I love what you said about feeling protective toward names. Thought I was the only one. My "ugly ducklings" often turn into some of my favorites. It starts with feeling sorry for them but turns into love. Why yes, I do have too much time on my hands. Why do you ask? :0P
Sorry to hear about your great-grandfather's troubles and all the ripples it caused. It's making me want to (possibly) name a future cat after him for some reason. Would that be OK? I've had names like
Humphrey,
Linus and
Godfrey (nn God) in the back of my head but now I'd like to add
Horace. :0)