What's In A Name?

"What's in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet." Shakespeare

Famous words from Romeo and Juliet, the most romantic and idiotic teenage love story that has ever been written. They are probably also the best known words from Shakespeare along with "Et tu, Brute" and "To be or not to be." The question then comes of how much is really in a name.

Baby name books sell really well because parents are terribly concerned about what they are going to name their children. We look at the nicknames that can come out of the names we give as well as how names will sound with the last names the children have very little choice of. The name that children are given is also something they have to live with for the rest of their lives. It will either shape their personality or they will shape their name. It's mostly a give and take.

I have a strong name. I got lucky when my parents looked through the books. My name has years of history behind it as well as some modern examples that I seem to fit well into. I am the server, the mother and the one who takes care of things. I don't know if that is why my parents chose the name for me, or if they had any idea I would turn out like this. I kind of think they may have had some kind of idea.

It is possible that we place a higher value on our names than we should. Our names do not define us, they do not limit our possibilities and they do not define our character. They are what people call us, but not how we are recognized. We are recognized for our hearts and how much we care, or don't. We can put more value in our names to help define ourselves, but the ultimate power to do that rests within ourselves. We just need to find the courage to claim that power.