Analysis of The Meaning of My Name

In weaving the meaning of my name into the fabric of my identity, I reflect upon the deliberations my parents underwent upon my arrival into this world. When I was born, my parents couldn’t decide on what to name me – my dad wanted Kimberly, and my mom wanted Phoebe. After arguing for days they finally compromised on the name Emily. They thought it sounded gentle and quiet, but also compassionate.

My name originally derived from the Latin name Aemilia, and its root word aemulus, meaning to strive and rival. In English, French and German, it means friendly and kind. Even though the two meaning are nearly opposite, I think they both say a lot about my character. ‘Puella’ is my name in Latin, and it’s quite a mouthful to say. But in English, its sounds casual and airy, and it floats out of your mouth easily. My parents think I will grow up to be successful, because a lot of books say that Emilys are shy, but independent and determined. I think all these interpretations fit me quite well.

Every name all has a color and a more personal meaning too. Mine is commonly associated to baby pink or yellow. I feel like pink, gentle and quiet all mix together to form my name. Emilys are strong-willed, empathetic and can tell a person’s emotions quickly. I really like my name, and it because it fits very nicely to my nature.

As to my Chinese name, my parents put a lot of thought into it. One character means ‘jewel’, and the other one means ‘clear and pure’, because my parents wanted me to honour honesty and virtue above everything else. However, I don’t really like the character ‘jewel’, as I feel like it sounds too Chinese.

Even though many people dislike their names and want to change it, I’m grateful to my parents for giving me a name that I can be proud about and also for not having named me Phoebe. Sometimes, when you really delve deep into your name and learn the origins and meanings of it, you understand a lot more things about yourself and also know yourself better. I wouldn’t want to change my name, because I know it was meant for me.

Works Cited

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