monkey and your Oot from one of your events when they were both about 7 months old? Yep, first time I met Pat and he’s all, “Let’s take a picture of our babies meeting each other!” It was great.
This was a lovely blog to wake up to!
Just a quick heads up, I think there’s a typo when you first say “Because I look like a bar,” rather than bear.
I assumed he meant he looked like a walking bar! Although, in context, your assumption is penalty correct. I loved the idea of walking around looking like the corner bar. :D
*probably
I assume he meant it in a Sam Elliot/cowboy sort of way.
Huh. Once again the 4 am typo bites me in the ass….
As a father of five ( and whose oldest is named Patrick), I loved this. Thanks for the morning sunshine.
We considered “Denna” for our first daughter, and thought we’d use my late mother’s name, “Nanette,” for a middle. Then we realised that if you say “Denna Nanette….Denna Nanette! Denna Nanette, Denna Nanette, Denna Nanette” you just sang the beginning off the Addams Family theme song.
My daughter is 2, she is named Auri. We chose the name before I was even pregnant and slow regard came out when I was pregnant and it sealed it for me. I get lots of comments on such an unusual name, I love telling people all about the books her name comes from.
Awwww! Babies! Babies named after books are the best. I say this of course with no bias at all ;) I’m named after Winter de Ballesteros from the book Shadow of the Moon by M. M. Kaye.
I recently got a new car (I took the leap and went 100% electric). I named her Auri. :)
Tesla?
I’m curious too….
I got the 2017 Nissan Leaf.
With the $7500 federal tax credit, plus another $10k rebate that my local electric company (SRP) was supplying, plus automatic HOV access whenever I want, plus two years of free charging, it was hard to justify not upgrading given that my previous car was 18 years old and > 100k miles.
Also, she’s a rocketship (even if she may not look it).
Thus far, I absolutely love Auri. No range anxiety concerns at all (to date). I’d go so far as to say that any 2 car household should have (at least) one 100% EV car.
This is so cool. My name is Jetro, Jethro in English, and I know how crazy it is to have an unusual name. I’m Brazilian and your books are wonderful, and I say for myself and three other friends. Thank you for the excellent history and experience you have given us. A hug from some Brazilian fans. Ps. We build a Tak and it’s awesome. (translated by Google)
Original.
“Isso é tão legal. Meu nome é Jetro, Jetro em inglês, e eu sei o quão louco é ter um nome incomum. Sou brasileiro e teus livros são maravilhosos, e digo por mim e outros três amigos. Agradeço pela excelente história e experiência que tu nos proporcionou. Um abraço de alguns fãs brasileiros. Ps. Construímos um Tak e é demais.”
When we got Slow Regard signed by you in Amarillo last week, my son was afraid of your beard and he was shy even though he saw you laughing with other kiddos (usually he can’t shut up). And now, after listening to you talk there, he knows you as “that guy who likes books”. I’m glad to see other geeks naming their kids after things they love. Mine are not named after characters, but my son”s middle name is Joss, and my daughter’s first name is Ele, which comes from ELE (Extinction Level Event). This makes me feel less weird. Also, this is my first comment here, though I’ve been lueking for years, so hey y’all!
From one Lurker to another, welcome.
Thanks!! Glad you understood, even though Android autocorrect didn’t :P :D
I actually didn’t even notice the typo until now…
These are so great! I’m long past babies but I almost named my new kittens after a couple characters from your books (which I just read for the third time!)
Don’t know why it took me so long to discover the book all about Auri, that was wonderful too.
Pat, as a fellow lover of words, and as a person with only two semesters left on their Master’s degree in Orthotics and Prosthetics, I thought it only fair and right to educate you on the proper terminology.
Singular – prosthesis
Plural – prostheses
Profession – Prosthetist
Field of study – Prosthetics
Component – prosthetic (only with another word behind it: Prosthetic foot shell, prosthetic leg, prosthetic device and so on)
It’s a common misuse of the word, but it’s a correction that my educators drilled into us early and often.
Also, I named my cat “Shaed”.
Thanks much. Spellcheck didn’t like the way I did it either, but I don’t pay much attention to it these days, as it doesn’t like most of my non-standard words….
I am the lucky father of the final Auri and I can tell you that she is even more adorable now. Even the later photo there is over 3 years ago and she is just about to turn 4!
She has continued with her golden hair and even after cutting off some 5 inches is still half way down her back!
