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Saturday, August 6, 2022

Does Your Name Define Who You Are?

Aloha Everyone,

Names are not just random labels. Shakespeare, in Romeo and Juliet wrote, “What’s in a name that which we call rose. By any other name would smell as sweet.”

So why do teachers tend to favor names such as John, Paul, Michael,  Michelle, Jane, Alice over Sigmoid, Stewart, Melvin, Sophia, Ashley and Lorraine? What’s popular today maybe least favored the following year.

People name their offsprings after their family members, favorite writer, hero or heroine in a book. There are books and websites that lists baby’s names in the US and UK.  

Whenever I meet a person with an unusual name, I ask its meaning and origin.

Shakara, who works for Extended Stay America, thought her name is Nigerian origin but she had no idea as to its meaning. I googled it. Shakara is of Arabic origin and it means a woman who is thankful to God for everything. During the 11th and 12th centuries, Arabic traders followed established trade routes to Africa and some settled in Nigeria.

Aloha -- Cathi