Daily Question, March 12 Does my name have a story behind it? If not, what does my name mean to me? 52 Reflections Share Click here to cancel reply.Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. Notify me when someone replies to my comment via e-mail. k'Care-Reena1 year agok'Care-ReenaDOES MY NAME HAVE A STORY BEHIND IT? WHAT DOES YOUR NAME MEAN TO ME? So... I do have a story behind my name. When my mother was giving birth to me she heard someone sing Karina Karina and it got stuck in her head so she let it stick however I spell it Kareena pronounced Care-Reena . As a business person I go by Reena, I recently looked up if Reena was an actual name and had a meaning ...and it DOES!!! Reena means: "source of immense happiness. A strong liking for dance and music brims ...DOES MY NAME HAVE A STORY BEHIND IT? WHAT DOES YOUR NAME MEAN TO ME? So… I do have a story behind my name. When my mother was giving birth to me she heard someone sing Karina Karina and it got stuck in her head so she let it stick however I spell it Kareena pronounced Care-Reena . As a business person I go by Reena, I recently looked up if Reena was an actual name and had a meaning …and it DOES!!! Reena means: “source of immense happiness. A strong liking for dance and music brims in their nature & in profession as well & possible an Artisan & ARCHITECTS. They have fortune in teaching professionals or managing. They show respect towards everyone. They are idealistic, outspoken and possess a good oratory power….” Read More2 Reply Malag1 year agoMalagNo story behind my name except the life it has led. My name means everything and nothing. If I identify very closely with the self then my whole story is bound up in my name: the name is like a wrapper. When the I falls away from time to time then the name is just a name along with all the other stories. 3 Reply Mike1 year agoMikeI don't know why my parents chose it, but I understand the name "Michael" is derived from Biblical Hebrew and means "who is like God?" In one tradition, I believe, this phrase was the Archangel Michael's rhetorical response to Satan's boast that he could rival God. When I learned this story as a child, I was filled with religious pride at having the archangel as my eponym. - Wise people will, of course, tell you on with good reason that religious pride is one of the most vicious kinds there is. ...I don’t know why my parents chose it, but I understand the name “Michael” is derived from Biblical Hebrew and means “who is like God?” In one tradition, I believe, this phrase was the Archangel Michael’s rhetorical response to Satan’s boast that he could rival God. When I learned this story as a child, I was filled with religious pride at having the archangel as my eponym. – Wise people will, of course, tell you on with good reason that religious pride is one of the most vicious kinds there is. I’ve started reckoning with the serious injuries mine has inflicted on others, and this process in turn has given me cause to rethink my relationship to my name. Read More2 Reply Kristi1 year agoKristiI was named after twins on my dad’s basketball team. The first name of one twin and the middle name of the other. Not sure why they wanted to name me after the twins? 3 Reply Dusty Su1 year agoDusty SuWithin six days of my birth, my adoptive parents, nurses, and biological mother had given me three different names. I did not know them until I was in my 20s, except the one my adoptive parents gave me, of course. I never felt that it fit. At age 20, I changed my name to Michelle for 5 years, which was the name my birth mother assigned me, unbeknownst to me. I kept hearing it called in a foreign accent. She was French-Dutch, again unbeknownst to me. Very uncanny and not coincidental. Yet while a...Within six days of my birth, my adoptive parents, nurses, and biological mother had given me three different names. I did not know them until I was in my 20s, except the one my adoptive parents gave me, of course. I never felt that it fit. At age 20, I changed my name to Michelle for 5 years, which was the name my birth mother assigned me, unbeknownst to me. I kept hearing it called in a foreign accent. She was French-Dutch, again unbeknownst to me. Very uncanny and not coincidental. Yet while a better fit, it was still not me. I have had at least 10 different/or variations of my first names throughout my life (not counting foreign nicknames assigned me). Finally, it has come down to Dusty, which is derived from the male name Dustin—Valiant Warrior. I legally changed it to my middle name when I go married and had to change also my surname. When the Dust settles and rises, and I have settled and risen, what remains are diamonds. Even a tiny unwanted speck of dust, when it gets in the light, sparkles and shines. And that is my name story. Read More5 Reply Hot Sauce1 year agoHot SauceMy real name, Matthew, was literally just picked from a phonebook my parents looked through to find a name that sounded nice. Nevertheless, it means “gift of YHWH,” and the fact that I almost died of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome as a baby but survived through experimental treatment felt somewhat like a synchronicity to my parents, who believed that I must have a special purpose since I survived that. Simply put, I shouldn’t be here today. I should also mention that I was conceived despite ...My real name, Matthew, was literally just picked from a phonebook my parents looked through to find a name that sounded nice. Nevertheless, it means “gift of YHWH,” and the fact that I almost died of Meconium Aspiration Syndrome as a baby but survived through experimental