She had no idea who you are Pat, but when you released Slow Regard I told her it was all about a girl she was named after. I’ll try remember to get a shot of her reading it!
Her beautiful, genuine joy shall be carefully preserved (that’s my most sincere wish <3)!
Hey! That’s me and my son Bast. He turns 5 this year and starts school.
At this point, he’s convinced he’s named after the Overwatch robot.
But he’ll come around to the truth one of these days!
I guess we aren’t alone. My fiance and I have planned names for a boy and a girl… Auri Belle Clay and Kvothe Alexander Clay. We’re considering Ian Elodin, as well. NotW is the first book he ever read for pleasure, thanks to me forcing it upon him (I hadn’t read it before that point, I just thought it sounded like something he would like). So thanks, Pat, for helping me get Dalton into reading, bringing us closer, and helping us name our children.
I don’t understand why more parents don’t name baby girls Lethani. It is such a beautiful word, and very feminine. If I had another girl, she would definitely be named Lethani.
My daughter was born last September and named Denna. The name struck me, the character intrigues me, and the books have such a grasp in me that I have an immediate reader’s hangover when starting a new book.
She is so cute, smart, and sassy, that even though she has strawberry blonde hair and blue eyes, I believe she fits her namesake’s description thus far, sans the lifestyle :)
Cheers Pat!
I’d love to see a picture of her if you’d be willing to send one along…
You people, sheesh, naming babies after characters before we know how the story ends. I personally hold out a hope that Denna turns out to be a villain and that Kvothe gets together with Devi. Who seems less of a game player. And who even know what Bast could be?
My husband and I named our recently adopted Siamese-mix Auri. She has long, soft fur and bright blue eyes, and she likes to scurry away randomly. She also brings us things. Not a hooman, but still our baby!
Hi! I know you are crazy busy, but I wanted to let you know that we named our son Willem after your lovely character. We love explaining his name’s origin. He was born 7/4/17 at 3 lbs 14 oz and our little fighter now weighs 6 lbs 4 oz! I’m wondering if it is possible to add his picture to the collection? It looks like you have inspired a lot of future sweethearts!
While you never met our baby, there is a related story/explanation that I don’t expect you to remember, but which I’ve been wanting a reason to clarify for you.
In 2014, my wife and I attended your show with Paul and Storm at the Triple Door in Seattle. In the signing line before the show, we took a photo with you and I mentioned that I appreciated your posts about fatherhood, and that we had recently also become parents. At this point, I showed off the hospital bracelet around my wrist.
“That’s wonderful! How old?” you asked.
“Two months.” I said.
We went on our way, awkwardly avoiding Paul and Storm because we were not yet acquainted with the Opening Band… mea culpa.
Only after leaving the line did I realize how weird it must seem for a new dad to still be wearing a grubby hospital bracelet two months into parenthood. So, to clarify three+ years later, I was wearing the bracelet because my son was still in the hospital at the time. He had been born at just 26 weeks and spent his first three months in the NICU. I keep thinking how odd the grubby two month old wristband must have seemed without explanation if it registered.
Adding to the retrospective hilarity of the story, after getting a photo and sweaty side hugs from you and settling into our seats, the first thing you did when you addressed the crowd was apologize because you were horribly ill and on a lot of really good drugs. If you’ve had any experience with the NICU, you can understand the sudden sense of dread as my wife and I both felt as we wondered, “did we just catch what he has?” Fortunately, neither of us got sick, and we were able to continue our nightly NICU visits to read to our son.
Happily, our preemie is now a very imaginitive and defiant preschooler who enjoys books, board games, going on treasure hunts with daddy (Geocaching), catching animals (Pokemon Go), and telling interactive stories with mom.
Such a lovely post, thank you so much for sharing :)!
Can’t wait till tomorrow !
I have an Auri as well! She was born January 26th of this year. I fell in love with Auri in The Slow Regard of Silent Things. I was about 5 months pregnant at the time and insisted that we name our daughter Auri.
She was born 3 weeks early and had a short trip to the NICU to make sure everything was ok. While she was there the nurse asked my husband where we got her name from and he told her about your books. Turns out she had read them and was a fan as well!
I proudly tell everyone where her name came from, as it isn’t something you see everyday, and I insist that whomever I tell reads the series!
January 27th! Oh geez, I got my own child’s birth date wrong.