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My parents named me after meeting a young woman named Julene. I don't know anything beyond that. Their nickname for me is Juju and my friends often call me Juju, Ju or J. I am that person who can never find a keychain with their name which was source of frustration when I was younger.

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My name is Jeanetta and I was named after my  biological great-grandmother. Apparently, she was not a super nice human and not many people in my biological family liked her but my they liked the name. However, my mom ended up spelling it “wrong” on the birth certificate. Instead of “Jeanette”, my mom spelled it “Jeanetta” (however, it pronounced is like it has an “a” at the ended— confusing). Even though I was named after someone who I’ve been told was not very nice or well liked, I actually really like my name and I love that my mom spelled it wrong. I’m not really close to my biological family and I don’t know much about my great grandmother, so the name has always felt unique to me.

My last name, "Mohlke-Hill" is much more special to me. The "Mohlke" comes from my mom's side of the family and the "Hill" comes from my dad's side of the family. My dad was originally my step-dad, but he has always been the person I've considered my real father. I wasn't able to change my last name to "Mohlke-Hill" until I was 18 years old because I couldn't get permission from my biological father, so it has much more significance to me because I was able to make that choice as an adult and the decision wasn't made for me.

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I am named after both of my grandmothers: Beatrix/Beatrice, maternal side, and then Grace Jeanette, paternal side. I like having these connections. But I didn't like all of the teasing I got as a kid about my unusual name. There was Trix are for kids, and how many Trixie Beldan books have you read. The most hurtful was the school guidance counselor who kept insisting I give her my "real" name "because no southern god-fearing woman would name her daughter Trixie" This one upset my mom as well. It also influenced my approach to students and their names even before I became a teacher.

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Location of where my family and I moved to when I was 9 months of age

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My parents are planners, and so they chose the name 'Zachary' for me way before my birth date. They anticipated me to be a boy -- result of ultra sound imaging in the early 80s, I guess ;). When I was born, and it was clear that I was not a boy, I was named 'baby' for the first week of my life. In March of '82, my father had applied for a work position in the Abdijan, the capital city of Cote d' Ivoire in Africa. Since we were moving to a French-speaking country, my father decided to name me 'Monique'.

Meaning of my name (for me)
A quick name meaning search will tell you that 'Monique' means "advisor". Given my many years teaching and mentoring students learning English as a second or foreign language and being a good listener to friends, I feel that I am definitely living up to the semantic meaning of my name.

Parental hopes
On a personal level, my name is quite unusual in most communities where I have lived, worked, and studied. Outside of Europe and French-speaking countries, I've only met one other Monique in my life. Having such a unique name means a lot to me. It makes me feel like my parents gave me a unique name to encourage me to be a unique individual. If this were their hope, then it has been fulfilled ;)

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This is a repost because mine disappeared.

My parents named me [redacted] because they liked the sound. It doesn't have any family or symbolic meaning, and it's actually a neologism anyways. I use a stylized version of my initials outside of family situations. I'm not particularly attached to my name or its abbreviation, but it's too much social and legal effort to change it. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

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My parents gave me my name for a number of reasons. My first name is biblical, and I'm not sure exactly what its linguistic etymology is (though I'm pretty sure it's Hebrew?). The name was chosen for its meaning, "the Lord saves," or at least that's what I was always told. It was important to my parents that I have a biblical name, but to be honest, it's one of the parts of my name I feel most disconnected from. For my entire life, I've pretty much just been Josh. Pragmatically, it's faster and easier for conversation, and personally, the formality and religious history of Joshua never seemed to suit me; I actually kind of bristle when I'm called by my full first name.

I've also never really liked my middle name either now that I think about it. Andrew is my father's name, and he has no middle name, so it was important to him that I took his name as my own. I love my dad, and I also like my dad, so I'm not sure why Andrew has never really felt like a good fit for me. My dad is a really serious guy for the most part and definitely projects a sense of stern formality about himself into the world, and maybe that's why I haven't ever really felt identified with the name. I tend to be a bit more informal, a bit less serious, and kind of put-off by the idea of "being an adult" or committing myself to being a Very Serious Person. I've tried it and it just doesn't work for me. I like to laugh, I like to be around other folks that like to laugh, and I find my best thinking and creating happens when I'm somewhere in between the space of playing and working.

Kim is also inherited from my dad, a first generation immigrant from Korea. As much as I love the ethnic origin of my last name and what it represents, I honestly feel weirdly disconnected from this part of my name too. Growing up as a kid, I kind of resented the Korean parts of me and anything that signified those parts because they also very much signified difference and that was really uncomfortable. As an adult, I'm less concerned with that and super fascinated and appreciative of my Korean heritage, but I still can't help but feel like it's kind of foreign to me. I grew up in the Midwest, I don't know Korean, and I really don't know much about the culture of Korea or its history beyond some major events.