treatment felt somewhat like a synchronicity to my parents, who believed that I must have a special purpose since I survived that. Simply put, I shouldn’t be here today. I should also mention that I was conceived despite my mom being on birth control. Read More4 Reply sb1 year agosbMy first name is Sarah, very common when I was a child (there were 8 of us in my class!) but not common at all now - and I prefer being more unique rather than one of many as I was then! Mum wanted to call me Anastasia but Dad held out for Sarah after his favourite cousin. It is also a Bible name which my Mum liked about it, meaning princess. This strangely makes me feel special although I am not remotely princess-like sadly!! I fully identify with my name and would never change it, even though...My first name is Sarah, very common when I was a child (there were 8 of us in my class!) but not common at all now – and I prefer being more unique rather than one of many as I was then! Mum wanted to call me Anastasia but Dad held out for Sarah after his favourite cousin. It is also a Bible name which my Mum liked about it, meaning princess. This strangely makes me feel special although I am not remotely princess-like sadly!! I fully identify with my name and would never change it, even though some people say Anastasia would have been so much more interesting! I am happy that my name can’t really be shortened but my Dad used to call me Sarie and as that was just between us, it was lovely!!! Read More4 Reply Antoinette1 year agoAntoinetteMy name is Antoinette and I use to dislike my name as a kid because many teachers couldn’t say it properly! As an adult I enjoy having a name that not many people have and I would prefer to not have a last name but I guess that’s not allowed unless you’re Prince.! Lol! Have a lovely weekend friends ! 5 Reply Patricia1 year agoPatriciaGreat stories, all! Thanks to everyone for sharing. My first name is because my mom said, “I just always wanted a little girl named Patty….” and since she was 17 when she got pregnant with me, I was the girl of her girlhood dreams! My middle name is both my mom’s middle name and the first name of her maternal aunt who I knew as a funny and quirky woman in the best sense. Patricia means ‘noble’ and maybe that has encouraged me to aspire to a nobility of thought, spirit and action. (Or...Great stories, all! Thanks to everyone for sharing. My first name is because my mom said, “I just always wanted a little girl named Patty….” and since she was 17 when she got pregnant with me, I was the girl of her girlhood dreams! My middle name is both my mom’s middle name and the first name of her maternal aunt who I knew as a funny and quirky woman in the best sense. Patricia means ‘noble’ and maybe that has encouraged me to aspire to a nobility of thought, spirit and action. (Or maybe I’m still just Patty inside.) I usually go by Pat, and that also describes me: to the point – and what you see is what you get. Read More4 Reply Antoinette1 year agoAntoinetteCute! I like your name ! 4 Reply DeVonna1 year agoDeVonnaMy name, DeVonna, is the only thing I own that was given to me by my mother. When I was a child no one could ever pronounce it correctly. (Really?? DeVaughnYa?? There’s no Y in my name! LOL) It’s pronounced like Donna, but Dee-Vonna. I was always teased about my name in school. But I’ve always loved my name. Now when people comment about how unusual it is I just say, “My Momma was a hippie!” (truth) 9 Reply LeanIn1 year agoLeanInMy name is Deborah, which is a Hebrew name meaning "bee" and was the name of the "heroine and prophetess who led the Israelites when they were threatened by the Canaanites" in the Book of Judges. My parents said they chose my name (and my brothers) because it has 7 letters. Both of their first names and our surname also have 7 letters. When you look it up, the number 7 has a lot of meaning in a lot of civilizations - God rested on the 7th day, Buddha took 7 steps just after he was born, the 7 ch...My name is Deborah, which is a Hebrew name meaning “bee” and was the name of the “heroine and prophetess who led the Israelites when they were threatened by the Canaanites” in the Book of Judges. My parents said they chose my name (and my brothers) because it has 7 letters. Both of their first names and our surname also have 7 letters. When you look it up, the number 7 has a lot of meaning in a lot of civilizations – God rested on the 7th day, Buddha took 7 steps just after he was born, the 7 chakras, the 7 colors of the rainbow, and many others. It is often called a sacred, mystical, or lucky number. I’ve always liked being called by my full name- there were way too many “Debbie’s” when I was in school. Read More9 Reply Lauryn1 year agoLaurynMy name is Lauren. No interesting stories behind it. I think my mother named me after the author Laura Elizabeth Ingalls Wilder who wrote the Little House on the Prairie books….so from Laura Elizabeth, I am Lauren Beth. No nicknames — it’s hard to shorten that name. But I’ve always resonated with this name for some reason.. 