Chosing the Name

Many people have asked us how we chose the name Rylan Cade. Early in my pregnancy my aunt gave us a book of baby names and I basically combed through the boy section to find names that we liked. We didn't want to use a family name, a name that was too common or a name that was too unusual. The fact that Rylan was not listed in the Top 100 names of 2008 was a positive. Pretty early on we decided on Rylan and also decided to keep it a secret. In hindsight I think it is so special that just Joe and I were calling him that all along while he was in my womb. The middle name was harder to decide on and was only finalized about a month before he was born.

While we picked the names because of how they sounded the meanings also proved to be significant. Rylan means "field where Rye grows" and if I had never moved to Rye, NY I never would have met Joe and we never would have had Rylan. Cade means "battler" and our tiny boy did put up a brave battle for 24 hours until the infection was just too overwhelming.

A friend shared the following beautiful observation on the significance of names in a recent email:
I was so sad when I heard about Rylan. In the first weeks of their lives we were presented with information about [our children's] health that caused me to cry uncontrollably. I can not imagine the type of grief you are experiencing. We love you so much and we have been thinking about you and talking about you a lot over the last 24 hours. I will be praying for you and Joe and your family. Your pregnancy has been such an exciting one to follow, knowing how blessed a child would be to have you as a mother. Rylan Cade is such a wonderful name. I have noticed that our children have seemed to take on a personality that really matches their name so I'm thankful that you have given us such a rich description of the boy that we were not able to meet. I hope you are comforted by our Saviors love and the love of those around you.