Thanks so much for all your emails, comments, messages, and support after the birth of baby Simon. We were so excited to FINALLY share his birth (and his name) with all of you last week! We were/are simply amazed by how much joy and excitement we have felt from people we’ve never even met!
We are so blessed!
Since many of you have asked, I promised I’d share the story behind Simon’s name — and today is the day 🙂
It all started back when Dave and I were dating…
Dave’s grandpa, Simon Dekker, died about 4 months before we were married — and after that, Dave told me that if we ever had a baby boy, he wanted to name that boy Simon John.
I thought it was a cute name, but I honestly never thought the name would stick.
Well 8 years later, we have that baby boy… and Dave stuck to his original plan the whole time!
So as I mentioned back in the birth post, Simon is named after Dave’s paternal grandpa (Simon) and Dave’s dad (John). Dave’s middle name is also John.
this picture is of Dave as a baby with his Grandpa Simon Dekker
However, what you don’t know is that our little Simon is the first, and potentially the ONLY, true 4th-generation of all Dekker males.
Although Dave’s dad comes from a very large family (7 children, 20 grandkids, and 26+ great-grandkids) his dad only has 1 brother, and that brother has no male grandkids. So unless Dave’s brother has a boy, or unless we have another boy in the future, our little Simon is the only person with the ability to carry on the Dekker name.
3 generation picture with Simon, Dave and Dave’s dad
Unfortunately, since Dave’s Grandpa Dekker passed away 8 years ago, we’ll never be able to get a 4-generation picture like we did with Nora — but it’s still nice to know that we’re doing our part to carry on the family name.
Plus, we both think Simon is a pretty cute name for a pretty cute little boy 🙂
It’s not too long, not too difficult to say or spell, not too trendy, not too weird, it doesn’t have any obvious nicknames, it doesn’t make Dave think of any naughty students — basically it meets all our baby name requirements AND is a family name that goes many generations back in the Dekker family!
Oh, and this is what his name means:
SIMON: “To be heard”
JOHN: “God is gracious”
So that’s the story behind Simon’s name… nothing spectacular, but still really special for our family.
Laura says
Congratulations! You have beautiful children – such beautiful faces. Health and happiness to you all.
A European says
Well, Nora might pass on the name as well, at least in europe we are past the time where it’s always the women who have to adopt their husbands names.
Michelle says
Our fourth was going to be a Simon … except she’s a Simone!
Love the name!
Teresa says
Aww so sweet! And Ms Nora and her brother look sooo much alike!! Thank you for sharing!
Tonya Hale says
I would like to say he is precious! I would like to give some advice of my own. You may feel overwhelmed with two small children. My first couple of months for me was overwhelming for me considering my kids were 11 months apart. I got into a type of rhythm with them and everything just went great. God bless!
Kim says
Congratulations on the safe arrival of Simon. He is beautiful! Love his name, so masculine and strong. Praying that things will be going well, that Nora is adjusting to sharing the spotlight. Hope basketball season is over soon so Dave can be home more.
Thank You, Lord, for your precious gifts of Simon and Nora.
julie says
beautiful name and beautiful handsome boy! Incredible blessings God bestows on faithful parents. Thanks for your encouragement, for being so transparent and encouraging to your readers. We too passed down our fathers/grandfathers names in our boys. So proud for them to keep their Godly heritage…passing on down 🙂
Trena says
Thanks, Andrea
Like the pix of John, Dave, and Simon.
Trena
Trena says
I sent that too quickly. Love the pix of my dad (Simon) and Dave as well. He would have been honored.
Abbey says
Beautiful!! And I love the picture of Nora kissing him. 🙂 he looks just about perfect!
Elizabeth says
Thanks for sharing! Congratulations on Baby Simon. Family names are so special. In the picture where he’s wearing the bear hat above, Andrea, little Simon the spitting image of you. 🙂
Kristen @ Joyfullythriving says
That’s lovely, Andrea! And a perfect reason to choose a name. I am so thankful that Simon is here safe and sound, and I pray that the days and weeks ahead, of adjusting to life as a Mom of two – and a family of four, continues to go well!
Andrea says
Thanks Kristen — I’m assuming you already have your names picked out?? Only about 2 more weeks for you, right?
Kristen @ Joyfullythriving says
Yes, indeed. Like you, we’re not telling until after the baby has arrived…which we should do any day now!
ShellyL says
Thanks for sharing your name story!! Love the name. Love the little cutie pie! Many, many congratulations on your wonderful little blessing.
Debbie says
I must say baby Dave looked like Nora now but without the curls
Dianne says
What a great story of family and family names. You are blessed.
Leanne says
He’s so sweet! and I love the “generations” connection to his name!! congratulations! love reading all the little posts about your expanded family!!
Leanne
Evie says
Wonderful story, Andrea. Grandpa Simon would be so happy and proud! You know what else I happened to notice about baby Simon’s name? Just like Nora Faith, Simon John has two syllables for the first name and one syllable for the second. David John also fits the pattern, and hey, you fit, too, if you say Andrea really fast. Nice cadence to the family names! Congratulations to all of you on this wonderful new addition!
Andrea says
Oh Evie… my mom and you would get along so well! Do you know that my mom actually chose my name and my sisters’ names so they would follow the same “cadence”? She’s a band/music teacher so the rhythm of the names was important to her 🙂
I have noticed that Nora Faith and Simon John have that same cadence — and although that wasn’t the reason for the name choices, I do like it! Maybe I’m turning into my mom!!
Julie H says
Little Simon is so adorable and I love family names. Plus it’s easy to say in the “you’re in trouble, little boy” voice. With my two, I have gotten good at that voice. Ha!
Jenn L. says
Hi Andrea,
Congratulations again on the addition to your family!
I would just like to point out, though, that Simon is really not the only one who can carry on the family name. Many women are choosing to keep their own names in marriage, and some husbands have even taken their wives’ names upon marriage. I actually have my mother’s last name! Though it is not traditional, it is being done more and more often – so Nora might remain a Dekker or name her children (should she choose to have them) Dekker, and Simon may marry and take his wife’s name. =)
Amy says
Great point about modern variations in name legacies! Also, it’s ok for girls not to get married…and to keep their maiden names that way.
Rachel says
I also immediately had that thought! I am very tied to my last name (it is an Ellis Island name, so it has a great deal of history attached to it), and my cousin is the only male with the same last name. I don’t want my name to disappear from the planet just because I’m a woman! Hopefully Nora will feel the same attachment to her own name.
Linda K Foster says
Andrea, I too wished I could have a generation picture but not possible. So I did a photo collage of all five I wanted to include, in oval shapes and framed it. Next best thing. I gave a copy to my daughter, who is now 41! She loved it. This was years ago, about the time she had her first little girl who is now 20.
Andrea says
That’s a cool idea Linda — we currently don’t have a great pictures of Dave’s grandpa, but I’m sure I could come up with one if I ever wanted to do a collage. Thanks for the idea.
Debbie says
What a wonderful story! Congratulations and God bless you and your family!
Paulette Smith says
Oh Andrea, what an adorable little guy. I’ve been following you on Facebook and SOOO much appreciate the photos and updates! The pics of Nora with her little brother are just awesome!! (No kidding…can’t remember your photographer’s name, but the poses are amazing.) you would think I actually know you and your family the way I’m excited for you and your family. 🙂
Andrea says
Thanks Paulette! We were really excited to see how well the photos of Nora and Simon turned out too! I can’t wait to get ALL the pictures back from our photographer and get a few hung up on the walls!