7 Reply JDS1 year agoJDSMy first name is Jean ( Jeanie to family & friends ). My mother was pregnant with me when her one and only sibling was a captain in the army & was killed in the Korean War . His first name was – Gene – and she said at the time “ Boy or girl this baby will be named Gene .” I also carry his last name as my middle name . It has been an honor to carry his name ❤️ 13 Reply Carol1 year agoCarolAs I recall I was about 12 years old when an elderly priest visited our school. When he asked me what my name was, I shyly blurted out “Carol Ann Vredenburgh.” He studied my young face and he said, “A Carol is a song; your middle name Ann is a derivative of Hannah and means grace; apparently your ancestry is European and your last name in Germanic cultures means city or mountain of peace.” I really didn’t know what to say to this kind man of the cloth but I never forgot what he said to...As I recall I was about 12 years old when an elderly priest visited our school. When he asked me what my name was, I shyly blurted out “Carol Ann Vredenburgh.” He studied my young face and he said, “A Carol is a song; your middle name Ann is a derivative of Hannah and means grace; apparently your ancestry is European and your last name in Germanic cultures means city or mountain of peace.” I really didn’t know what to say to this kind man of the cloth but I never forgot what he said to me. Read More12 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioWow. I can see why it impressed you. 🙂 2 Reply Ose1 year agoOseThe name was given to me as my mother was born on an Island close to Denmark where such short names exist. In the northern countries like Denmark, Sweden or Norway, my name is written Åse and refers to the Åsen, the Norse gods in the nordic myth, the Edda, which I came to know as an adult. It is a rare name even in the north of Germany, which had both positive and negative aspects, and it is a name which to most people is not indicating clearly that I am female. So it was a journey living w...The name was given to me as my mother was born on an Island close to Denmark where such short names exist. In the northern countries like Denmark, Sweden or Norway, my name is written Åse and refers to the Åsen, the Norse gods in the nordic myth, the Edda, which I came to know as an adult. It is a rare name even in the north of Germany, which had both positive and negative aspects, and it is a name which to most people is not indicating clearly that I am female. So it was a journey living with this name, from being happy that it could not be abbreviated, to a kind of undeserved false pride and letting go of this wrongs again, to a kind of irritation when constantly receiving letters to Mr. Ose …, which fortunately changed when I inserted my second female name. Identifying with the meaning of the name always felt a bit ambivalent, as these Gods were usually described as warriors, and in a way, as a survivor of a Rhesus-incompatibility as a newborn without possible treatment at that time, this energy must clearly be there. In the mean time there exists another interpretation of the Edda also, where the Aesir and the Wanen are not split in two. When I was visiting Egypt several years ago, an Egypt archeologist who had studied the Egyptian hyroglyphs told me that my name written in these letters would be the same as the hyroglyphs of Isis, the ancient Egypt goddess, wife of Osiris, Healer and mistress and the guardian of the circle of life. So my intemperate assumption is there might be a common root, somehow an ancient relation between the Aesir and Isis… However it may be, I am very happy that I may give much of the gift of strength and creativity to serve my fellow people wherever possible and always try to do so as good as I am able to. Thank you for all your sharing concerning the meaning of your names, it helped to find trust to convey the stories around my name to you also. Wishing all a beautiful, sunny and relaxing weekend. Read More11 Reply Holly in Ohio1 year agoHolly in OhioMy mother chose my name many years before I was born. Though my name is common now, it was quite rare at the time. I was the third child, but there is a very large gap after my sister and brother, and then me (nine years). My mother had several miscarriages between them and me, but hoped for a third child. She told me I was going to be Holly whether I was born in July or December. I was born in December. And she also told me I was going to be Holly whether I was a boy or a girl. Oh thank G...My mother chose my name many years before I was born. Though my name is common now, it was quite rare at the time. I was the third child, but there is a very large gap after my sister and brother, and then me (nine years). My mother had several miscarriages between them and me, but hoped for a third child. She told me I was going to be Holly whether I was born in July or December. I was born in December. And she also told me I was going to be Holly whether I was a boy or a girl. Oh thank God!!!!!!! Read More9 Reply Emily1 year agoEmilyMy name is Emily. I asked my parents ages ago about my name. My Mom had ideas of calling me Rachel, Flora or Emma but my dad just started calling me Emily and that’s how my name came to be. I also have an ancestor whose name was also Emily. 9 Reply SK1 year agoSKMy legal name is SANDRA but I’ve used my initials all my life. I love the name Sandra. It means “helper and defender of mankind.” I grew into that meaning. and came to be it and live it. Coincidently, one of my Native American spirit animals is the dolphin- also symbolic of one who comes along side to help and does not leave until help is completed.; a companioning of sorts. 