What’s in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet.

William Shakespeare

According to familly history, my great-grandfather’s favorite song was “Rose Marie”, which originated in a 1924 musical of the same name. The operetta-styled show was extremely popular, running on Broadway for 557 performances, then in London for 581 performances, before eventually being turned into a 1928 silent film starring Joan Crawford. It’s probable Ludwig was most familiar with the 1936 film version starring Nelson Eddy and Jeannette McDonald.

The song “Rose Marie” was one of the most popular from the show and film.

Why it was Ludwig’s favorite song has been lost to time. But he adored it enough that he asked Lilo to name her first daughter after the song’s heroine.

Oh Rose Marie I love you
I’m always dreaming of you
No matter what I do I can’t forget you
Sometimes I wish that I’d never met you
And yet if I should lose you
T’would mean my very life to me
Of all the queens that ever lived I’d choose you
To rule me my Rose Marie

Lilo honored that request, naming the girl Rosemarie Elisabeth Alice. (Elisabeth was to honor Werner’s mother, and Alicie was to honor her own.) Ludwig died in 1941, not living to see his only granddaughter born.

When the Bollmann family emigrated to the United States, they were advised to Americanize at least the children’s names. After all, Heini (son Heinz’s nickname) was not really considered an appropriate name for a boy. So Heinz was renamed Henry (and later also known as Hank), and Rosemarie was renamed Rosemary. (I’ve always found it interesting that they Americanized an already American name.)

But there were other names she was called. After she was born, brother Heinz couldn’t get over why such a “little girl” had such a long name as Rosemarie. He frequently referred to her as the “Madie”, a German diminutive for Madchen, or girl. The name of Madie has carried with her as a family name, still called “Aunt Madie” by her nephew.

As time went by, Rosemary was eventually nicknamed to Rosie, the name she prefers. Today she is also known as Grandma to three loving children.

So, Rosemarie, Madie, Rosemary, Rosie or Grandma, by any other name, you’re just as sweet.

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The author of this post is Dorene Marie. Dorene’s name was chosen from a book because she couldn’t leave the hospital without a name on the birth certificate. So while her first name came from a book, at least her middle name came from a song.