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Date/Time 20 Dec 2013 1:28:36pm
I have always been intrigued by the stories that lie behind people's names. They ultimately seem so arbitrary, due to either parental preferences or family traditions. So I have always asked friends with new babies 'Why that name?'

This is my favourite story of not only how a name acquired a unique spelling but provides a cautionary tale about ill-considered tattoos.

Some friends had a baby boy and named him Ellroy (the King)- spelt with two L's.
"Why two L's? everyone asked.
"I looked it up in the baby name book when I was pregnant and the first entry, thus the original version is spelt with two L's. I don't want none of those derivative spellings."
For six months the mother endured these enquiries and she was growing sick of the question. Since her father-in-law would not let the issue rest she found the fateful book from which the spelling was derived. To her shock there was no entry of the name Ellroy with two L's!
"Oh my God! We have to go and get his name changed to the right spelling!" Insisted the beleaguered mother.
"Um... I don't think so." Interrupted the father, as he pulled back his shirt to reveal "ELLROY" with two L's tattooed on his chest.
And so baby Ellroy remains with his unique and fascinating name.