11 Reply Toni1 year agoToniYes. My name is Toni. Short for Anthony if I was a boy. My parents wanted a boy but I came along. I was named after my uncle Anthony, my mothers’ brother. He was a golden globe boxer, photographer, writer, tough guy who was born on September 26, 1928 and died in the Korean war October 27, 1950 . He was M.I.A. He was a Marine. When the enemy came he held the fort as his fellow Marines fled to freedom. He received the purple heart and silver star on October 27th. the same day my Mother died 13 y...Yes. My name is Toni. Short for Anthony if I was a boy. My parents wanted a boy but I came along. I was named after my uncle Anthony, my mothers’ brother. He was a golden globe boxer, photographer, writer, tough guy who was born on September 26, 1928 and died in the Korean war October 27, 1950 . He was M.I.A. He was a Marine. When the enemy came he held the fort as his fellow Marines fled to freedom. He received the purple heart and silver star on October 27th. the same day my Mother died 13 years ago. The following was written about him. “When his platoon was ordered to withdraw to a more favorable position after being subjected to heavy hostile fire and threaten envelopment by numerically superior enemy forces. Private First Class Marcatante voluntarily remained in position to deliver a covering fire for the consolidation of his platoons position and the evacuation of the many casualties. Ignoring the extreme danger of the situation, he continued to deliver acute and effective fire on the enemy until his position was overrun. By his courageous actions, he served to inspire all members of his platoon and contributed materially to the successful evacuation of the wounded Marines. His fortitude, aggressive fighting spirit and steadfast devotion to duty throughout reflect the highest credit upon Private First Class Marcatante and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the united States Naval Service.” Since remains have been sent to Hawaii and are being sifted through for possible DNA samples for identification, as the remaining five family members (third and fourth generation), we are hoping to hear notice for closure of his death. This tragedy may be the first second hand trauma I encountered hearing about as a young child over and over again as my family talked about it at the dinner table in my grandmothers house. There were many family traumas growing up. Not until I saw Saving Private Ryan did I begin to understand what my grandmother went through. The scene in the kitchen when the mother passed out as the telegram was being delivered still stands out in my mind. My grandmother passed out when she received the news of her son as witnessed by her children. As a child I didn’t not perceive what was being told all I felt was and saw on their faces was the loss and horror of what happened. So I have mixed feelings to my name. It was traumatic hearing about my uncles death and still haunts me when I think about what he went through. Read More11 Reply DeVonna1 year agoDeVonnaDear Toni, I too am a Marine, having served in peacetime from 1981-1987. I appreciate and honor your family’s sacrifice. 5 Reply Toni1 year agoToniDear DeVonna, Thank you for taking the time to share. Much appreciation for your service as well. It is an honor to serve in war and in peace. I’m sure you value the experience and the discipline it taught you and the gratitude for what it takes to protect and to serve. Thank you for your sacrifice as well. 1 Reply Journey1 year agoJourneyMy name is Twinkle. I don’t know what my parents were thinking :-). In kindergarten and 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade, every time the class sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, everyone would turn to look at me. It embarrassed me. I grew to love my name though and realized how unique it is. Now every time, I meet someone new, even a busy doctor, they start off by taking time to compliment me on my name and ask about it. Everyone tells me ‘you are the first and only Twinkle I know’. I am told my person...My name is Twinkle. I don’t know what my parents were thinking :-). In kindergarten and 1st, 2nd, 3rd grade, every time the class sang Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, everyone would turn to look at me. It embarrassed me. I grew to love my name though and realized how unique it is. Now every time, I meet someone new, even a busy doctor, they start off by taking time to compliment me on my name and ask about it. Everyone tells me ‘you are the first and only Twinkle I know’. I am told my personality is a lot like my name, energetic, full of life, joyful, goofy. I guess with a name like Twinkle, I cant be a gloomy person, it would just not fit. My nickname is Twinks and I love it when people call me that because I feel nicknames indicate people feel close and comfortable with you. Even my boss calls me Twinks. Friends buy me products (Bath & Body Works, Mugs etc) with the word Twinkle on the especially around the holiday season.My name means everything to me. It was given to me by my parents and chosen with love. I have a younger sister and her name is Star. We asked our parents what prompted them to choose these names in the mid 70s, way way way back in the day before Hollywood popularized these name. My dad said they just wanted to do something different. Read More13 Reply Michele1 year agoMicheleI’ve never heard that name before. Great story! My girls had a friend, America, which was a first for me too never knowing anyone with that name. 0 Reply Trish1 year agoTrishIt’s so great⭐️ 4 Reply Journey1 year agoJourneyThank you Trish 4 Reply 1 2 Next » My Private Gratitude Journal Write an entry in your private gratefulness journal Get Started This site is brought to you by A Network for Grateful Living, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. All donations are fully tax deductible in the U.S.A. DONATE https://gratefulness.org/content/uploads/2015/03/GX-Gold-Participant-L.png Community Engagement Guidelines Privacy Policy [email protected] Connect with us on Social Media: © 2000 - 2022, A Network for Grateful Living Website by Briteweb