Jack and Grace were the most popular choices for babies born in 2008. Laura Davis asks what’s in a name?

WOULD a Grace by any other name be steady on her feet? If Mr Nicholson had been given the nickname Johnny, instead of Jack, would he have ended up an insurance salesman instead of an Oscar-winning actor?

Our names are an integral part of our personality, of what other people make of us and how we see ourselves. Yet most of us were very nearly called something completely different – had not a toss of a coin or a family argument set our fate.

Fashion plays a large part, too, with some names falling out of favour altogether and others lasting the test of time.

In 2008, for the second year running, according to the Office of National Statistics, the country’s most popular baby names were Jack and Grace – Jack, of Old English origin, meaning “the Lord is gracious”; and Grace, from Latin, meaning “favour” or “blessing”.

We ask those who live with these names, and those who have chosen them for others, what affect it has had on their lives.

Grace Eden, 29, producer of Tony Snell at Breakfast on BBC Radio Merseyside

“WHEN my Mum was younger, she met an old lady called Grace. She thought she was absolutely lovely and loved her whole persona. So she loved the name, too, and always thought she’d like to have a little girl and call her Grace. When she met my Dad, she found out his Mum’s middle name was Grace, too, so that was that; it was fate.

“I absolutely love my name. I know it’s a popular name now, but for my age it’s so unusual. No-one forgets it. And with the surname Eden, I think it all sounds lovely together. Mum and Dad did well. Everyone always says, ‘What a lovely name’, especially people on the tills in shops who see it on my credit card. I think it’s a good name for radio because people never forget it and it’s nice to stand out from the crowd. I used to get teased at school – especially at Infants when they would ask everyone to say Grace before lunch. I would imagine most people would think that I’m graceful. I’m actually the clumsiest person I know.

“I know about five people who’ve named their babies Grace over the last couple of years. Some new mums I’ve met seem a little put out when they know my Mum thought of the name first, 29 years ago! It’s a great name and deserves the revival. I’m sure it’ll be back again. Hopefully, in the future, I’ll be the little old lady that people meet and think . . . that’s a nice name.”

Jack Stopforth >>>