I've never really realized how disconnected I feel from my own name until writing it out this very moment.

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I believe my mother named me (first name). My father and mother decided to have one person give my first name and one person give my middle name. I am named after Raven Symoné. My parents saw her as a lively, cute little girl on the The Cosby Show and thought it was perfect. For me, Raven means a black bird, a black girl, a cunning or clever person, a trickster (in some folktales), an isolated person, a strong/beautiful solid black figure, and something associated with evil or foreboding things (in some representations). Raven is a staple name in the black community as well given its association with Raven Symoné. People would associate me with the football team as well as That So Raven (a show I liked very much growing up). Plus, I am a person who always has a vision (haha). My parents hoped I’d be like that little girl and I ended up being (like Raven Symoné) far more than that one representation.

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My mom named me after a soap opera (can't remember which one) character. My name was originally supposed to be Elizabeth, but she didn't like the way that it sounded with my last name. My name doesn't have any deep lineage like some people's names might, my mom just liked the way it sounded. With that being said, I love my name. I find that it suits me well.

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My parents were always split if they wanted to name me Nicholas or Christopher. They were certain not to name me the generational name of my dad, his dad, and his dad: Edmund. I never liked Nicholas so in middle school I gravitated more to Nick. This is the name I still go by.

I think my middle name, William, has other significance. It's the name of my grandfather, "Bill" and it's an allusion to the bard, as my mom tells it.

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I've never actually thought about the meaning of my name. My parents don't have a story of why they named me Victoria, other than liking the name. However, there have been many occasions where people have confused my name with Veronica, which happens to be my mom's name. Even though I wasn't named after my mom, I always find it funny when I hear people call me Veronica because in a way our names are still connected.

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I was named by my mother and father together. They selected it not only because they liked the name, but also due to its Biblical meaning, "gift of God." This meaning helps me to remember that I have special gifts and talents that I can contribute to the world around me. Additionally, in challenging points I like to be reminded of this meaning as a point of encouragement when I am feeling low. It tells me that I am valued and bring value to others. Furthermore, I prefer Nathan over Nate because I have never been a fan of nicknames since I am a generally formal person.

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My mom always liked this name since she was little and used to name her dolls this, so because she had a real human eventually, this became my name. It doesn't really have much meaning to me (I think it means "house of figs" or something and I've never really been into Fig Netwons so this is kind of a moot point). I don't go by Beth for anyone but my parents and an ex-girlfriend, so it's always Bethany. I don't think my name holds many hopes and dreams in and of itself, but I think it's more the embodiment of me that gives those hopes and dreams life.

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My name was actually supposed to be Anne Elizabeth; my dad's ex-wife found that out (and she was pregnant at the same time as my mom), and her daughter was born two months before me.... and she named her daughter Anne Elizabeth. So back to the drawing board my parents went. I actually really, really don't like the name "Karen," and not just because of all the memes in recent years. It feels, to me, like a second choice name. Which actually colors a lot about how I felt about myself growing up. Something invisible but powerful about a name that didn't feel right, that felt like a consolation prize, instead of... my name. I told my mom that once, and made her cry -- and I wish I'd never said anything to her about it. I didn't realize it would hurt her feelings that way. I know I was not a second-choice kid; my parents badly wanted another child and were hoping against hope to finally have a daughter (I'm the youngest of four, and I have only brothers). I guess it just still feels weird after all this time to still be saddled with a name I don't love. I have no desire to change it though, either. I think it's helped me to think more critically about redefining myself or defining my actual "self" or even my soul by things that aren't words or are only chosen by me, for me. It's helped a lot, actually, in that way with me coming to terms over time with both queerness and neurodivergence. My name was chosen for me, but who I actually am has been chosen by ME for ME. There's comfort in that.

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My name was actually supposed to be Anne Elizabeth; my dad's ex-wife found that out (and she was pregnant at the same time as my mom), and her daughter was born two months before me.... and she named her daughter Anne Elizabeth. So back to the drawing board my parents went. I actually really, really don't like the name "Karen," and not just because of all the memes in recent years. It feels, to me, like a second choice name. Which actually colors a lot about how I felt about myself growing up. Something invisible but powerful about a name that didn't feel right, that felt like a consolation prize, instead of... my name. I told my mom that once, and made her cry -- and I wish I'd never said anything to her about it. I didn't realize it would hurt her feelings that way. I know I was not a second-choice kid; my parents badly wanted another child and were hoping against hope to finally have a daughter (I'm the youngest of four, and I have only brothers). I guess it just still feels weird after all this time to still be saddled with a name I don't love. I have no desire to change it though, either. I think it's helped me to think more critically about redefining myself or defining my actual "self" or even my soul by things that aren't words or are only chosen by me, for me. It's helped a lot, actually, in that way with me coming to terms over time with both queerness and neurodivergence. My name was chosen for me, but who I actually am has been chosen by ME for ME. There's comfort in that.

