Plain but Strong

When my mother was pregnant with me, she and my father thought about two names, one for a boy and one for a girl. They didn’t want to know my gender before I was born. They wanted to enjoy having a surprise on the due date.

The feeling I have about my name is mixed sometimes. It makes me feel plain because it is so easy to spell and pronounce, and it is so common. In different situations with people from different countries, they have told me “That’s my grandmother’s name”. It is funny but also it seems to me like a boring name. However, on the other hand, the same reasons that make my name so simple are the reasons why I like it, just because it is so practical. People almost never make mistakes spelling or pronouncing it. It’s also easy to remember and type.   

My name is functional, but the most significant part of the history of my name is the story of the women who inspired my parents to choose it. I am proud to have the same name as my great-great-grandmother and my grandmother because there were strong women. Who were independent, organized, kind, and community servers, even though they had difficult lives.

In the end, I wouldn't change my name. My parents have personal reasons for choosing it, and I respect their decision. For me it is common, but I admire the namesakes in my family.