Tyler Clark Burke and Jeremy Stewart looked back – way back – when searching for their daughter’s name.

Among those on their family tree named Leili, Rowan, Aliciam and even Remembrance, was one that caught their attention: Rooksby.

Tyler had been researching the history of both families for several years.

“Ideally we wanted a name that came from our family tree, but, perhaps more pressing was the desire for a name that had meaning or a story or some weight — not just a name that sounded cool.”

The Toronto couple, both artists/designers, received mixed reaction; they had “some doubts in the hospital because we were met with such stunning silence every time we told someone the name we were considering, but were heartened by the rallying of our friends and family.”

Rooksby Joan Stewart was born last month at Toronto’s Mount Sinai Hospital, weighing 9.5 lbs.

Joan is a nod to both Tyler and Jeremy’s moms, who share the same middle name.

During the pregnancy, they’d referred to the baby by the name, or shortened it to Rooks, and “we'd even use her name when pondering what her name could be, like: ‘What should we name Rooksby?’” says Tyler. “It became clear that she just was Rooksby, especially once she was born.”

It was only after Rooksby was born that they found out the story behind the name. Rooksby Greenleaf was an ancestor of Jeremy’s; her father was Enoch Greenleaf, who fought in the Battle of Dunbar in Scotland in 1650 alongside a Major Rooksby. The major died during the fight.

“It’s assumed he named his daughter for his friend, a tribute, a gesture of loyalty that we admire.”

The name appears twice in the family tree, as Rooksby Greenleaf used it for her own daughter.

“We wanted the name to be smart and strong-sounding, and a little mischievous too,” adds Tyler. “Rooksby sounds like the name of a curious girl, maybe a little Harriet-The-Spy-ish, and we liked this a lot.”

Did you give your child an interesting or unusual name? Email krushowy@thestar.ca