Holly wrote: The other thing we have found is naming after prominent public figures, such as the James Madison above. We searched for years for a Newell in our family because a great-aunt was named Harriett Newell. Come to find out Harriett Newell was an early 1800's young missionary to Asia, who died out there at a young age, about 19 or so, and became a sort of inspirational example, and many girls were named Harriett Newell So-and-So. Holly, East Bangor, PA Holly -- how interesting!! Your family is not alone. I can count a Harriett Newell Burrell (from Delaware County, NY) among my ancestors. Strange world. For those familiar with the Civil War officer Col. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain from Maine, I have read that his original name was Lawrence Joshua...but that through his own usage of "Joshua" as the given name, it was eventually changed to the form in which we now know it. I'm not sure it was ever changed "officially"...but he went by Joshua Lawrence as his own personal preference. My grandfather was given the name Charles Tracey Shelley -- but I do not know of a single person who ever used the name "Charles" in reference to him. And from what I have gleaned from family lore, even his own parents referred to him as "Tracey." Brian Shelley