LAUREN WOOD | THE NATCHEZ DEMOCRAT — Jennifer Slover holds her 11-month-old daughter Reene. Jennifer and her husband Scott chose to name their daughter after a variation of Jennifer's father's mother, Irene.

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Younger generations of parents choose one-of-a-kind names for children

Published 12:00am Sunday, February 26, 2012

Of course the late Irene Paradise would adore her first great-grand-daughter, but since she is not here, the baby’s name conjures Irene’s likeness.

Reene Slover is the 9-month-old daughter of Scott and Jennifer Slover.

Reene is derived from Irene, and pronounced like the last four letters of the name popular decades ago.

“We just sort of made it up,” Jennifer said. “It may exist, but we have not seen it.”

Jennifer said Irene, a schoolteacher, was well known in the community. Irene died suddenly in 1998.

“I never knew her,” Scott said. “But people come up to me and tell me how wonderful she was. Even (Sheriff) Chuck Mayfield said, ‘Amazing woman — you have no idea.’”

Jennifer said becoming a wife and mother herself gave her a new respect for the women before her, Irene in particular. Irene raised five children on her own after her husband died.

“As I got married and had a baby, I am more impressed with what she did on her own,” Jennifer said. “Reene would be her first great-granddaughter. And it’s neat to use her name. Scott immediately loved it.”

Reene’s middle name is Parker, after Scott’s grandmother’s maiden name.

“I think a lot of people find classic names to bring back,” Jennifer said. “Especially in the South you will find maiden names as first names to keep it going in the family. It makes sense to people.”

If and when the Slovers have another child, they have a special family name picked out for him or her as well.

“We do have a potential name — but no one can steal it,” Jennifer said. “Irene’s maiden name, Rowe, for a boy or a girl.”

Baby names change with the times, just like anything else.

Jazadricka Davis, a 17-year-old Ferriday High School student, was named by her mother’s friend. Her mom, Stephanie Banks, said she couldn’t decide on a name, so she enlisted her friend to decide for her.

“My name is different, but I’m used to it now” Davis said. “My friends call me Jaz.”

Still other names are so old that they have become new again. The names Aiden and Olivia are a couple of oldies but goodies. They are both listed in the top 10 names by Parenting Magazine in 2011.

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  • Anonymous

    “james baccus, asked not run it”

    Huh? Seems someone dropped the ink pad on this one.

  • Anonymous

    “Long ago, (name) used to be more common,” she said.

    Huh? Huh?

  • http://www.natchezdemocrat.com Kevin Cooper

    It looks like an earlier version was posted online that didn’t have final edits and that contained (apparently) a snippet from another article, perhaps.

  • Anonymous

    Black families need the recognition for using non-traditional names, the practice of which they have exercised for a generation or two.

  • Anonymous

    You mean like…”THLUNGUS”….lol

    How about “Pythagarus”? Or “Lemonjello”? Or “Female” Or how about twins named “D-One” and “D-Two”??? Not to mention all the “isha” “quisha” and “nella” variations. Good grief.

  • Anonymous

    I thought Thlungus was something you can catch……sure enough, they caught him a week or so ago!

  • Ryan Locke

    The article says modern parents choose unique names, and then Aiden comes up four separate times. None of these names are unique, other than having weird spellings, besides Jazadricka, who is already a teenager.

  • Anonymous

    People like you , is the main reason why the old south still lives & will always live with racial hatred. You have the right post name
    oldsouth. Some black & white people here in natchez have the same first names, it is up to their parents to name them. No one
    forced your parents to name you who you are. We do not have to name our children what you want us to name them. Are non-traditional
    names against the law ?

  • Anonymous

    The comment you are responding to was stating fact – the article seemed to celebrate the whites venturing from the norms of the past.  Your racism is showing.

  • Anonymous

    Yep…..yep….and yep! It was only a matter of time….B-I-N-G-O…you got picked this time…don’t you feel lucky?

  • Anonymous

    Again, its “we” “you” “us” “them”…please, give it a rest…every post is not about racism.

    We can agree on some things…hopefully most things…especially where crime is out of control. So please, don’t make this about “race”. The posts above are ALL based upon thruth…nothing more…nothing less.

  • Anonymous

    How is it based on truth when some of you are named the same name as some black people.

  • Anonymous

    Name your children what you want , & we will name ours what we want to name them. How about the name Barack
    look what he turned out to be. Call him what you want to call him, but who do he look like. I know you hate it , but when these stupid republicans finish cutting their throats, he’s going to win again.

  • Anonymous

    Most of your’s are, man you just can not help yourself.

  • Anonymous

    I was wondering some months back about some of my teachers back when I was in school, and let me tell you, Ms. Irene Paradise could teach middle school history like no one, IMO!!  The way she taught, actually took you back to the time period we focused on!  She had the ability to keep your attention from the time the class started, until it ended and I could just sit and listen to her all day!  Mr. Oliver was another one who foolishness aside, could have you singing the scientific names of just about every bone in your body!  This article precipitated my walk down memory lane.  :)  

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