Family Ties/Headscratchers

Everything About Fiction You Never Wanted to Know.


I always wondered why Steve and Elyse, former hippies, named their son Alex. Arguably the most famous bearer of the name was a military leader (Alexander the Great). Was it a family name?

    • My parents always assumed it was for Alexander Pope, which would've explained the P middle initial, too. They were more confused by the fact that two hippies with kids named Alexander and Mallory would've gone with a really standard name like Jennifer.
      • That's a good explanation, although I'm not sure Pope was on many 1960's bookshelves either. Jennifer was always the most explicable name to me: I imagine Elyse really enjoyed "Love Story" and named her youngest daughter for its heroine. The name was pretty trendy in the 70's. I was more confused by what sort of 80's child Jennifer was supposed to be. Alex was the Reaganite yuppie, Mallory was the Material Girl, and Jennifer was...?
      • And you didn't think. Steve and Elyse didn't name the kids. Just because they oh I don't know. Like the names or something?