HELLO, MY NAME IS… BY LEIGH CHAMBERLAIN
It’s a simple question, right? You were given your name at birth and it has stuck ever since. But does it match you? What is the story behind it? What really is your name? The study of both individual and collective names is known as anthroponymy, a branch of onomastics, which has been around since the mid-19th century. When referencing a person, a name is a sacred, concrete form of identity. It is a title for who you are, who you have been and who you will become. Names can be religious allusions, mythological references, family namesakes or just something that pulled on the heartstrings of the parents when they first met their child. Whatever the meaning is behind the name, it can bring a greater understanding of self if the individual resonates with it. A name has the capability to hold personal values, family history or overall, a stronger sense of identity. This contributes to the power that a name holds, making it a much greater thing than simply a form of identification. With all of this said, some people may not feel this way about their name. If you do not feel connected with the meaning of your name, or just simply do not like the way it sounds, there are actions you as a citizen are able to take to change it. Legally in Pennsylvania, the citizen must fill out a petition for a name change, get a fingerprint card, publish a notice of a hearing, attend that hearing and be sure to update all legal records and documents. This may sound like a hefty process, but individuals deserve to have a name that they personally feel is representative of who they are. For members of the LGBTQ+ community, this process often gives them a chance to take ownership of their identity. Different states or private practices are working to make this a more feasible process, as they too recognize the power behind a name, and the power it can bring to one’s self. Here at Penn State, a public speaking class was instructed to produce a speech that revolves around their name. This could be anything — the story behind it, the meaning of the name or if the students like or dislike their name. In all their uniqueness, these speeches showcased how personal the relationship that one has with their name truly is. How one feels about their
name is no stagnant case — all relationships evolve and this is no exception. One member of the class, second-year Michael Vareha, explained that he is named after Saint Michael, the archangel. This name means “who is like god” or “no one is god” to which Vareha says is “a good reminder to be respectful and selfless throughout his day to day life.” Second-year Anthony Tavana, another student, also solidified values when learning the meaning of his name, as he said, “Throughout my life, I never had too much connection to my name, more just considered it a collection of sounds, something used to refer to someone, but now, not so much.” Anthony means priceless, or worthy of praise, and while Tavana reassured that he is not vain enough to consider himself priceless, he does firmly believe that “it is good to take credit for the good work you do.” Other names are powerful in the way in which they represent the family they come from. Reagan Alexis Wood stated that her initials are RAW, “which is kind of unfortunate if your head is in the gutter,” but she connects with the name proudly, as her father wanted her to have the same initials as him. Similarly, to Wood, another second-year named Emily Boccarossa explained that her name is a constant reminder of the hard work that her grandfather put in to give her family the life they live now. Sometimes inspiration for a name strikes randomly. Secondyear Avi Adams, a fellow member of the class, stated that she has never met anyone else with her name, and that is because her mom thought of it while watching a movie. “Someone was falling off a cliff,” says Adams, “her name was Amy, and someone screamed, and it sounded like Avi, so that’s where it came from.” The story behind a name has the capability to be just as unique as the person it belongs to. A name is a grouping of syllables that work together to form something bigger — you. While a name is powerful alone, you are the keeper of its meaning. You get to decide how you want your name to be interpreted just by being yourself. Find strength within your name, as you deserve a worthy title.
