WHAT'S YOUR NAME
Her parents fell in love with the beautiful sound of Briese
October 17, 2009
Kristin Rushowy
TORONTO STAR
They thought it sounded "a bit hippie" but the name was too perfect for Piper-Lee and Shaun Blackey not to use.
Piper-Lee met friend Liz Briese a year ago at Trent University – both are studying part-time to become teachers – and when they introduced themselves, Piper-Lee thought Liz's surname, pronounced "breeze," was pretty. When she and Shaun found out they were having a baby, Piper-Lee mentioned Briese Blackey as a possible name.
"Shaun said many times that he liked the alliteration," Piper-Lee says. "When the due date got closer, we fell more in love with the name Briese. I worried it sounded a bit hippie and may conjure up ideas of meadows and daisies. Shaun thought it was perfect."
Piper-Lee liked growing up with an unusual name and Shaun says he wanted a name for their child that was "unique but not weird," and preferably had an Irish connection.
"I searched and searched for both boys' and girls' names. Nothing really worked for both of us," says Shaun, a Grade 8 teacher. But when he heard Briese Blackey, "It was too beautiful to ignore."
Next came the middle name, which Piper-Lee thought of one afternoon as she sat at a picnic table outside her workplace.
"The sun was so warm and I was staring at the sunshine and she was moving around like crazy – kicking and poking and doing what felt like somersaults. She was so lively; I thought that would be a great name, so I texted it to my husband and he sent me a (note) back saying it's perfect."
Briese Lively Blackey was born Aug. 12 at the family's Oshawa home – about 10 days overdue – weighing 7 pounds, 5 ounces.
Piper-Lee says she always calls her "my easy, breezy, beautiful cover girl."
Dad says the name is a good fit, as their daughter "has a `briesy' – pardon the pun – personality."
Did you recently have a baby and choose an interesting or unusual name? Email krushowy@thestar.ca.
Toronto Star