The Name Game!

I've always had a certain image about the name Delia. Frankly, I've always imagined a beautiful young girl, with green eyes, very rebellious. Very smart. I don't know why...Perhaps I knew a Delia with these characteristic, who knows? Point is, that whenever I hear this name, that's what I think of.
And I got to thinking, the other night, that it's a normal reaction, really. We all have images and ideas about any name. Because our brains are naturally creative, we like to conjure up images and stories, even if we do it without noticing.
Every name has a story.

I started thinking up random names. Julia – beautiful, classy and elegant, motherly. John – woodcutter, strong, muscular, trust-worthy. Mike – the rather simple best friend, honest. Suzanne – curly hair, a bit lost, creative.

Every name. And it's not so much about the names themselves, about what they mean or the stories they actually carry, but rather it's about us.
So I thought this would be a fun idea to get to know people. A few weeks back, I wrote a post about a word association game that would allow you to know people better. And I thought I could do the same thing, only with names.
See, I'm very interested in how people think. I'd like to see what your Delia looks like. I'd like to think up why she looks that way. So, I came up with another game.

The Name Game!

No, not that one. A different type. The minimum number of players is two. I don't think there is an upper limit. So, here's how.
You start by saying a name.
George.
The other player (or the one that's after you, if there's more) has to speak at once. He has no more than 5 seconds to see the image in his head. Because a image has formed there as soon as he heard the word and if you wait too long, he will start making up details, whereas that's not the point.
He has to describe the George in his head. Maybe he looks like George Constanza, from Seinfeld. Maybe it reminds him of Curious George...or a friend...a teacher...who knows. Association tells you a lot about people and about experiences.

See, I have a feeling that my image of a Delia comes from an older girl I knew in school, several years older, and I suppose she seemed cool, so that's why I have that image. Maybe.
Thing is, the image you associate with the name says something about your life. When you hear George, you will think of a George that marked your life somehow.
When the player has described his image, it's his turn to say a name (a different one, of course).

It's an excellent game to get to know people. I mean, you know them, but you don't know what they associate with the name Jean. Wouldn't you like to know? Maybe it's something wild, maybe it's something radically different from the image you get in your head when you hear that name.

Also, it's a good game to develop your imagination. You ability to see in your own mind and to focus. You see a girl, when you hear Anne, but what kind of girl? Is she tall or short? Beautiful? Is she naughty or nice, what color are her eyes?
It's the kind of game that helps your inner eye focus.

Besides, it's fun. Aren't you bored of the same old games? Don't you want something new to play with your friends?

Needless to say, it's a game suitable for all ages. I particularly recommend it for family nights...do you know what you child sees when he hears the name Andrew or Roxanne?