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My mom named me as soon as I was born after the archangel Gabriel, but a more feminine rendition, Gabrielle. Even though she isn't religious and our family was not raised in a religious setting, she thought the name was beautiful.

My full name spoken aloud usually means a teacher is reading off attendance or I'm in serious trouble with my parents. My nickname, Gabby, is what I'm most used to and recognize. My other nickname, Bee, is what my close friends and acquaintances call me, and means the most to me since I most resonate with this name.

My mom hoped I would become a caregiver and visionary, and do so beautifully, just as my namesake had done in Biblical times.

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My parents chose my first and middle name (Morgan) because when they were looking into names, they found both to have connections to the sea (and they both have a love for ocean and water).

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I was named after my father's sister.
My father is Muslim and my mother is Christian, my father felt that it was important to give my brothers and I Arabic names.
- Fatima means "the shining one” in Arabic
- Fatima is prophet Muhammad's daughter
it is said that Fatima was a significant character in early Islam, considered by both Sunni and Shia as the 'purest' woman of all time and the dearest person to Muhammad

As for hopes and dreams, I am unsure. but I guess they figured I would be pretty cool. (:

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The first thing you may notice about my name is that I go by my middle name, Philip. I share a first name with my dad, a great uncle and a great grandfather. Those Davids go or went by their first names, but since I was living in the same house as another David (He's David Martin, by the way), they called me Philip. Both names, David and Philip are strong biblical names, which fits with my parents' backgrounds as Presbyterian ministers. My names are a link to family connections, and although I complain about the nuisance of correcting others to call me Philip instead of David (Phil is fine too), I have accepted them as mine.

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My name was given to me by my mom. My mom and dad weren't together when they had me, so my mom chose my name completely. I'm bi-racial, and I was going to be the only Black person in my family, so my mom gave me her last name "Hawks," so that I wouldn't feel left out. Later when she got married to my step-dad, she decided to keep her maiden name as well, so that she would have the same last name as me. She married someone with the last name "Hawkins" though, so now, we get a lot of confusion where ever we go because we have both Hawks and Hawkins in our family. I don't think my family has any specific dreams for me. They're just extremely supportive of the dreams I have for myself.

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My mom was in charge of my name, and my dad was in charge of my brother's names. Growing up my family always called my Livy, and it would be strange to hear my brothers call me "Olivia," because they've never done that all my life. My dad's side of the family is notorious for making up nicknames for people. My dad is "The Commander," my Uncle Mike is called "Nuge" by everyone. My grandma is "GG" or "Kettle". So growing up, my cousin Kenzie and I made our own nicknames for each other. I call her "M," and she calls me "Olly" "O" "Olly G" "OG" along with many other names. I think nicknames make us feel closer to each other.

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My name is Hebrew for "father's joy". It is found in the Bible, the name of the wife of King David. These are the technical meanings of my name, but in actuality, my parents chose this name because it was the first one in the baby book of names that they both liked. (and it's like, only the second name, so they did pretty good.) over the years it has been shortened to "Abby" by friends, teachers, and coworkers. and that is totally fine by me. but my family still calls me Abigail, which makes it just a little more special.

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My name "Adam" does not hold any specific meaning on its own, but was given to me as apart of a family tradition where, going back many generations, all of the guys in my family were always given names that start with an "A". It was true for my dad and grandfather, and all my brothers. Since my family has always lived in the same area and is emotionally bound to the land and location there, I think it is a nice tradition to show strong family ties among generations.

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3rd generation of twins with the same letter, my brother and I were to be Kasey and Kinsey or Eric and Emily. My dad didn't like the double "K" (Kinsey Kayden) so it was decided. I have never assigned much meaning to my name especially given its popularity. I hope to one day pass along this naming tradition to my own children, the 4th generation :)

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For this activity, we'd like you to post the story of your name! You can use these questions to guide your answers:

Who named you and why were you given your name?

What meanings does your name have for you?

What hopes and dreams does your name hold for the people who gave you your name?

Just double-click anywhere on the screen and start your post! You don't have to use just text. Feel free to include an image, your voice, or even a drawing. To see your posting options/mediums, click the circle with three dots inside it once you've started making a post.