by Rivs Aikman

Created on: July 20, 2010

My name is more than just a designation that matches up with a government-issued number.  My name is more than what I am called by the people who surround me.  The meaning of my name has shaped how I perceive myself and my place in the world, but I don't necessarily believe that a person's name dictates her destiny.

My first name's literal translation is allegedly "to bind" in Hebrew.  BDSM connotations aside, I have read that the binding is meant to refer to the bonds of marriage.  My middle name is the Welsh word for "lake," and my last name is the Welsh name for an Oak tree.

I've never actually thought about tying someone to a tree near a lake...but now I have plans for the weekend!

Just kidding.

Where was I?  Oh, yes.  Names have the significance that you give them.  They make you unique, but it's rare that one has to live up to the standard of the meaning of one's name.  For example, I have a nephew named Alexander, and I can assure you that thus far in his short life, he has been neither a helper nor a defender of mankind (both "defender of mankind" and "helper of mankind" are given as meanings of the name Alexander).  However, I do know an Alexander who is quite helpful when he wants to be, and he actually bears scars from times that he has gotten hurt while defending other people from harm.  The latter Alexander is an adult, though, so it's possible that my nephew will mature into the kind of human being who defends, protects, and helps other people.

Another thing that can give a name significance is if there are any stories behind the reason that a person was given a certain name.  My middle name isn't very unique, but it was given to me because my mother had come from a broken home and wanted to start a new tradition in her own family by passing on her middle name to her daughter.  My father didn't seem amenable to the idea until I was born and he had run out of suitable middle names for girls.  My first name was also the name of my father's step-niece, a woman who had become a valued friend to my mother.  Unfortunately, she moved away when I was quite young, and I don't remember meeting her.  The combination of names gave me the same name as the girl in Bryan White's famous song.  Coincidentally, I am "a quiet girl with green eyes full of fire."  Bryan White has never met me, much less married me...which is a good thing, because I doubt I would name my daughter Norma Jean.

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